Politics of hero worship and filmdom
SURESH NAMBATH
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An objective and insightful firsthand narrative of the oddities of Tamil Nadu politics by a writer and journalist
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CUT-OUTS, CASTE AND CINE STARS — The World of Tamil Politics: Vaasanthi; Viking/Penguin Books India Pvt. Ltd., 11, Community Centre, Panchsheel Park, New Delhi-110017. Rs. 425.
For an outsider, politics in Tamil Nadu appears as a strange mix of hero worship, feudalism and filmdom. Tamilians, of course, see nothing incongruous in a film star inspiring in his fans a life-long devotion, and rising to be the Chief Minister of the State. Is Tamil Nadu unique in this respect? Maybe not quite. But Tamil novelist Vaasanthi, who has spent most of her life outside Tamil Nadu, has woven a book around this subject.
In this book, Vaasanthi draws on her Tamil identity as well as her position as an outsider to render a reading of Tamil Nadu politics in which the fascination for the subject matter is thankfully tempered by informed comment.
Impressionistic study
As the title suggests, the book is not an academic exercise, but an impressionistic study that depends on anecdotes and journalistic observations for conveying a feel of Tamil politics from the time of Periyar to the present-day battles of DMK president, M. Karunanidhi, and AIADMK general secretary, J. Jayalalithaa. But where she does attempt to theorise on political behaviour, Vaasanthi leans heavily on books, research papers and interviews with academicians. The approach in such instances is eclectic. At times, depending on who is being quoted, conflicting views find a place. She herself tries no more than a broad-brush presentation of the characters and events of her story.
Dravidian ideology
But some sweeping statements have crept in. At one point, while describing the impact of Periyar's teachings, the author says: "Atheism and social reform were incompatible and Periyar only helped to open up the floodgates for the advent of a more vigorous cult of religiosity."
True, some leaders of the AIADMK, who practised a diluted version of the Dravidian ideology patronised cults such as those of Adi Parasakthi that institutionalised a stream of non-Brahminical religiosity. But to maintain that such a trend was a reaction to Periyar's atheism or to conclude that atheism and social reform are incompatible stretches credulity.
As the author herself points out elsewhere, Periyar's followers took what they wanted from his teachings. If anything the growing popularity of such cults was either prompted by or a reaction to Brahminical institutionalisation of god-men. Periyar cannot be blamed (or credited, depending on your point of view) for such trends.
In a related context, she makes a wholly untenable distinction between "higher forms of religion" (!) and acceptance of Karumari Amman and local gods, and states that the people turned to the local gods because the Dravidian movement rejected all "higher forms of religion."
Such specious arguments aside, the book takes the reader through a quick journey of the Dravidian movement. Within the limitations of space, Vaasanthi traces the political evolution of Periyar, Anna, MGR, Karunanidhi and Jayalalithaa. She details the role of Anna's orations, MGR's films (especially his songs) and Karunanidhi's scripts in shaping their political success.
Characterisation
Vaasanthi brings her skills as a novelist to the characterisation of the politicians she observes from close. She has this to say of MDMK leader Vaiko: "Fragile, to the extent of shedding copious tears at the slightest provocation, yet he is a fiery orator, easily carried away by his own words." There are snatches of revealing conversation that Vaasanthi had with political leaders and senior editors.
The interviews with Karunanidhi and Vaiko at the time of the DMK's split fall in this category. The views of Tughlak Editor, Cho Ramaswamy, and Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary, K. Veeramani, on Jayalalithaa are insightful. Both were at different points of time close to her.
Former AIADMK Minister R.M. Veerappan's recollection of Jayalalithaa during her acting days with MGR throws some light on the relationship that later developed between the two stars. Another conversation that is of considerable interest is between Mother Teresa and an official escorting her about cutouts of Jayalalithaa.
Vaasanthi's dominant narrative mode that switches to the past through look-back conversations makes the book truly readable.
Another edition should provide an opportunity to correct a few factual errors, including one that says Jayalalithaa "bit the dust in her own Andipatti constituency." Jayalalithaa lost in Bargur in the 1996 election.
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