Stalin’s Questions and Criticism
Chief Minister MK Stalin took strong exception to the omission, accusing the Governor of deliberately sidelining the Dravidian identity. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Stalin questioned the Governor’s failure to address the omission immediately, linking it to previous instances where Ravi allegedly downplayed the “Dravidian model.”
“Why didn’t you correct the omission right away?” Stalin asked, further accusing the Governor of insulting Tamil pride and unity. Stalin suggested that this omission wasn’t accidental, stating, “When this is your history, how will Tamils believe this omission was inadvertent?”
Stalin also criticized the Hindi Month celebrations in Tamil Nadu, accusing the central government and the Governor of attempting to impose Hindi over Tamil culture. He condemned the Governor for “vilifying the Dravidian race” and trying to “impose Hindi everywhere.”
I strongly condemn the celebration of Hindi Month valedictory function along with the Golden Jubilee celebrations of Chennai Doordarshan.
Hon’ble @PMOIndia,
The Constitution of India does not grant national language status to any language. In a multilingual nation, celebrating…
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 18, 2024
ஆளுநரா? ஆரியநரா?
திராவிடம் என்ற சொல்லை நீக்கி, தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்தைப் பாடுவது தமிழ்நாட்டின் சட்டத்தை மீறுவதாகும்!
சட்டப்படி நடக்காமல், இஷ்டப்படி நடப்பவர் அந்தப் பதவி வகிக்கவே தகுதியற்றவர்.
இந்தியைக் கொண்டாடும் போர்வையில் நாட்டின் ஒருமைப்பாட்டையும் இந்த மண்ணில் வாழும் பல்வேறு… pic.twitter.com/NzS2O7xDTz
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 18, 2024
Doordarshan’s Apology and Governor’s Response
Following the backlash, Doordarshan Tamil issued an apology, clarifying that the omission was unintentional and that the singers had no intention of disrespecting the Tamil anthem. However, this did little to quell the tensions.
Governor RN Ravi, in his response, accused the Chief Minister of making a “cheap” racist remark. He described Stalin’s allegations as baseless and undermining the dignity of the Chief Minister’s constitutional office. However, the Governor remained silent on the skipped line in the state anthem.
“மாண்புமிகு முதல்வர் திரு. @mkstalin அவர்கள் இன்று மாலையில் வெளியிட்ட வருத்தமளிக்கக் கூடிய பதிவு ஒன்றில், எனக்கு எதிராக இனவாத கருத்தைத் தெரிவித்து, தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்துக்கு நான் அவமரியாதை இழைத்ததாக பொய்யான குற்றச்சாட்டை முன்வைத்துள்ளார். ஒவ்வொரு விழாவிலும் நான் தமிழ்த் தாய்…
— RAJ BHAVAN, TAMIL NADU (@rajbhavan_tn) October 18, 2024
Stalin Hits Back: Tamil Pride vs. Hindi Imposition
Stalin, refusing to back down, responded forcefully to the Governor’s accusation. “Governor, Tamil is our race! It is our lifeblood!” Stalin posted. He reminded the Governor that Tamil Nadu has a proud history of resisting language imposition, especially the anti-Hindi imposition struggles that shaped the state’s identity.
“If you call our love for Tamil racist, it’s an honor for us,” Stalin retorted, framing the defense of the Tamil language as a matter of cultural survival. He reiterated that the Governor should step down if he continues to ignore Tamil pride and constitutional norms, calling into question whether Ravi was a governor or an “Aryan.”
Stalin further accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of pushing the “Hindi everywhere” agenda through policies and slogans, calling it a threat to the federal spirit of India.
இந்தி மாதக் கொண்டாட்ட நிறைவு விழாவில் பாடப்பட்ட தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்தில், ‘தெக்கணமும் அதிற்சிறந்த திராவிடநல் திருநாடும்’ என்ற வரியைப் பாடாமல் விட்டதற்கு, எனது கடும் கண்டனத்திற்குப் பதிலளித்துள்ள மாண்புமிகு ஆளுநருக்குச் சில கேள்விகள்:
‘தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்தை முழுமையாக… https://t.co/IaLMWrxBde
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) October 18, 2024
The Broader Issue: Language and Identity
This latest exchange is part of a larger face-off between Tamil Nadu’s leadership and the Governor, fueled by the ongoing debate over Hindi’s role in India. Earlier, MK Stalin had written a letter to Prime Minister Modi emphasizing that the Constitution does not designate any language as the “national language” and that Hindi and English are merely official languages. Stalin had also criticized the celebration of Hindi Month in a non-Hindi-speaking state like Tamil Nadu.
Governor Ravi, in response, has argued that Hindi should be celebrated alongside regional languages and not seen as an imposition. Despite these assurances, the tension between Tamil pride and Hindi imposition continues to flare.
Conclusion
The omission of the Dravidian-themed line in the state anthem has become a flashpoint for the broader cultural and linguistic tensions in Tamil Nadu. With both the Chief Minister and the Governor standing firm in their positions, this episode highlights the deep-rooted struggle over identity, language, and regional autonomy. As the debate rages on, the friction between Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian politics and the central government’s Hindi policies shows no signs of abating.
