Tamil icon vs Hindu identity: Telangana governor joins Raja Raja Chola debate

'Concerted Bid To Hide Hindu Cultural Identity'

National award-winning director Vetrimaran's remark that there were attempts to appropriate Tamil icons like saint-poet Thiruvalluvar and emperor Raja Raja Chola and give them a Hindu religious identity has sparked a fierce debate over the mighty Chola's religious identity.

Joining the debate on whether Raja Raja Chola should be identified as a Hindu king, Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan on Thursday alleged there was a concerted effort to eclipse Hindu identities of towering figures. Tamilisai said Hinduism is a cultural identity. But there were perpetual attempts to hide the Hindu cultural identity in Tamil Nadu, she said, adding, "We must raise our voices in solidarity against such attempts."