THE GREAT INDIAN CIRCUS
Time was when the India beyond the Vindhyas was a forbidden land. The seclusion of the regions down south from the mainstream was owing to several reasons- historical, geographical and self-imposed. Historical and geographical barriers disappeared with the passage of time, but the advent of the Dravidian movement in Tamilnadu brought in its wake the political isolation of the State. Though leaders of stature like Rajaji and Kamaraj, who hailed from the State, strode the national scene like colossuses, on par with the northern stalwarts like Nehru and Patel, their tribe in Tamilnadu was only on the decline. If the anti-Hindi agitation created a marked rift in the minds of the northern populace, the end of the Congress rule in the State, which paved the way for the first Dravidian government, signalled the completion of the State’s total isolation.
The DMK’s Annadurai, being a moderate, had by then given up the secessionist demands, but his premature death ensured that his successor continued with the radical rhetoric. MGR’s AIADMK was once again a moderating force, which believed in the importance of a non-confrontationist approach to the Centre. Despite being subjected to stringent criticism for ‘diluting’ the Dravidian ideologies, MGR stood firm and his party can certainly take the credit for reinduction of the State into the mainstream, a trait that is discernible in his successor too. In fact, whatever the criticism, Jayalalitha’s bold decision to align with the BJP, even as the major part of the polity treated it as an untouchable, does herald a new era in Tamilnadu politics that can only increase the role of the State at the national level in the days to come.
The DMK under Karunanidhi, which still parades itself as the champion of Tamil self-respect and rationalism, had never really reconciled itself to the increasing confluence of the north and south as it saw in that development a trimming down of its own spheres of influence. Political ground realities have however forced the party to tone down its stand on several issues including its virulence against Hindi, though the party never misses a chance to flex its muscles against the ‘Aryans’ as is evident from its misadventures whenever it had been in power.
Perhaps, they realised that the overdose of radicalism has made their party obese, but they still think, at least for old times’ sake, that a small diet of such rhetoric could still be in order to keep its flock of co-borns intact as also for the consumption of some zealots who still infest the party. The upper crust of the party has of course, long back mingled into the mainstream what with the leader’s family itself leading the way and extending its tentacles to hithertofore prohibited realms. An important functionary or rather the important man who is also the Chief Minister’s conscience keeper, besides being a Union Minister, is known for his fluency in Hindi that can put even Hindi pundits to shame while the party’s mouthpiece on satellite, that functions from the Arivalayam ironically, has broken new grounds in languages, other than Tamil. Rationalism has been another casualty with yellow shawls replacing the ones with black and red borders and alliance partners who begin their campaigns at Mangadu on an auspicious no-moon day. Of self-respect the less said the better for it is now at the feet of the silver screen superstar whose off-screen daily somersaults are keeping them on tenterhooks.
With such last posts of the north-south mental divide crumbling, either by choice or by compulsion, the north appears to be now invading the south with a vengeance, with the south reciprocating with its well-known traditional hospitality. Two coalition governments at the Centre in recent times did have a generous sprinkling of dhoti-clad southerners while the BJP’s present alliance with the AIADMK is certain to give the former a foothold in the Dravidian land. Although there always existed a certain level of personal affinity between the leaders of the north and the south, owing to political alignments, such camaraderie rarely percolated to the cadre level in the past. The present election is in that respect a watershed. Perhaps for the first time, the people and cadres of various parties in the State have a feeling that they are part of a common national spirit that transcends geographical and language barriers and throws to the winds conventional motives for voting. Though local issues still may have a bearing on the final result, the fact that the Kuppans and Subbans of the State are standing at street corners, talking about Vajpayeeji and Soniaji, is an indication that the merger of the State with the national psyche is indeed complete.
There is of course a lighter side to the whole scenario. It was indeed an experience for the southern leaders, especially the die-hard Tamil protagonists and voters alike to be introduced to some of the northern lexicon. They never knew there were ‘ji’s besides sojji and bajji. A Ramadoss or a Thamizhkudimagan would have first been baffled and looked around wondering who Advani or Gujral was referring to when they said Ramadossji or Thamizhkudimaganji. It is no longer so now and they in fact seem to enjoy such reverential references. The cadres of the various parties, who were comfortable with ‘anne’s, meaning brother, are now getting used to the ‘Jis’ that come as a respectful suffix to every name in Hindi. DMK and AIADMK partymen are no longer confounded by a Gujral or Advani referring to their leaders as Karunanidhiji or Jayalalithaji respectively. In fact, our reporters who toured various constituencies say that the cadres have taken to the ‘ji’ business with a flourish and are really enjoying their campaign meetings with the various ‘ji’s from the north.
Whatever the outcome of the alliances between Annan Gujral and Karunanidhiji or Jayalalithaji and Annan Advani, the polls besides helping the people shed a 50-year old purdah also did offer a lot of fun for the voter, I mean, Voterji.
Rejoice, Readerji.
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