Tamil Sub-Nationalism: Lessons for larger India

Tamil-centric identity narratives are a legacy that India has lived through since independence.  We all hoped for a long time that we had gotten over it. Ironically, a State that is among the most developed, diversified and rich in intellectual capital is once again pushed into the abyss of vehement regionalism, masquerading as linguistic nationalism.

The ruling dispensation in the State is fanning the fire of jingoistic identity politics, by tactically opening another frontier of divisiveness beyond caste fault lines and the rich-poor divide.  Language, which is a means of communicating, understanding and harmonizing the diversities in the society, is being primed to accentuate the othering of those who do not talk one’s tongue!  

The allegedly well-ingrained corruption and nepotism in its ranks and the skewed power structure of the DMK have been the talking point, among the silent, informed and conscientious middle class in TN.

In the face of expanded economic opportunities for career and business across the regional borders within India, the exclusive and hatred-filled identity politics around regionalism has been losing steam. The wily TN politicians know this more than anybody else.  The dwindling appeal of Dravidian identity, loss of steam of the hollow rhetoric of North Indian hegemony, erosion of credibility and aura of the first family of Dravidian politics are all signs of the changing socio-economic landscape of the New India.  With the failing health of the satrap, there has of late been a hurry to install the next-in-line dynastic heir to the Dravidian throne well in time for the coming 2026 TN Assembly election.

The much widely discussed and debated new National Education Policy and its amplification, among other more functional aspects, of the three-language formula, are being picked as the alchemy stone to sharpen the so-called Dravidian hurt, whatever that means.  

In every aspect of the Indian national mosaic, Tamils and Tamil Nadu have rightly claimed a dominant share of glory, wealth and strategic influence over the years. Today South Indian cinema has all but overrun Bollywood in terms of box-office and fame. To sharpen the divisive North-South narrative over a non-existent phantom of cultural dominance is, to say the least, cruel on the larger nation and the Indian citizenry.

Unless the nation, the political parties and leaders who matter assert and put out the fire that is being lit in the South ramparts of the nation, we may find the situation going out of control over the coming years, much to the glee of our enemies abroad, in the neighbourhood and across oceans.

I am an Indian, I belong to the South, and I am certainly proud of the rich heritage, history and accomplishments of the Tamils and the land of Dravidian culture. But let no one have the temerity to assault the soul of my nation and its collective identity for petty profiteering politically.

This country is resting on the dreams, aspirations and competence of millions of youngsters who speak different languages at home, but who understand that the strength of the brand ‘India’ and the possibilities of our shared future lie beyond regionalism and fanned ‘parochialism’.