Rayer’s pro-BJP remarks led to strong local Tamil backlash

 

From M Satees

RSN Rayer, the MP for Jelutong, may be Tamil by ethnicity or cultural heritage, but his recent actions reveal a profound disconnect from the ethos of the global Tamil community.

RSN Rayer.

At the Tamil heritage conference in Penang on Jan 4, he expressed support for BJP leader K Annamalai as the next chief minister of Tamil Nadu. His comments provoked significant backlash, leading to his abrupt exit from the event.

I was informed that one of the participants was a state minister in the government of Tamil Nadu who apparently was so upset by Rayer’s remarks he might officially lodge a complaint with the Penang government. By the way, the Penang chief minister officiated the conference.

Tamil sentiments

To understand the depth of the backlash, one must recognise that the Tamil identity has been shaped by its opposition to North Indian cultural hegemony, including the imposition of Hindi as a national language and the central government’s neglect of Tamil as one of the world’s oldest languages.

Additionally, Tamils have long resisted the caste-based ideology of Hindutva promoted by the BJP, which they perceive as a Brahminical imposition incompatible with Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian socio-political ethos.

This resistance explains why the BJP has struggled to gain a foothold in Tamil Nadu, holding no parliamentary or state assembly seats, despite the flaws of the state’s Dravidian parties.

Ironically, the BJP’s presence often consolidates support for Dravidian parties, as they are seen as defenders of Tamil identity against northern political and cultural domination.

Rayer’s misstep

Rayer’s open endorsement of Annamalai was not just tone-deaf, it was culturally and politically provocative. The audience’s hostility, including an outburst calling for him to stop speaking, reflected the strong anti-BJP sentiment pervasive among Tamils.

Rayer’s comments also ignored the pride Tamils take in their language, literature, and identity, as well as the suffering endured by diasporic Tamil communities.

To advocate for a leader like Annamalai, who represents a party perceived as antithetical to Tamil interests, was bound to alienate his audience.

Rayer’s failure lies in his lack of understanding of, and an insensitivity to, the political ethos of Tamils, who value autonomy and cultural pride over affiliations with northern political ideologies.

To participate meaningfully in Tamil conferences or similar platforms, politicians like Rayer must first appreciate these complexities. Without this knowledge, it is easy to make remarks that are not only unpalatable but deeply offensive to the community.

A call for accountability

It remains unclear whether Rayer has apologised for his remarks, but doing so would be a necessary step towards mending ties with the Tamil community.

A public apology, coupled with a demonstration of genuine effort to understand Tamil cultural and political concerns, would show humility and willingness. - FMT

M Satees is the secretary of the Urimai interim council.

The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of MMKtT.