Statues build the bridge
Statues build
the bridge
The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,
Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi and his
Karnataka Counterpart Thiru B.S.Yedyurappa have recently taken a wise step to pave the way to promote understanding and trust between the common people of the two neighbouring states. Their laudatory performance of unveiling the statue of Thiru Valluvar in Bengaluru and that of Sarvagna in Chennai will also help to improve ties between the Governments of concerned states. The two chief ministers have used the occasion to express the hope of the long-pending feuds being resolved through dialogue.
Eighteen years after the installation of the statue of the Tamil sage-poet Thiru Valluvar got entangled in unnecessary political controversy, the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister unveiled it at the premises of Tamil Sangam, Bengaluru, the capital city of Karnataka on 9th August 2009.
Though the statue of Sarvagna had been made ready since 2001, it had to wait for its installation at Jeeva Park at Ayanavaram in Chennai for around eight years for its inauguration. The Karnataka Balaga of Chennai had agreed that Sarvagna and Thiru Valluvar statues would be unveiled at the same time. The Karnataka Chief Minister unveiled the statue of Kannada saint-poet in Chennai on 13th August 2009. It was done through video-conferencing in the presence of Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi and in front of a large gathering at the Integral Coach Factory Railway Protection Force parade ground, about 1. 5 k.m. away from the Jeeva Park.
The octogenarian Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, lovingly referred to Thiru Yedyurappa as thambi (younger brother) in the Bangaluru function, and the latter responded with equal warmth calling the stalwart of the Dravidian Movement as his Perianna, (elder brother) at the event in Chennai.
Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi who has shown immense patience and sagacity amidst adverse circumstances during several years to create conditions for smooth centre-state relations, has now shown the way to soften the tempers that spoil the inter-state relations. Thiru Yediyurappa’s reciprocal gesture is highly commendable. The cordial approach of the two leaders have shown that warm friendship can be maintained even while carrying on hard discussions to resolve long-standing disputes like sharing of the Kavery river waters. They are treading an emulatory path of reciprocity and good will which must be the basis for any positive achievement.
While presiding over the Chennai function, Kalaignar endorsed the view of Thiru Yedyurappa that contentious issues should be resolved across the table. At the same time he cautioned that there were certain people who were bent upon derailing the initiative by both the governments. “We should not give room for such people but strive to resolve disputes in a cordial manner”, he urged. He clarified that unveiling of statues in both the states was not part of a bargain but was only aimed at strengthening the friendship and affection.
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister said Sarvagna’s views were progressive and similar to those of Thiru Valluvar and Periyar E.V.Ramasamy. Though they lived in different periods - Valluvar in ancient times, Sarvagna in middle ages in 16th century, and Periyar in modern days - all of them were humanists. For instance, Valluvar is angry at those who believe that there are beggars because god has created them to be so. He says if begging is the lot of some people under god’s scheme, let god himself wander begging and perish! In another verse he says that only those who feel others’ pain as their own are really alive; other people though alive are considered dead. Valluvar, like Periyar, exhorts people to use their reason and find out the truth of anything or any proposition.
While Thiru Valluvar’s verses are couplets (Kurals) Sarvagna’s are triplets, tripadis. They excelled in telling all-embracing lessons of life in a nutshell. That is why Sarvagna is called tripathi thiruvikkiraman (the lord who measured the three worlds by his three steps), and Valluvar is praised for ‘incorporating seven seas in an atom’. Like Periyar, Sarvagnar does not have unquestioning faith in Puranas and other scriptures. He ridicules the belief that Brahma is the creator of the universe. Originally he had five heads like Shiva. The latter cut off one of them in a fit of rage, and the former could not create another one to restore his original shape. That being the case, how could we attribute the creation of the world to Brahma? he asked.
Sarvagna shared with Valluvar and Periyar the idea that all are created equal, and condemned caste system based on discriminatory Varna Dharma.
We hope that the unveiling of the statues of ThiruValluvar and Sarvagna will enthuse people to march towards the establishment of egalitarian and humanistic society.
