“Art.370 proceedings before the constitution bench of the Supreme Court of India, without them. Let us pay homage to the soldiers who gave their all-blood, sweat,tears and lives , so that we may have this constitutional feast today.”

By   Narasimhan Vijayaraghavan

Having read the eyewitness accounts of the Pakistani Pathans, surreptitiously invading Kashmir then under Maharaja Hari Singh, and India’s decision to enter the war, it is  time to yield space to our armed forces. The valor and bravery of our armed forces, despite the short notice, is written in golden words. There would have been no In Re: Art.370 proceedings before the constitution bench of the Supreme Court of India, without them. Let us pay homage to the soldiers who gave their all-blood, sweat,tears and lives , so that we may have this constitutional feast today. Bravo!

The 1947-48 Indo-Pak War, also known as the First Kashmir War, was a critical chapter in Indian history. It marked the courage and determination of Indian soldiers who fought valiantly to repel the invading Pakistani forces from the Kashmir region. We selectively recount k the bravery of specific soldiers and the anecdotes that exemplify their extraordinary acts of heroism during the war. The choice is mine and mine alone.

A. Major Somnath Sharma:

One of the most prominent heroes of the war was Major Somnath Sharma, who led the charge against the Pakistani invaders in the Battle of Badgam. On 3rd November 1947, Sharma’s company faced overwhelming enemy numbers. Despite being severely outnumbered, he urged his troops to hold their ground and launched counter-attacks to stem the tide of the invasion. In the face of mortal danger, Major Sharma continued to motivate his men until he was fatally shot. His unwavering leadership and sacrifice earned him the distinction of being India’s first recipient of the Param Vir Chakra, the highest gallantry award in the country.

B. Naik Jadunath Singh:

In the Battle of Naushera, Naik Jadunath Singh’s exceptional courage and selflessness became a source of inspiration for his fellow soldiers. Singh and his comrades held a crucial post against constant enemy assaults. Despite sustaining severe injuries, he refused medical attention, choosing to fight on. With indomitable spirit, he continued firing at the enemy until he succumbed to his wounds. His bravery and determination in the face of insurmountable odds were recognized with the posthumous award of the Param Vir Chakra.

C. Lance Naik Karam Singh:

During the Battle of Tithwal, Lance Naik Karam Singh demonstrated extraordinary bravery. As the enemy launched a fierce assault, Singh single-handedly held the forward post, inflicting heavy casualties upon the Pakistani forces. Despite being severely injured, he refused to abandon his position and continued to fight with unmatched determination. His gallantry and steadfastness contributed significantly to India’s victory, earning him the Param Vir Chakra.

D. Havildar Lachhiman Gurung:

In the Battle of Saragarhi, Havildar Lachhiman Gurung’s actions were nothing short of extraordinary. On 13th November 1947, Gurung’s company faced a determined Pakistani assault. As his comrades fell, he held his position and continued firing, single-handedly defending the post. He was eventually hit by enemy fire and severely wounded but remained conscious and resolute. With his last breath, Gurung managed to detonate a grenade, inflicting heavy casualties upon the enemy. His unwavering courage posthumously earned him the Param Vir Chakra.

The bravery and sacrifice of the soldiers during the 1947-48 Indo-Pak War stand as a testament to the indomitable spirit of the Indian Armed Forces. Some of these soldiers were awarded the Param Vir Chakra, India’s highest military award for gallantry. Others were awarded the Maha Vir Chakra, the second-highest military award for gallantry.

These soldiers fought in some of the most difficult terrain in the world, and they faced overwhelming odds. However, they never gave up, and they eventually emerged victorious. Their bravery and sacrifice helped to ensure the integrity of the Indian state, and they will be remembered as heroes for generations to come.

But for our  beloved armed forces, there may have been no Art.370 and no constitutional challenge as we now have!

( Author of Constitution & its Making/Working,OakBridge, is practicing advocate in the Madras High Court)

— TS Venkatesan

Nearly a century after a  large number of Dalits have dharsan of Mariamman temple in Chellankuppam village in Thiruvannamalai district in Tamil Nadu is yet another incidence of how the oppressed castes are still being denied temple entry and an evidence of social caste discrimination.

In Tamil Nadu prior to bharat attained freedom from the colonial ruler who successfully divided the masses on the basis of false narratives and part of remnants of civilisation process, Dalits were treated as untouchables, denied entry into temples, disallowed to wear upper vastra including women ( barred from wearing blouses) not allowed to wear slippers while entering upper caste Hindu residential areas. They could not sit with them to partake meals in equal pedestal and even today prevalence of twin tumber or glass practice in tea and hotels in southern part of Tamil Nadu. Temple entry in some temples stills a dream for them.

Freedom fighter and eminent lawyer A Vaidyanatha Iyer , on the advise Rajaji,  led four Dalits into Meenakshi  Amman temple at Madurai on July 7, 1939,  paving the way for an Act in the Madras Presidency assembly ending the centuries-old practice of barring people from lower castes from entering temples. Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar and others. When the country is celebrating Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav , many temples continue to be out of bounds for Dalits.  Dalit leaders say ““There may be no restrictions in big temples maintained by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowment of the state government. But, entry for Dalits is not a cakewalk in several temples controlled by dominant castes in some villages”.   Periyar has no role in Madurai Meenakshi temple entry and intact he sided with dominant caste but the Dravidian parties still claim he was instrumental in social reform and dalit upliftment.  But in DMK rule, Dalit panchayat women and men presidents were denied hoisting flags as part of Independence and Republic Day celebrations.  They are still not allowed sit equally among them and often offered plastic chairs and forced to sit on the floors, if we go by the past incidents as reported in media.

In last June, a team of officials led by Revenue Divisional Officer (RDO) S Ravichandran  sealed the Dharma raja Droupathi Amman temple in Melpaathi village of Villupuram district under Section 145 (1) of the CrPC to avoid potential law and order issues..  it is under the administration of  the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and  CE) department.  Adi Dravidars, who are Dalits  said that they were not being allowed entry into the temple by people belonging to other castes.  Few people belonging to the other dominant castes reportedly tried to immolate themselves in order to oppose the entry of the Adi Dravidars.

 In January this year Dalits of Then Mudiyanur village in Tiruvannamalai entered the200-year-old temple village temple dedicated to Goddess Muthalamman( under HR and CE control)for the first time in 70 years after the temple was built.  The 60 Dalit devotees belonging to the Nammandi Colony entered the Thulukanathamman temple in Tiruvannamalai , accompanied by revenue officials, after being denied entry for several years by Vanniyars living in Hariharapakkam in 2016. These are only examples from the vast list.  

In his background, Dalits in Chellankuppam village in Kilpennathur block of Tiruvannamalai district entered the Amman temple in the village on 2^nd August (Wednesday)  for the first time in the 40 years since it was built.  Amid police protection, the SC community members, including women and children from the village, carrying garlands and fruits entered the temple, which is under the administration of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department.  Other community people, according to police, said had not opposed their entry into the temple and no protests sofar.

In July, there was an incident resulting between a fist cuff between dalits and Vanniyars when a dalit youth tried to enter the temple.  The dalits after raking up the temple entry issue in social media presented a petition to the revenue authorities urging them to ensure their entry in to the temple. Following this, a series of peace meetings with both sides of the village were held, and it was explained to all that no one had the right to prevent anyone from worshipping at the temple. Dalits were then given the slot on August 2 to conduct their rituals at the temple. The women folks cooked sweet pongal in earthen pots in the temple premises to be offered to the Goddess.

The temple follows a tradition. The temple will be opened only on Tuesdays and Fridays when members of the caste Hindus worship. On other days, only tourists from other States and countries were allowed to visit the temple after prior permission from the local panchayat officials. Dalits will be allowed only the days allotted to them.  Caste Hindus said the temple was built with their funds and no dalit had contributed.  Officials said that such discriminatory practices were against the law as the temple falls under the HR&CE Department.

Locals believe that newlywed couples offering prayers and cooking Pongal in the temple will be granted all they wish for.  But Dalits had no such privilege.   The elated dalits said today that  the district officials helped them to enter the temple, offer prayers, cook pongal and fulfil their vows”.

— TS Venkatesan

DMK MP Andimuthu Raja, known rabid Hindu phobic and for controversial rhetoric, has received flak from Arundathiyar community for his recent remarks.   

Raja, who is a dalit,  is known for his abusive and uncouth remarks against Hindus, Hinduism and political opponents including PM, BJP and RSS.

According to reliable sources and a leading Tamil Daily, 2G scam fame Raja attended DMK party’s booth level agents meeting at Trichy last week.  In that  he allegedly spoke “ human scavenging more particularly collecting human excrement  Arundathiar community is a  minority one and we need not count on their votes. With their votes no one is going to win. So do not bother and give importance to them and their demands. DMK leader M Karunanidhi gave them 3 percent internal reservation for this community . They are ungrateful.  This does not mean I am belittling them “.   

But his controversial remarks evoked flak from Arundathiyar community. They are upping their ante with their blood boiling.  His remarks, they say, his harsh remarks has severely offended them.  They urge A Raja to apologise for his remarks or they will organise protests and stirs against him.

Some leaders say “ We have more than 60 lakh people in our community .  Taking special concern for our community, then Chief Minister M Karunanidhi set up a committee under the chairmanship of Justice Janardhanan. The committee has recommended internal reservation for our community. Accordingly Karunanidhi has given us three percent internal reservation in education and employment.  But our community is being targeted and isolated by the present government led by CM M K Staln.

“Our concern and interests are being not addressed by his government. We are being continuously neglected.  The DMK government is refusing to accommodate Arundathiyar community representation in any welfare board including Sanitary Workers’ board. its Nilgiri MP A Raja’s speech is the reflection and culmination  of its attitude towards community in denigrating us lower.  If we remain calm after his speech, it will be  shameful for Arundathiyar community people who are members  or supporters of  the DMK. 

“We will organise protests till he tender his apologies in public. All outfits will jointly do the protests. It is Chief Minister Stalin’s responsibility to make him to do so. He should not run away from this”.

This is not first time Raja stoked controversies.  During Erode by poll east campaigning,  Raja was canvassing votes for the candidate on the evening of Sunday (19 Fenruary 2023) when he made casteist remarks targeting AIADMK and BJP leaders belonging to a particular caste.

Reacting to the opposition to erect pen statue for DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi, while addressing a meeting in at ‘Periyar Nagar’ in Erode, the DMK MP said “They say that Edappadi Palaniswami has studied till BA. Vanathi  Srinivasan has studied law. Annamalai became IPS. That pen (Karunanidhi’s pen) put you under the Backward Class category and made you study.  If not for that pen, Annamalai would’ve reared goats. Edappadi Palaniswami would be doing labour. Vanathi Srinivasan would be picking coconuts in some coconut farm.” He is trying to say without reservation none would rose to top level or get uplifted.

During the 2021 Assembly election campaign A. Raja attacked Edappadi K. Palaniswami by saying  “Edappadi Palaniswami was born premature, and was born out of an illegitimate relationship.” while hailing his leaded MK Stalin.

In September 16  2022, Raja. said Shudras were denied equality, education, employment, and entry into temples by Manusmriti.  He said “(According to Manusmrithi), a Shudra is the son of a prostitute and he is a Panchaman (Dalit) till he is a Panchaman (Dalit) till he remains a Hindu. One remains an untouchable till he is a Hindu. How many of you wish to stay as children of prostitutes? How many of you wish to remain untouchables?”

“I haven’t seen any religion like this. Lingayats in Karnataka are petitioning the Supreme Court saying that their way of worship and religious principles are different. They are asking themselves not to be declared Hindu. But what is the Supreme Court saying? The Supreme Court is saying that if you aren’t a Christian, Muslim, or Persian, you have to be a Hindu. Is there any other country having such cruelty?” Raja said.

He also said “ an inch of an idol of God and Hinduism are there,  we can’t root out Hinduism from this soil. So our priority is to attack them “

In January this year, A Raja, who was the special guest at the 157th anniversary function of Kunnoor Anthoniyaar School, Nilgiri District, said: “When we talk about education in India, it becomes a popular topic in today’s political environment. Credits should be given to the British for making education available to even the ordinary people, when it had been denied for 3,000 years. Schools founded by Christian organisations continue to teach about our history. Many questioned why heshould praise a religion in front of school students of various faiths.

in July last, Raja , while addressing a conference of the party’s local body representatives in Namakkal, said that social reformer Periyar, whom the DMK, considers as its ideological leader, advocated for Tamil Nadu to separate from India.“

“However, we have kept that demand aside so far for the sake of democracy and unity of India. I urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah not to force us to revive the demand. Please give us state autonomy. I am telling Amit Shah and the Prime Minister with utmost humility, I implore you in the presence of [our] leaders on the dais, our chief minister is journeying on the path of Anna [DMK founder CN Annadurai], do not force us on the path of Periyar. I urge the Centre to grant us autonomy. We shall not stop our fight until Tamil Nadu gets state autonomy”.   Raja also said “Do not make us seek a separate country, give state autonomy and we will not rest till then”.  He said that the DMNK been championing the cause of state autonomy for several decades.