The recent statements by Udhayanidhi Stalin, Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development of Tamil Nadu, also a member of the ruling DMK, have ignited a controversy surrounding his comments on Sanatana Dharma, leading to calls for accountability from various quarters. The remarks were made at the Eradicate Sanatan Conference, where he referred to Sanatana Dharma as a “pathogen” that should be eradicated.

The hate speech has prompted widespread debate and criticism, including a response from Dushyanth Sridhar, a multifaceted personality in the world of scriptures and mainly an upanyasaka who shared his thoughts on the matter during a Times Now discussion. Dushyanth Sridhar expressed deep concern about the words used in Udhayanidhi Stalin‘s remarks.

Dushyanth Sridhar highlighted several key points relating to the issue: 

Origin and Essence of Sanatana Dharma: Sridhar emphasized the core values of Sanatana Dharma, such as truth, righteousness, and respect for others. He cited examples from ancient texts like the Ramayana and Bhagavad Gita, where the words Sanatana Dharma appear. 

HR&CE Minister shares the stage with Udhayanidhi Stalin at this conference:

DMK Minister Sekhar Babu of the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) department, which is responsible for temple maintenance, was on the stage where everyone discussed the eradication of Sanatana Dharma. This juxtaposition raised eyebrows, especially given the simultaneous promotion of an “anti-caste” stance of the DMK and DK on various public platforms.

Adding to the situation’s complexity is the widely known fact that Sekhar Babu had literally chased his daughter out of the state when she married someone from a different caste. This personal history contradicts the public narrative of advocating for equal treatment of all castes.

On EV Ramasamy Naicker aka Periyar: 

Sridhar highlighted historical incidents, including actions by leaders like Periyar, who had made controversial statements against Sanatana Dharma in the past. He called attention to incidents of temple vandalism and derogatory remarks about Hindu deities.

1. In 1971, Periyar conducted a rally involving effigies of Lord Rama and Sita. During this event, he placed a chappal (sandal) garland around the effigies and used derogatory language, referring to Sita as “Keemayanam” and insinuating her as a prostitute. EVR also advocated for the destruction of Ganesha idols and the storming and bombing of temples in places like Chidambaram and Srirangam.
2. EVR criticised the Tamil language, labeling it as “barbaric” and a language of the uncivilized. He also contested claims of women’s empowerment within Sanatana Dharma.
3. It is said that EVR married his own daughter, contributing to a clouded ideological background.
4. The Dravidian ideology, influenced by Periyar, has been associated with controversial practices, including polygamy and a lack of women’s representation in leadership roles.
5. It is pointed out that figures like Valmiki, who belonged to the Shudra caste, are respected in the Tamil tradition despite their caste origins. This emphasizes that Sanatana Dharma, in theory, does not discriminate against or underestimate individuals based on their caste.
6. The emergence of the Dravidian ideology was backed by Periyar in South India. Prior to that, there was no distinct Dravidian ideology, and the society largely adhered to the principles of the Vedas and Vedanta.
7. In 1957, Periyar made a public speech in which he openly called for the destruction of agraharams (traditional Brahmin settlements) and advocated for the killing of thousands of Brahmins. This extreme stance led former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to describe Periyar as a “lunatic” and suggest that he be placed in an asylum.

The Hindu community is an orphaned community

Dushyanth Sridhar reiterated his opening remarks as his closing remark saying, “If there is an orphaned community in Bharata Desam, that is the majority Hindu community, nobody will raise a voice.”

Such an instance begs whether declaring Bharat as a Hindurashtra will improve things for the majority of Hindus.