‘Thiruvalluvar to stay in the North forever’

For the North Indian, who is still trying to pronounce Thiruvalluvar, it’s difficult to understand what he means to the Tamils, or even the Indian ethos. Imagine Tamil Nadu Governor K. Rosaiah, veteran diplomat Gopal Krishna Gandhi, MDMK leader Vaiko, two AIADMK Ministers, renowned poet Vairamuthu, BJP Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, fiery Dalit leader and friend Thol Thirumavalavan, RSS veteran K. Suryanarayan Rao and Congress MP Sudarsana Natchiyappan with another 10 MPs from as many parties joining together on the Marina, Chennai sending off a Thiruvalluvar statue to Haridwar? It was the magic of Thiruvalluvar.

It was Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa who got all AIADMK MPs to write a special letter to Mulayam Singh Yadav for helping with the space for the statue at Haridwar. We stand united in having a respectful place for our civilisation icon. It’s not a caste issue. Thiruvalluvar stands for humanity and is beyond caste, creed and of course politics.

It’s unfortunate that until now, the North was kept bereft of Thiruvalluvar’s universal message. When I made a speech in the Rajya Sabha that only Mira and Valmiki cannot make an India unless you include Andaal, Thiruvalluvar and Bharathi, it caught the ears of the Tamil fraternity. The first Kural itself forms the anthem of our togetherness. The fact that CPI and CPI(M) veterans sat with RSS leaders in the ‘Thirukural in Parliament‘ programme last year proved that this issue goes beyond political faultlines. This is what India wants. We in the North do not understand that it’s the South — and other parts of India — that have a rich and great heritage of literature and arts, one that gives India its completeness. Undoubtedly, Rani Laxmibai was great, but should that make us ignore Velu Natchiyar of Tamil Nadu and Rani Gaidinliu of Nagaland? I learnt about Thiruvalluvar in the morning hymns of the RSS. Try learning Tamil to feel the richness of India.

Bringing Thiruvalluvar to Haridwar signifies this richness. It couldn’t have happened without the help of everybody. Without Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s encouragement and Union Minister Smriti Irani’s initiative in taking Thiruvalluvar to northern colleges and universities. BJP president Amit Shah had appealed to all party workers to make the initiative a success. Thanks to the wonderful understanding of Samajwadi leaders Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Shivpal Singh Yadav and Amar Singh, the permission to have the statue of Thiruvalluvar was given at top priority speed. DMK veteran M. Karunanidhi sent me his signed copy of Thirukural in appreciation.

There was help from Akhilesh Yadav, Jairam Ramesh and Janardan Dwivedi — who also appreciated the idea. The place for the statue was selected by the State government. We received permissions from Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand and got the go-ahead from the Governor’s office. It’s now for them to see it is reinstated honourably at the earliest.

Unfortunately a few sadhus blocked the installation of the statue on the banks of the Ganga. But the bust was unveiled nearby at Dam Kothi on the following day in the presence of two veterans, Governors Ram Naik of U.P. and Shanmuganathan of Meghalaya, who gracefully came to Haridwar, and saved the situation with their inspiring speeches.

However, the statue was removed from the place it was unveiled. The district administration has been asked to take stern action against those who shifted it, at the cost of hurting national unity.

Nothing can take away the fact that Thiruvalluvar has come to the North from Kanyakumari and will stay here forever.

( Tarun Vijay is a BJP MP and the prime mover behind the initiative to install the Thiruvalluvar statue in Haridwar. Shambhavi is his daughter )