'Concerted Attempt To Erase History': TN Guv Says State's Freedom Fighters Reduced To 'Caste Leaders'

Governor Ravi expressed his dismay at the privatisation of commemorations for the Maruthu brothers, Periya Maruthu and Chinna Maruthu, in his address at an event honouring them.

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi

Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi raised concerns on Monday, asserting that celebrated national freedom fighters such as the Maruthu brothers and Muthuramalinga Thevar have been marginalised, being perceived as caste leaders in the state due to a political conspiracy aimed at promoting the British Dravidian narrative.

#WATCH | Trichy: While addressing the Freedom Fighters Maruthu Brothers Memorial Day function, Tamil Nadu Governor R N Ravi says,"...Today it pains me that these leaders have been reduced to caste leaders... The person who fought for the freedom of the entire country, who did not… pic.twitter.com/YSLzgNRKE2

— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2023

Governor Ravi expressed his dismay at the privatisation of commemorations for the Maruthu brothers, Periya Maruthu and Chinna Maruthu, in his address at an event honouring them. "A concerted effort has been made in this state to erase the history of this place, to write a parallel history," he was quoted as saying by news agency PTI. "A false narrative about the Dravidian-Aryan racial divide was created," he added. 

Furthermore, the Governor questioned the origins of the Dravidian theory and emphasised the role of Robert Caldwell, a missionary who became an expert on languages despite being a school dropout. "It was the British design to divide the country, and they picked up collaborators during the freedom movement," he added further.

During the Independence movement, Ravi argued, a counter-freedom movement promoting the Aryan and Dravidian divide began to demolish the institutions that defined Tamil Nadu. He claimed that the history of Tamil Nadu is rich in spiritual leaders, 'siddhars,' 'rishis,' and warriors, PTI reported. 

He lauded the Maruthu brothers as forerunners of India's freedom movement, emphasising their early contribution and the conceptual framework they provided through the 'Jambudweep prakatanam' declaration, which was placed in Tiruchirappalli's Srirangam temple, the report said. 

Governor Ravi bemoaned the fact that he had previously received a list of Tamil Nadu's freedom fighters that contained only 40 names and made no mention of the Maruthu brothers, according to the report. He questioned how a state with such a rich history could have so few recognised freedom fighters when a smaller state like Nagaland had over a thousand.

Ravi also expressed regret over the prohibitory order issued in 2012, which restricted public gatherings in Sivaganga district, where the Maruthu brothers had played a key role in the revolt against the British. As a result, remembering their sacrifices has become a private matter.

The Governor argued that even great national freedom fighters, such as Netaji's associate Muthuramalinga Thevar, had been reduced to the status of caste leaders in Tamil Nadu.

He ended his speech by quoting a couplet from Thirukkural, emphasising the importance of remembering and thanking those who gave their lives for the nation's freedom. Governor Ravi expressed his concern that these freedom fighters' marginalisation was unacceptable and that their historical significance should be restored, the report said.