NEW DELHI: With the ongoing Kashi-Tamil Sangamam celebration, the Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking an opportunity to make its political presence felt in Tamil Nadu in the coming future.
From showcasing iconic Tamil poets and scholars to roping in music maestro Ilaiyaraaja for the inauguration of the Kashi Tamil Sangamam in Varanasi recently, the BJP is making all-efforts to make inroads into Tamil Nadu, where it is facing stiff resistance on linguistic and ideological grounds.
The party has dubbed the month-long mega cultural event, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as the Central Government’s efforts to rediscover cultural linkages between the North and the South, remove linguistic differences and establish emotional bonding with the people of Tamil Nadu. However, its political agenda is clear — to slowly and steadily penetrate the Dravidian land and create a space for itself.
The ambitious cultural programme is aimed at evoking the ancient cultural and philosophical connect between Tamil Nadu and Kashi. To spread this message, the BJP has roped in not only celebrities from all walks of life but also young minds. About 2,500 participants, including students, teachers, purohits and artisans, are expected to attend the event from various parts of Tamil Nadu.
They will arrive in batches and spend a total of six days in Uttar Pradesh — two days each in Varanasi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj. The event will conclude on December 19. As per political analysts, though the event is aimed at evoking ancient cultural connection between Tamil Nadu and Kashi, it is also intended to weaken ruling DMK’s linguistic politics in the southern state.
PM Modi has, in the past, invoked the name of revolutionary Tamil poet Subramaniya Bharathiyar on various occasions. Apart from setting up a chair in the name of Bharathiyar at the Banaras Hindu University, the Government had also declared that the great poet’s birth anniversary will be celebrated as ‘Bharatiya Bhasha Divas’ every year.
After inaugurating the Kashi Tamil Sangamam, PM Modi again spoke of the time spent by Bharathiyar in Varanasi. He also took the names of great personalities from Tamil Nadu — such as former President of India S. Radhakrishnan, Vedic scholar Rajeshwar Shastri and Pattabhiram Shastri to drive home his point.
A party insider told Blitz India that, “We are eager to position our party as a strong contender to the DMK in the state but using language and cultural differences, the latter is stalling our efforts. Through this event, our aim is to praise Tamil culture and make a bridge between the BJP and Tamil-speaking people.”
