Islamic takeover of Tamil Nadu’s Agraharams

The rise of Islamist fundamentalism in Tamil Nadu

India’s attainment of independence from British rule in 1947, in a way signalled the downfall of the Brahmin community especially in Tamil Nadu. Till then, the Brahmin community, by virtue of their proficiency in Hindu scriptures, had a qualitative knowledge edge over other communities. Islamic invaders, Portuguese pirates, French and Dutch seafarers, all made use of the Brahmins in their administrative set-up. Later the British also made use of the Brahmins, who quickly adapted to the English language. Language felicity gained for them access to foreigners and a numero uno status in the caste cum denomination hierarchy. From being a priestly community noted for proficiency in Sanskrit, it enabled them to quickly absorb foreign languages like Arabic, Persian, Portuguese, French, Dutch and English, thereby endearing them to foreigners. This helped them to leapfrog into administrative and judicial domains. From being scholars in scriptures, they distinguished themselves as administrators and jurists. Wary of relying on one community for administration, the British, successfully changed the rules of the game, by making English education accessible to all communities. An education-competition emerged for the first time in India, among different Hindu communities. Meanwhile, the continuous rule of the Portuguese, French, Dutch, and English, resulted in the emergence of cross breeds, (referred to as Anglo-Indians) who got a favourable acceptance in administration, especially in Customs, Railways, Post & Telegraph, Army, and Education. Many other Hindu communities also sought English education, which gave them social mobility, in the changed political-administrative set up. For the first time ever, the Brahmins had to encounter a challenge to their millennium-old supremacy, from communities who had imbibed English as the lingua franca. The Brahmins by virtue of being the first to adapt to the English language, had risen in the administrative ladder, and conflicts started emerging with other community entrants, who were denied appreciative work assessments, timely promotions, and prestigious posts. But when other communities entered the political fray, the game changed once again, the Brahmin community was targeted for acerbic verbal assaults and also physical assaults.

The advent of E V Ramasamy Naicker brought in the era of hate-politics especially targeting the Brahmin community. His Self-Respect Movement, and Dravidar Kazhagam, specialized in hate speeches against Brahmins and Hinduism. The Dravidar Kazhagam split, with C N Annadurai forming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), but the hate agenda was carried forward, with fresh hate targets like Hindi language in August 1960. Though agitations against Hindi started as early as 1939, the DMK, after its formation in 1949, made it more strident and violent. Along with the anti-Hindi tirade, the DMK started a hate campaign against Brahmins. Democracy, being just a game of numbers, ensured that the Brahmins, a miniscule minority, became totally redundant and neglected. Brahmins were about 7% of the state’s population in 1950, which is down to 5.75% today. Muslim Population in Tamil Nadu is 42.29 lakhs (5.86 percent) of a total of 7.21 crore, but they are more impactful because of their economic power and concentration in many places.

Many Brahmin families have left the State due to the hostile environment and settled in other parts of the country. The younger generation made a tectonic shift into the IT sector, migrating to the USA, Australia, and Europe. They have risen to the top echelons in the IT industry, education, and medical profession. But an unfortunate fallout of this exodus from Tamil Nadu has been the abandonment of ‘Agraharams’. Going back centuries, Agraharams were the dwelling houses of the Brahmins, built as row houses on either side of the road, and centred around Temples. Also known as Chaturvedimangalams, these row houses were unique in construction, and well planned.

Agraharams were built and maintained by dynasties such as the Pandya, Cholas, Kadambas, Pallavas, Vijayanagara and other Deccan dynasties since ancient times. Those who migrated and left for greener pastures, forgot about their unique ancestral houses, and sold them off to Muslims. Today, Agraharams in Tanjore, Thiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Karaikal districts, have all been bought by Muslims. Dwellings which were once resonating with Vedic chants and abodes of strict vegetarians, have become places where carcasses of slaughtered animals and birds are cooked and eaten. In the place of Sanskrit and Tamil, languages, Arabic is used. The fate of many Temples which were centrally positioned in the Agraharams, are unknown. Many have disappeared or replaced by Mosques. Agraharams now sport Arabic language names, but DMK does not feel threatened. Women wearing burqas and bearded men wearing skullcaps and Lungi reside in the Agraharams today. Where is Tamil culture? But DMK has no problem whatsoever.

Agraharams in important cities like Sirkazhi, Mayiladuthurai, Kumbakonam, Nagore, and Thiruvarur have become Islamic. In the Tanjore region, Agraharam at Chakrapalli near Ayyampettai on the Tanjore-Kumbakonam Highway has now been converted into Hajiyar Street and Qaide Millat Street. But the DMK and its leadership are least concerned about preserving the Agraharams and their sanctity, rather they are happy about the ongoing Arabization of Agraharams and the Tamil Nadu hinterland. Temple ponds have been usurped by Mosques. Neither the government is asking nor the Brahmins are protesting. The silent annexation will one day change the face of Tamil Nadu and give rise to a new political order, dominated and controlled by Arabic speaking Tamils!

But what is the Central government doing? They have a valid cause to take up, a ‘Save Agraharam Policy’. With the endorsement of the Sustainable Development Goals by UNESCO during the World Heritage Convention process, cultural heritage has become a crucial component that can contribute significantly to both socioeconomic and environmental goals. The 2030 Agenda and its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the relevance of regional diversity, global and local aspects of the culture as factors for long-term sustainability of human settlements. In India, international, national, and state agencies like UNESCO, ASI, and State Archaeological departments have a very limited number of monuments under their protection. The Kalpathy Agraharam in Palakkad in Kerala, has been declared as a heritage village by the Kerala government. Similarly, in Goa, many Portuguese style mansions have been declared as heritage structures. Most such houses are accessible only on special request or appointment either directly from the owner or through the nearest Tourist Office. Why can’t the Tamil Nadu government do such an arrangement to protect these ancient Agraharams? If the State government is not willing, why can’t the Central government step in?

If language is what rankles DMK’s top leadership, BJP should establish a Central Institute of Tamil Studies, having the status of a central university, by utilising the Agraharams? DMK has been trying to brand BJP as anti-Tamil, this narrative needs to be changed by challenging them on their home turf. By delving into the history of the Cholas and the Pandya’s, BJP can resurrect ancient heroes, and steal a march over the DMK which is besotted with unjustly glorifying one family. The BJP central leadership can do innumerable other schemes, which will make the DMK leadership scurrying for shelter and excuses.

Clearly, the BJP has much homework to do, if it has to dislodge the DMK from power. DMK supremo Stalin is cunningly adept at twisting facts to maintain his stranglehold on Tamil Nadu’s politics, as his continuing family fortunes are solely dependent on playing politics. Hence the constant refrain against Sanatana Dharma, Hindi language, and NEET, to deflect the attention of the people from real issues. Consider the position of Chennai city itself. Once among one of the four major metros of India, it has been sidelined by Bangalore and Hyderabad. The DMK is answerable for Chennai’s decline in status. BJP has enough issues to turn the tables against the ruling DMK.

Assuming that neither the State nor the Central government is interested in preserving the Agraharams, why not the NRIs who have shifted base to Western countries, especially USA? Many of the Goans who have shifted and taken citizenship in European countries, are still maintaining their ancestral homes, through agents and property management services. Tamil NRI’s settled in USA and other Western countries, can easily create a corpus to resuscitate the glory of the Agraharams and Vedic studies.

Dharmo Rakshati Rakshitah

Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.

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