Speaker hits out at Governor for calling Ayya Vaikundar a ‘sanatani’
Taking exception to Governor R.N. Ravi’s observation that Ayya Vaikundar was a “sanatani”, Assembly Speaker M. Appavu has said that Ayya Vaikundar fought for institutionalising an egalitarian society as he firmly believed that all are equal.
Addressing reporters at Vijayapathi near Koodankulam in the district on Tuesday, Mr. Appavu said Ayya Vaikundar was born in 1833 when members of the downtrodden castes could not even enter the streets where the Hindu temples were located. While men from these castes were prohibited from wearing ‘thalaipaagai’ (turban) as it was treated as a symbol of authority, the ‘lower caste’ women were not allowed to wear upper garments.
Hence, Ayya Vaikundar, who preached that every human being was equal in a bid to create egalitarian society during Travancore dynasty, had to face serious consequences from those who practised sanatana dharma. Despite threats, Ayya Vaikundar won his battle against sanatana dharma and instituted his principle of egalitarian society among the oppressed communities, who were later accepted even by the oppressors.
‘Non-factual remarks’
Ayyavazhi sect chief administrator Bala Prajapathi Adigalar condemned Mr. Ravi for his “nonfactual” remarks about Ayya Vaikundar.
Addressing journalists in Kanniyakumari, he said that those who did not know history should not pass comments.
“Ayya Vaikundar waged a war against manu dharma and fought for equality, brotherhood and a casteless society. He strove to eradicate the ignorance in people. When he had called those who divided people on the basis of caste as vile persons, how can [the Governor] call him a saviour of sanatana dharma?,” the Adigalar asked.
He also flayed the Governor for misrepresenting Ayya Vaikundar as someone who tried to prevent religious conversion.
For popularity
Law Minister S. Regupathy said that Mr. Ravi wanted to be the talk of the town every day, for which he had adopted the strategy of criticising the DMK and positioning himself as an Opposition party in the State.
He was responding to a question by mediapersons in Pudukottai on Mr. Ravi’s recent remarks about Robert Cardwell.
“The Governor can talk anything. All he aspires to be is the Opposition in the State as the BJP and the AIADMK have lost relevance,” he said.