In a country where nationalists rationalise the assault of disabled men who cannot stand for the national anthem, the junior Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt, Vijayendra Saraswati, was seen sitting through Tamil Nadu’s state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu – the invocation of the Tamil mother – at an event at the Chennai Music Academy. Vijayendra Saraswati was filmed sitting through the Tamil anthem, during the release of a Tamil-Sanskrit dictionary compiled by Late Prof S Hariharan – the father of BJP National Secretary H Raja.
According to some reports, Vijayendra Saraswati chose to sit through the Tamil Thai Vazhthu even as he stood for the national anthem at the same event.
The event was attended by TN Governor Banwarilal Purohit, who can be seen standing along with H Raja, popular Tamil orator and actor Professor Solomon Pappiah, and other dignitaries as the Tamil Thai Vazhthu played.
It is compulsory to play the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the beginning of every state function. The custom in Tamil Nadu is that people present must stand for the invocation, whether they are on or off stage.
— Rekha (@hi_imrekha) January 23, 2018
Angry Tamils from across the world have hit out at the Kanchipuram godman for insulting the Tamil anthem.
Many shared pictures of Vijayendra standing for the national anthem, but sitting through the Tamil anthem, with several quick to use the hashtag Tamil_insulted
#DigitalIndia யாவின் மறுபக்கம் !#மண்டியிட்டு_மன்னிப்புகேள் #விஜயேந்திரா_மன்னிப்புக்கேள் #VijayendraAskSorry #antiindian #bjpfails pic.twitter.com/6jJRUL9lRv
— Arun Journalist (@arunjournal) January 24, 2018
Others questioned the reason for the insult.
Vijayendra Saraswathi, insulting Tamil Thaai Vazhthu, by refusing to stand. The conscience keeper of TN & Hinduism my dear @HRajaBJP has anything to say about this ? pic.twitter.com/0441nUuo8S
— Savukku_Shankar (@savukku) January 24, 2018
Even the Governor of Tamil Nadu is standing for State Song (Tamil thai Vazhatu) but Junior Kanchi Sankaracharya is not bothered...isn't this an insult to #TamilThaiVazhatu? pic.twitter.com/4GyTgsCV6r
— Shabbir Ahmed (@Ahmedshabbir20) January 23, 2018
இவனுங்க தான் தமிழுக்கும் தமிழருக்கும் எதிரி என்று அனைவருக்கும் தெரியும், இது தெரியாத சில அடிமைகள் தான் இவங்களை தூக்கி திரியுது
— Krishnan(மாயோன்) (@SenjiMayon) January 23, 2018
“Everybody knows that these guys are the enemy of Tamil and Tamilians. Only a few slaves who don’t understand this are putting them on a pedestal,” one user asked.
தன்னை கடவுளாக நினைக்கும் மனோபாவம். இதைத்தான் இந்துயிசம் என பலர் நினைக்கிறார்கள். இந்துமதம் மீது அபிப்ராயம் கெடுகிறது. ஒருவேளை பாப்பனர்களின் ஏகாதிபத்யமாக இருக்குமோ!
— Dharmaraj (@liondharmaraj) January 23, 2018
“The mentality where one thinks of oneself as god. Many believe that this is Hinduism. People’s perception of Hinduism is being spoilt by this. Perhaps this is what Brahmin supremacy means?”
நாங்கள் இந்துக்கள் கிடையாது தமிழர்கள் என்று ஏன் சொல்கிறோம் புரியுதா......இதே இடத்தில் எங்கள் ஐயா அப்துல்கலாம் இருந்தால் மொழிக்கு உண்டான மரியாதை தந்திருப்பார் .....தமிழன்னிடம் எதிர் பார்க்க வேண்டிய மரியாதையை கைபர் போலன் கண்மாய் வழியாக வந்தவனிடம் எதிர் பார்ப்பது நமது தவறு
— சண்முகவேல் (@shanmug99990047) January 24, 2018
“Do you now understand why we say we are not Hindus, but Tamils? If our Abdul Kalam was in the same place, he would have given the language its due respect. That we expect the same respect and courtesy of a Tamilian from someone who came through the Khyber Bholan Pass is our mistake.”
Many questioned H Raja for not questioning Vijayendra Saraswathi the way he questioned Vairamuthu.
@HRajaBJP தமிழ் தாய் ஆண்டாள்க்கு மட்டும் சவுண்ட் விட்டியே
— BalaKumaresan-பாகு (@Balakumaresa) January 23, 2018
இந்த பார்ப்பான் தமிழ்த்தாய் வாழ்த்தை அவமானப்படுத்துறான்.. ஒரு பதிலையும் காணோம்
“H Raja, you raised your voice only for Tamil mother Andal? This Brahmin is insulting the Tamil Thai Vazhthu. No sign of a reply from you!”
Meanwhile, in a clarification to local reporters, the Kanchi Mutt reportedly said, "Junior Sankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati was performing meditation and hence he did not stand for the Tamil Thai Vazhthu."
Political parties were also quick to hit out at the Kanchi Mutt's junior pontiff. DMK's working President MK Stalin stated, "The disrespect shown by Vijayendrar to the Tamil Anthem calls for serious condemnation and I condemn it on behalf of DMK. It is very sad that this insult to Tamil Anthem happened in front of the Governor. Pontiff's explanation that he was under meditation is a lame excuse. If that is the case, why no meditation during national anthem?"
CPI's State Secretary Mutharasan also reacted to the controversy. "The insult to Tamil Anthem by Vijayendrar is deliberate and is highly condemnable. Vijayendrar should seek unconditional apology for the insult he has heaped to Tamil and Tamil anthem. If he really wanted to meditate, he should have finished meditation and then attended the function," he said.