For a party rooted in nationalist ideology and known for its commitment to secular ideology, the DMK-led Tamil Nadu government has surprised many in the state by hosting a grand conference for the Hindu god Murugan, with political considerations driving the decision.
On Saturday, Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the two-day International Muthamizh Murugan Conference in the temple town of Palani in Dindigul district via video conference from Chennai, emphasising Lord Murugan’s cultural and spiritual significance to Tamil Nadu.
Tamil Nadu, is one of the Indian states with the most Hindu symbols in the public sphere and a visible Hindu culture in people’s lifestyles and daily transactions.
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Lord Murugan is significant because he is considered a “Dravidian” god whose popularity is gauged by the fact that he is revered in most Tamil Hindu households and adorns the walls of their homes, barring mostly those of the upper castes.
The motive behind organising the conference also extends beyond mere cultural pride. According to DMK insiders, it was felt necessary to organise such an event to counter the BJP that has become more visible in the state in recent years even if it has not had the electoral impact it would have desired.
The BJP over the years has made a play for the Tamil Hindu votes and has been trying to portray the DMK as “anti-Sanatan Dharma” on the back of the controversies caused in recent years by the statements of DMK leaders such as A Raja and Udhayanidhi Stalin, a state minister and CM M K Stalin’s son.
The event, DMK leaders say, is as much about celebrating Lord Murugan’s significance as it is about navigating the political landscape in a state where religious identity is increasingly becoming a focal point.
The BJP’s political strategy over the past few years elicited this response from the DMK to the political challenges posed by the Opposition party and reclaimed the cultural narrative. In November 2020, then BJP state president L Murugan announced the Vel Yatra in the run-up to the Assembly elections in May 2021.
The campaign, he claimed, was an effort to defend Hindu interests in the state. The party has made an effort to consolidate Dalits and certain OBC votes along with its core base of upper-caste Hindus, going about it in a complex manner.
The conference is being held in Palani, the most significant of the six major Murugan temples in the state. Over the weekend, the conference will see research seminars, virtual reality shows, a three-dimensional music theatre show, and a photo exhibition behind held.
The conference has brought together Murugan devotees and scholars from across the globe.
Awards will be presented in the names of 15 notable Murugan devotees, including Nakkirar, Bhogar, Arunagirinathar, Kumaragurubarar, Pamban Swamigal, Annamalai Reddiar, Murugammayar, Baladevarayar, Thirumuruga Kirubananda Variyar, Thenoor Varakavi Chokkalinganar, Kandhapuranak Kachiyappar, Pazhikkuthar, Chidambar Swamigal, Vannacharappam Dandapani Swamigal, and Maambalak Kavichinga Navalar.
Inaugurating the conference, Stalin said the “sacred town of Palani” holds a special place in the hearts of millions of devotees, not just in Tamil Nadu but across the world. The CM also focussed on his government’s efforts to advance the infrastructure at the Palani temple, ensuring a comfortable pilgrimage experience for all devotees.
Stalin’s speech at the event was carefully crafted to appeal to both the spiritual and cultural pride of Tamils while subtly reinforcing the DMK’s secular credentials. “The Tamil language, with its rich heritage, has always been at the forefront of cultural and spiritual progress.
Through Lord Murugan’s grace, the three components of Tamil culture — literature, music, and drama — have flourished and attained greatness. The teachings and stories of Lord Murugan continue to inspire us, guiding us through the challenges of life with wisdom and strength,” he said.
However, former state BJP chief Tamilisai Soundararajan asked why Stalin didn’t attend the event in person. Questioning the motive behind the DMK’s unexpected embrace of a religious event, she said Stalin and Udhayanidhi skipping the event suggests that the DMK government was organising the conference only as a “token gesture”.
