We Tamils are often reminded that:
Tamils are the first of human race.
Tamil is the first language, mother of all languages and all languages rose from Tamil.
Tamils lived in Lemuria continent some 10k years ago.
So take pride in being a Tamil, We are told. Not a simplistic happy pride. A proudish pride. A pride that even mocks other languages as secondary and desires chauvinism on tamil race as one of a superior race. Get a feel of arrogant superiority! Do we get to qualify as Tamils then?
Now back to the question we raised: Who is a Tamil? We need to answer as the question has become a sociopolitical weapon to strike down few by some. We will try and find out, No DNA test. No proof of birth required. Our intention is not to call anyone as a non Tamil. If someone desires to be called so, that is enough of a requisite. But as an excercise in introspection a Simple check on sociological behavioural patterns ought to be the criteria to decide who we really are. Introspection is a must for individuals and for societies.
During last century, a man who knew no tamil was titled as TamilVel in Tamilnadu because of his cultural affiliation. Tamils in West Indian islands knew no Tamil but some retain identity. Chindis speak Tamil too. I personally knew some non Tamils who speak, write excellent Tamil. Can they claim to be Tamils? We are keeping aside all these conditions to access who can be considered a Tamil and also introspect whether we are Tamils. We will decide a Tamil based on the 5k year heritage that runs in an individual. Without the past of tamil within us, we can’t be a tamil today. For census, yes, anyone can. But if we qualify anything to assess we need standards. If a person has this heritage running within, wherever he may live, whatever may be the Color of his skin and whatever may be the level of proficiency of the language, we can declare him as a Tamil.
I also owe an apology for asking this obnoxious question. But this being the current trend in Great Tamilnadu, where more questions get to be asked and none ever willing to find answers for fear of intimidation and hate, we need to take an effort to find answers are possible. But we will find those answers definitely but as a contemporary Tamil, I want to assume that the above claims are factual for argument. We are discarding a comparative study of languages too which is essential for an intelligent assessment on the plethora of languages humans possess.
So, we are told Tamils are the first human inhabitants on this planet earth. Sanatana Dharma’s Vaishnavite theory of evolution led to a Tamil being born or even Adam and Eve can be considered to have been Tamils. We were forerunners for all civilisations and we were spread across the planet so widely that we influenced all languages. Don’t ask me if other languages influenced Tamil. That could be betraying the main argument.
So, as per contemporary tamil mindset Let’s accept all these claims. We will not question our ancestory or our roots. My concern is here whether Tamil believe their own statements as true, act as inheritors of their glorious heritage and feel the Tamil tingle in their veins. Do they? If they do, no archaeological, linguistic, sociological study are required to question our claims. So I think.
How should then should Tamils believe, act, feel as the singularly unique tamil race and practioners of Tamil language? How should a race of civilisation set standards for others to follow? Do we deliver as Leaders of mankind that we claim ourselves to be? Do we embrace all other Daughter cultures that emanated from us as a Mother does? We can simply say that civilisation as an opposite to barbarism demands a kind of humility. Are we humble enough? Am choosing six parameters which I consider as must behavioural characteristics of inheritors of such lofty heritage.
English word Civilisation comes from French Civilise and Latin Civilis. Albert Schweitzer in his Philosophy of Civilisations divides Civilisation into two categories: Material and Ethical. Adam Ferguson wrote “not only does the individual advances from infancy to manhood but the species from rudeness to civilisation. So we can agree that in an advanced society that we have inherited in Tamilnadu, ethics is important and rudeness has no place. This is some standard we seek.
German sociologist Norbert Elias in “The Civilizing Process” says that self restraint as a social attitude in his effort to work out the theory of civilisation. He dubbed this as etiquette. A social behaviour that extends courtesy to others. Self restraint is a a standard too.
Samuel P Huntington describes civilisation as highest cultural grouping of people. Tamils have for ages have had a singular culture. A deep Culture can be a bench mark.
Excellence in our work and pursuits and in whatever we do should be called as characteristic of a civilisation. The unparalleled wide ranging achievements of Tamils exists as a challenge even now. So these are six essential characteristics according to me are the bench marks by which we should be acting or already setting examples to the world as torch bearers of the first human race, a continuing civilisation and the oldest language in existence. We are focusing on fundamental behavioural patterns of the glorious Tamils we claim to be.
Humility
Ethical
Sensitivity (no rudeness)
Self restraint
Cultural pursuits
Excellence in all we do.
Let’s repeat the question. As a Tamil, the proud Tamil we claim to be, does our behaviour match with the heritage we boast of and proudly claim to possess. As in dialectical theory, we ask for reverse questions. If we are what we claim to be then we should believe, act and feel as what we claim ourselves to be. But, sadly, if we don’t, then even if we have had a glorious past we remain as her meek inheritors and in the bargain, we have insulted our heritage and we are not better off than others. Then it can be derived that we are no worthy inheritors and possess no rights to speak on our heritage. It also means that our heritage is made up. Flaunting of wealth we don’t possess is deceit.
First, the question itself which I repeat is obnoxious, shows that we have indeed become peevish lot. On political platforms and on social media, other Tamils are threatened of disrobement of their claim as Tamils if they do not agree with a set of opinions or convictions as some claim to be epitome to be true Tamils and represent all that was glorious in the race and language. Was this a culture of Tamils or simply a nazi excercise at brow beating. If we are so exclusive, what’s our exclusive about? Our birth? Our inheritance? Our character? Our milieu? Our present economic state? Our kindness to all livings? You may answer as to where we stand now.
Does any other society try to be so protective and exclusive? This question is in variance with humility and respect for other lesser (?) races. The greater we claim we are the more humble we ought to be. If someone says he is a Tamil, instead of embracing him unconditionally often many question his ancestory, his caste and his religion. Let them be whatever. Talking on race superiority is Unacceptable under UN laws and under Constitution of India where the preamble talks about equality of people. We Tamils have apparently lost the virtues of humility. In the process,we lost out on heritage.
Ethics is moralistic character. The principle of Dharma. Doing what is right with maximum benefit to reach maximum people. Contemporary political environment needs to relook into itself and prove that its behaviour has ethics, a moral discipline within. Do you believe today’s politics is filled with people of high moral fibre? That the politicians have only the interest of people in mind, handle tax money judiciously and disregard personal benefits. That they are paradigms of virtue? Please name them. As Iam unable to find anyone with some semblance of ethics. Also please name politicians who walk the talk and take responsibilities for their actions.
Rudeness is a trait that emanates from poor self respect and self esteem. We are rude because we think someone is a threat to us. Threat to our interests. Are our interests different from others’? Rudeness a manifestion of grief and desperation sometimes . Anger arises when a situation doesn’t favour us or a violent reaction to an ordinary disappointment. Rudeness in many avatars is fundamentally the same. How many of the Tamils smile at each other or within the family every day? Sensitivity and care for others while travelling on roads. Respect laws so we all can be safe? Do we possess any social cohesion? Have you put others interest above yours and stand up for sensitivity towards others? Then you qualify to the inheritance of the glorious heritage.
Self restraint is self possession. Dignified. Remember C N Annadurai’s oft repeated Duty, Dignity, Discipline? We are talking about Dignity here. How dignified are we today? Just check social media about how abuses are exchanged between followers of film stars? Many Tamil movies amplify a hero as a rogue who by his boorish silly behaviour manages to win the love of a beautiful rich good girl. With no strength of character of goodness, how was anything possible? What’s the message here? Vulgar abuses as practiced by many Dravidian politicians do not merit any claim for the TAMIZHADA title. Irony that Kollywood movies with double meaning songs and dialogues along with tv channels that propagate adultery, criminal cunningness are gross hits. These perverted media now claim to represent Tamil and her civilisation. Tragedy of the irony is that they claim to belong to the Tamil civilisation.
If we are what we claim ourselves to be, why respond violently to other races and languages? We are #1, right? All languages emanated from us was our claim. Including English, Sanskrit, Hindi. How can we be fearful of our daughter languages? They are our own. So are all the races including the so called non existent Aryans. All races are our sons. Should we embrace our children or fear them? The congress Govt in Tamilnadu was brought down on imposition of Hindi and after fifty years, learning of tamil has dwindled for lack of government support. Instead of acting the state will blame the centre for its pro Hindi efforts which are spoken by many across nation. Yet, as God father to all languages, Tamil was projected as facing threats and Tamils taught to fear other languages. Such language hate mongering in the name of language chauvinism has become singularly unique to our land.
Irony is we have not enforced or encouraged Tamil learning in Tamilnadu. Most children learn in English medium. There is no compulsion to study tamil. Tamilnadu government have a department of Tamil development. It’s primary goal is to implement transaction of Govt business in Tamil. Without a time frame. Going by the commitment and the decreasing number of tamil graduates, this dept will have never ending work as lip service is the pastime of its members. Whatever may be the antiquity and heritage of a language, a language dies only by disuse. It’s common even in rural & urban slums to address parents as daddy and mummy instead of appa and amma. The only threat to Tamil is from within. Their Lip love to Tamil but deep admiration for other languages. Long live Tamil!
The cultural achievements of Tamils are non pareil. From grammar to poetry, from metaphysics to bronzes, from architecture to sculptures, from paintings to music, from dancing to varied forms of literature, amazing are the achievements of Tamils. The incredible hundreds of saints of Tamilnadu are known the world over. From a Philosopher President to a Scientist President were the contemporary contributions of Tamils.
Yet, Tamilnadu is witness 1000s of statues/idols being robbed. Our beliefs are mocked as superstition. Our classics reinterpreted with narrow conclusions. Never mind even during Chozha, Chera, Pallava, Pandya period the kings were fighting each other and history says even canbabalistic feasts were held on victories. We are not far away. Our great minds are seen through the prism of caste. Some mock traditional arts in the name of modernism. But the silver lining is the December Music Season when hundreds of kutcheries are held in Chennai. There has been a revival of arts and these are marks that our civilisation is true and throbbing.
Excellence is a pursuit of a civilisation. 30k idols in Meenakshi temple and some of them exuding expressions are works of such excellence. The handlooms, the silk works, the bronzes, our industries represent them. Our excellence in sports is well known. Tamil kallars can match negroids in sprinting but lack training and expertise. While Tamils living in foreign nations still epitomise excellence sadly this spirit of commitment and hardwork is waning inside Tamil territory.
Who imbibed this anticulture to replace the hoary culture of the past? Today we as Tamils blame our past for the curses of today. Remember our past makes up our culture. Look at the thousands of statues dotting the state of Tamilnadu today. Does any one statue has a resemblance to the person it was supposed to be? Film lyricists are acclaimed as great poets and with a propagandist machine anyone can become a great author. Film directors are the best minds we can produce. Every well known person has a self important glorifying title that conceals a weak mind that is trying to be boastful. Businessmen are acclaimed as great educationists, success is weighed in terms of black money accumulated and those who propagate narrow chauvinism and inciting hatred on fake conspiracy theories are considered leaders. It’s filmi stars who have the largest and deepest impact on Tamils and acting is treated as real by the incredible Tamils of today.
Tamils are unwilling to break from the negatives of the past like caste while putting up a drama of being against it. Hindu saints like Ramanuja and organisations like Arya Samaj ( which run DAV schools) worked against them honestly but fake pretensions and agitations against caste helped reinforce caste so much even converted Christians are casteist. Caste ought to be broken down with disincentives but incentives for castes is tops social goals. Casteist Tamilnadu loves caste in private but pretends to hate in public. This is mediocrity in public life. This is Tamilnadu which has not understood the ethos of Tamil spirit. Where are the brave Tamils?
Our heritage is rooted to the daily festivals that revolve around temples. This is on for many millenniums. Recently such festivals including the car festival of the famous Bragadeeshwarar temple in Thanjavur was temporarily blocked by those of foreign heritage in the name of secularism. We do not know what’s in store for future but slowly enemies within will act against traditions in the name of secularism which plainly means an antihindu stance. Tamil heritage and Dharmic traditions are inseparable. They are one.
Look at the hypocrisy of our racial theory of Aryan invasion. Let’s assume that this fake invading conspiracy as real. But the hue and cry being repeatedly made on this faded when native Hindus were invaded by foreign missionaries who converted Hindus or invading Muslim rulers who converted with a tip of their swords on the heads of Hindus. Aryan invasion was a threat while foreign invasions are secular? Will any of these contemporaries or Dravidian politicians talk about the foreign invasions taking place before our eyes instead of Aryan invasion which they never saw? This hypocrisy is called Dravidian philosophy. Irony they still insist on the hoary Tamil heritage after marauding it.
The point is we have failed to act positively on most parameters as torch bearers of the great Tamil civilisation or the tamil language. We have betrayed our heritage and values by our bile and vile. We don’t act from strength of a civilisation but as a cowardly group pretending to be something which we don’t admire,deep down. Our focus is elsewhere. On narrow benefits. So we do not tolerate ideas or questions. Those who do so are tagged as non Tamils.
If we are the father figure of humanity, there are no threats to us from other races or other languages. Because they emanated and evolved from us. All the world is a humanity, the Tamil race. All languages have a bit of Tamil in them so they are us. We are all. Unless we feel so, we are not Tamils. Just name sake inhabitants of Tamilnadu with some roots to those great Tamils of yore.
So all those who question others as to to their Tamilality are not Tamils in any sense. The holier than thou attitude was meant to conceal their non Tamil status.
Today’s Times of India quotes a known film lyricist and professional Tamil poet claiming Tamil classic Tholkoppiyum was an effort to stop Aryan invasion entering Dravidian territory. Levels to which guttersnipes go by their nonsensical interpretations to please political forces and divide people. Tholkoppiyum was the most liberal of tamil works that did not recognise caste but charlatanism being the trademark of Tamil writing today, he dares to misinterpret Tholkoppiyum because he has an audience which is semiliterate. If tamil heritage was the best amongst all and if it was the root for all other races, how can any other race invade us? Won’t mother tamil strong enough to assimilate all other languages and races within her? Tamil is not a weak language but Tamils in the truest sense with blood of a 5k year heritage have become non existent. May the God of Tamil, Lord Murugan step in! Being hurt is the first step for reformation.
Racism is totally against the spirit of humanity. Of human oneness. No race can be considered superior to others. And a superior race if any needs to show magnanimity towards lesser races and not practice untouchability. Eradication of untouchability of some castes doesn’t mean introduction of new untouchability theories. Tamil classics may indulge in self praise but never they propagate hatred of other societies.
Linguistic chauvinism is having an absurdly extravagant pride in one’s language. Loving a language is different and that means pursuing it, using it, furthering it and taking a silent pride in it. It essentially means a knowledge of the depth of the culture related to the language. Poet Bharathiyar was the sanest. He loved all languages, praised all languages but kept Tamil on a pedestal. The root, the spirit, the life of a 5 k heritage ran within him and impacts anyone who reads him even now.
As an inheritor of the great traditions, we need to study our classics. Understand them with an open mind. Form minds. Maybe we will regain our past glory. Someday. We ought to get worthy our ancestors, our saints, our great minds only by studying and imitating them.
Who is a Tamil? We all are but yet none is.
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