Anna’s play, a critique of Hindu epics, taken off TN univ textbook
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:12.11.2018
The state-run Alagappa University on Friday removed from the textbooks a play penned by late chief minister C N Annadurai. The play titled ‘Neethi Devan Mayakkam’, which has been in the curriculum for MA Tamil in all the 40 affiliated and constituent colleges, is a critique of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
It has now been replaced with another play by Aru Ramanathan on Raja Raja Chozhan, said a circular sent to all the colleges under the university. S Rajamohan, dean, College Development Council, Alagappa University, said the decision was taken on a recommendation made by the board of studies.
“The board thought that students were unable to find enough guides explaining the play. They had to shell out extra money to buy them,” Rajamohan told TOI, when asked for the reason behind the decision.
Tamil scholars and Dravidian ideologues have called this explanation ridiculous.
K Ramakrishnan, a Tamil scholar from Coimbatore, said, “Neethi Devan Mayakkam, set in the 1940s debates the values demonstrated by Ramayana and Mahabaratha in front of a judge. There is no need for a separate guide explaining the content since Annadurai had adopted a straightforward and simple narrative throughout the play staged for common people across the state.”
Identify person behind univ’s decision, says K Veeramani
Condemning the move, Dravidar Kazhgam leader K Veeramani said there is an ulterior motive behind this. “The state should identify who was behind this decision taken by the university,” he said.
Seconding him, Ramakrishnan suspected the role of right-wing ideologues as a part of their nation-wide efforts to saffronize education. “An easy way to do it in Tamil Nadu is by eliminating content by Dravidian leaders like E V R Periyar and Annadurai,” he said.
Responding to the university’s claim of shortage of guides, Veeramani said, “We are taking about a university syllabus and not a high school content.” He warned of state-wide protests if the play is not reinstated immediately.
Dean Rajamohan said they were willing to stick to the old syllabus if there was opposition, and the circular sent on Friday will be declared null and void. Annadurai's plays like Or Iravu (One Night) and Velaikkari (The Maid) played a key role in communicating Dravidian ideologies to the masses and helped Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) to win its first election in 1967.
Alagappa University, which is headquartered in Karaikudi, has most of its constituent and affiliated colleges in Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram.
Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com
Chennai:12.11.2018
The state-run Alagappa University on Friday removed from the textbooks a play penned by late chief minister C N Annadurai. The play titled ‘Neethi Devan Mayakkam’, which has been in the curriculum for MA Tamil in all the 40 affiliated and constituent colleges, is a critique of Ramayana and Mahabharata.
It has now been replaced with another play by Aru Ramanathan on Raja Raja Chozhan, said a circular sent to all the colleges under the university. S Rajamohan, dean, College Development Council, Alagappa University, said the decision was taken on a recommendation made by the board of studies.
“The board thought that students were unable to find enough guides explaining the play. They had to shell out extra money to buy them,” Rajamohan told TOI, when asked for the reason behind the decision.
Tamil scholars and Dravidian ideologues have called this explanation ridiculous.
K Ramakrishnan, a Tamil scholar from Coimbatore, said, “Neethi Devan Mayakkam, set in the 1940s debates the values demonstrated by Ramayana and Mahabaratha in front of a judge. There is no need for a separate guide explaining the content since Annadurai had adopted a straightforward and simple narrative throughout the play staged for common people across the state.”
Identify person behind univ’s decision, says K Veeramani
Condemning the move, Dravidar Kazhgam leader K Veeramani said there is an ulterior motive behind this. “The state should identify who was behind this decision taken by the university,” he said.
Seconding him, Ramakrishnan suspected the role of right-wing ideologues as a part of their nation-wide efforts to saffronize education. “An easy way to do it in Tamil Nadu is by eliminating content by Dravidian leaders like E V R Periyar and Annadurai,” he said.
Responding to the university’s claim of shortage of guides, Veeramani said, “We are taking about a university syllabus and not a high school content.” He warned of state-wide protests if the play is not reinstated immediately.
Dean Rajamohan said they were willing to stick to the old syllabus if there was opposition, and the circular sent on Friday will be declared null and void. Annadurai's plays like Or Iravu (One Night) and Velaikkari (The Maid) played a key role in communicating Dravidian ideologies to the masses and helped Dravida Munnetra Kazhgam (DMK) to win its first election in 1967.
Alagappa University, which is headquartered in Karaikudi, has most of its constituent and affiliated colleges in Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram.
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