When ‘Periyar’, Ambedkar and Jinnah sailed together politically
A political controversy in Tamil Nadu has emerged over the omission of references to social reformers Periyar and B.R. Ambedkar in a government policy note. The article explores the historical context of these figures and their past attempts to form a political alliance alongside Mohammed Ali Jinnah.
Why it matters
It highlights the ongoing tension between historical legacy and contemporary political narratives in Indian state governance.
A change in the manner in which references to Dravida Kazhagam (DK) founder E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (EVR) and an icon of the Scheduled Castes (SC) B.R.Ambedkar have been made in this year’s policy note of the Tamil Nadu Backward Classes and Most Backward Classes Welfare department triggered a political row recently.
Critics have held the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led regime responsible for the omission of the references to EVR and Ambedkar, hailed by their admirers as “Periyar” and “Babasaheb,” in certain portions of the document as compared to the previous year’s policy note.
The Minister for Backward Classes Welfare, V. Sampath Kumar, told journalists late last week that a revised policy note would be issued.
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