Shan Sundar

Today marks the birth anniversary of Pasumpon Thevar Ayya. A great nationalist, Thevar was fiercely critical of separatist forces. He regarded nationalism and spirituality as his two eyes. Here is an excerpt from a speech delivered by the great leader at Kanchipuram in 1951. “A group is contesting elections proclaiming, ‘We must have pride in Tamil, and Tamil Nadu must prosper.’ Certainly, pride in Tamil is necessary. But look at the manner in which these people demonstrate their love for Tamil. Whenever they conduct public meetings, their primary. objective seems to be dividing people into ‘North Indians’ and ‘South Indians’, and the country into ‘North India’ and ‘South India’. When they hold a meeting at Jinnah Park, they announce it as Jinnah Park. When another meeting takes place at Robinson Park, they readily call it Robinson Park. But when a meeting is held at Tilakar Grounds, they become angry at the very mention of his name. They refuse to use his name, calling him a North Indian, and instead announce that the meeting will take place at ‘Thanthai Thidal’ (Father's Grounds). In what way is Jinnah not a North Indian? Why are the names Jinnah and Robinson so sweet to you, sir? Why is the name of Tilak so bitter to you, sir? I am unable to understand. What does this reveal, other than the mentality inherited from the Justice Party, a group that served as the lackeys of the British? Beyond this, they raise the slogan of ‘Dravida Nadu’. From whom are you demanding Dravida Nadu? Had you conducted yourselves properly and stood alongside the people during the freedom struggle, when the British held us in bondage, one could at least say that you had some right to make such a demand. But when the struggle against British rule was taking place, you accepted payments from the British government and carried out wartime propaganda in its favour. After doing all that, what does it mean to demand Dravida Nadu now? Just as Pakistan was demanded and obtained through a secret agreement, you would establish a fifth column for the British. We are not fools to be deceived in such a manner.”