It’s high time the crows of the country start crowing out in protest. Hell, ever since the art of sculpting and statue-making became popular pastimes of the human race, these winged blackies have alongside been accused of playing spoil sport. That is, the crows have always been held responsible, rather unfairly, by all and sundry for not just converting those stone images of leaders past into pet perches but also wilfully desecrating them by … well, you all know that by now, and I don’t want to raise a stink by mentioning it again. But looking at the statue-politics that is currently on stage, at the national, state as well as street levels, it would seem that humanity has heaped more ignominy on statues than all the crows collectively did, from when the first crow was born or the first statue was erected, whichever happened earlier … no, later. The crows, indeed, have a strong case for acquittal.
Statues topped the charts as the flavour of the season this past week. From MGR to Maran to Ambedkar to Periyar, all were duly resurrected in popular mind, thanks to their posthumous presence in stone or bronze. And they were in the news for all reasons: installation, desecration, destruction, positioning, size, etc. Much activity – political, judicial, legislative and even law and order – centred on them. In short, all these dead men dominated the national agenda as never before. But have all the heat, dust and grime generated over them and the blood spilled for their sake, added to their glory in any way? Rather, by gambling on the reputation of their idols and seeking to survive in their shadows, the so-called torch bearers of those long-dead men have only brought them down a few notches from their pedestals. For, while it is not decent to drag the dead into debate, it becomes inevitable in the context of the politics being played out in their names.
That Parliament, vested with the job of enacting statutes should be seized with erecting statues is an unnecessary diversion. Anyway, the national politicians and Parliamentarians would now have had a taste of what the people of TN down under are going through, after the demonstration of the kazhagam culture right in the precints of those hallowed Houses. A statue for Maran is a coalition compulsion for the UPA. But that cannot happen unless the long-pending MGR figurine too finds a place. Hence the latter’s accomodation to facilitate the former with just a day to separate their installation. Of course, we know the pomp and the personalities that accompanied both occasions to understand who is ruling the roost right in prominence and who is resting in isolation, tucked away in obscurity.
While MGR was a mass leader, he was never an MP. Maran, many times MP like many, was by no means a leader of the people. Clearly, the norms are confusing. The Parliamentary Standing Committee that decides on these things has no say in who should stand as a statue and where. That prerogative, like many other things, rests with vested interests, read allies, here. With such precedents I dread to think of some future statues now parading as politicos, jostling for cosy corners in the corridors of power even after exiting the earth! And where’s the space, anyway? Houses full!
Ambedkar would rank as the most ‘statued’ leader in this country. No doubt it speaks volumes of the loyalty and love he had elicited during his purpose-filled life time. But unfortunately, his is also the most abused figure in post-independent history, both physically and metaphorically. Desecration of Ambedkar statues is a daily affair in one part of the country or other. But worse is the smearing of his good name that is happening unchecked. The politics played out by the self-styled saviours of the underclasses purportedly for social justice bears no resemblance to Ambedkar’s preachings. In any case, what link can one draw between that good, great soul and Taj Corridors? What a Maya, this Dalit politics has turned out to be!
Back to TN, the Dravidanadu that was not. Here the man who made a career out of breaking idols of gods is the most idolised. Now, I have no means of knowing what Mahavishnu alias Perumal thought of Periyar. But everyone will vouch for what plans Periyar had for Perumal. The ultimate rationalist, on record, said that the temples at Srirangam and Chidambaram C/o Lord Shiva should be bombed out with canons. Thankfully, he could not implement the project during his lifetime, probably because canons were out of stock or simply obsolete. Or the wise rationalist thought they might back fire. But whatever, the loose-canons who have inherited or rather, appropriated his mantle, have now done him a signal dis-service. Why post him in front of a temple he detested so much and worse, why put him through the daily agony of watching all those ‘obnoxious chantings, chariots and religious charades’ that he chided so vehemently? Or is it providence that Periyar should see eye-to-eye with Perumal?
TN abounds in statue-stories with the DMK revelling in statue-planting and a passion for plaques. And Chennai has faced the brunt of such a fad.K would rank as the only living leader to have a statue. It was damaged on MGR’s death and was never reinstalled. The Horse-Hero at Gemini was put up to celebrate the abolition of racing. The horses have since bolted from the stables with Guindy often quaking under hoofs, but the hero plus horse and the plaque below him remain as such. The torments faced by Kannagi and Sivaji Ganesan are recent history. The Marina stretch is now full. So are most road junctions, with traffic cops often finding themselves in exalted company. From national leaders to caste chieftains, all have a place under the scorching Chennai sun. And more are in the waiting for their niches. And on the B-days and D-days of those leaders, the city commuters become stagnant statues on the roads.
Now to the clinching final argument: With so many statues around and growing, are there enough crows to ‘handle’ them? So, let’s be fair … to the crows, that is!
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