The Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister emphasized that the two neighboring states have successfully kept communal forces at bay thanks to their progressive political approaches.
Continuing his strong criticism of the BJP-led central government, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin asserted that Tamil Nadu and Kerala must unite to safeguard their language, culture, and literature from what he termed the fascist agenda of the BJP. He urged the people and political parties of Kerala to join in the fight against communal forces.
Speaking at a literary festival organized by the Malayala Manorama group in Kozhikode, Udhayanidhi emphasized the deep cultural affinity both states share. He warned that they face threats from the BJP, which seeks to impose a singular vision of “one nation, one culture, one election, one language, one dress code, one religion, and one food” on all Indian states.
“Let us join hands to protect our languages, cultures, and literature from the fascist BJP,” he declared. He elaborated on the linguistic and socio-political reforms initiated by the Dravidian movement over the past century to defend Tamil culture from the imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi.
Udhayanidhi praised Tamil Nadu and Kerala as the two most progressive states in India, noting that they have effectively resisted fascist and communal forces. He attributed this resilience to the established progressive politics in both states. He explained that before the Dravidian movement, Tamil literature primarily consisted of mythology and spiritual works, but leaders like Anna and Kalaignar promoted literature rooted in human experience and popular culture.
“The Dravidian movement positioned Tamil as central to Tamil identity,” he stated, asserting that the language represents not just communication but a voice for the community seeking recognition, dignity, and freedom from Hindi imposition.
He also referenced the core values of equality, rationalism, and anti-religious beliefs upheld by the Dravidian movement, highlighting their influence on Tamil Nadu’s language policies, cultural festivals, and educational curriculum.
Udhayanidhi pointed out that the pride in Tamil language and literature has driven discussions about state autonomy and cultural excellence. He remarked that earlier resistance to linguistic subordination was often labeled divisive by nationalistic forces. However, he noted that history has shown these so-called nationalists, who wish to impose Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking states, are the true divisive elements and threats to national unity.
He concluded by expressing pride in the Dravidian movement’s efforts to protect languages from Hindi imposition, adding that he still possesses the ‘AIIMS-Madurai brick’ and is ready to return it whenever the Union government allocates the necessary funds.