The ongoing tussle over Tipu puts the spotlight once again on the political battle over historical icons, writes Deepti Sreeram.
O Lord, let them not say:
To whom belongs he, to whom, to whom?
Let them say: he is ours, yes ours, ours!
O Lord of Meeting Rivers,
Let them say : a son of your house!
—Basavanna, Twelfth century Virashaiva Kannada poet
Yet, the battle over the identity of a son, his importance to Kannadigas is now a bone of contention. Karnataka’s very own Tipu Sultan, an integral facet of Kannada pride and history, is in choppy waters. Last week, the Congress-led government decided to celebrate Tipu Jayanti on 10 November, a day before Diwali, for the first time. Alleging that the decision was a ‘political move’ set with the purpose of appeasing the Muslims in Karnataka, the Sangh Parivar protested against the celebrations. The protests turned violent and claimed the lives of two when the protesting Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) clashed with the Muslim group taking out a procession for commemorating Tipu.
“Not one but three VHP activists were killed in the clash,” says Surendra Jain, VHP all-India secretary. “The Muslim group — the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) from Kerala, began the attack on the VHP activists who were peacefully sitting on a dharna. The Karnataka Police have already started arresting the perpetrators yet the government and the media say that it is a clash between the VHP and the Muslim group. The so-called secular politicians from here and Kerala, along with pseudo-secular journalists, are responsible for the death of our activists.” He says. “Even if there are different versions on Tipu, what was the necessity of celebrating Tipu Jayanti now? This is nothing but a purposeful step of the Congress to be a ‘role model’ for the Muslims.”
Denne historien er fra November 28 2015-utgaven av Tehelka.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra November 28 2015-utgaven av Tehelka.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Why Did Ratan Tata Feel Compelled To Take Charge Again?
Did Cyrus Mistry fall victim to an ossified corporate culture or did he violate Tata Sons’ ethos and culture? MG BanGa tells the story so far.
Misguided Youths Or Trained Terrorists?
As part of a dangerous trend emerging across the world, homegrown ISIL sympathisers are willing and attempting to carry out deadly terror attacks without any comprehensive support system.
Indian Railways: Living In Dreams
Indian Railways is changing track, giving up its separate Budget and experimenting with surge pricing on three popular trains. That leaves the behemoth with no funds to replace ageing assets and encourage further investments.
Priyanka Gandhi Agreed To Play Bigger Role In UP
Further delay in decision making could be detrimental to the party’s goal to rejuvenate its prospects in the State Assembly elections.
Mission 2019: Banega Swachh India?
Two years ago, Modi kicked off a cleanliness drive in a spectacular way. Showing the contrast between world cities and Gurgaon, MG BANGA suggests ways in which the mission can be accomplished by 2019.
The Goodwill Enjoyed By Mehabooba Mufti Has Been Erased!
Mehbooba Mufti risks losing her popularity and irking her party ranks by using New Delhi’s rulebook to deal with the unrest in Kashmir.
Is China's Support To Pakistan, Big Threat To India?
New Delhi needs to be cautious as in Pakistan’s scheme of things, strategic ties with China can serve as a powerful weapon to deal with adversaries like India.
Panama Papers: Nawaz Sharif'S Troubles Escalate
After his name surfaced in the Panama paper leak following several other charges of money laundering filed against him, there is pressure on Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif to resign.
This Potus Will Make The World Go Bust
The man who believes global warming is a hoax and has a short attention span will now preside over the affairs not just of the United States but of the whole world. A daunting prospect.
Reel-Life Bohemians, Real-Life Hyprocrites
ADHM vs Palm Grove Heights: In cinematic life, two strangers Ranbir and Anushka meet in a pub in London and go on a kissing spree while in actual life back in India, a woman from Barcelona was evicted from her male friend’s home in Gurugram. Is cinema really a mirror of society?