Violent protests rocked the campus of IIT Madras over the recital of a Sanskrit welcome song at an event.
WHAT WAS THE EVENT ABOUT?
The event in question was the foundation stone laying ceremony for National Technology Centre of Ports, Waterways and Coasts to be set up along with IIT Madras.The Director of IIT,Bahskar Ramamoorthy,was present at the event.The event was also attended by Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways,Shipping and Water Resources and Pon Radhakrishnan,Union Minister of State for Finance.
WHY THE PROTEST?
It is observed that traditionally it is “Tamil Thaai Vazhthu” written by Mnomaniam Sundaram Pillai,the state song,which is¬† is played in the beginning in government functions in the state followed by the national anthem in the end.But it has been reported that during the event a Sanskrit song,”Maha Ganapathim Manasa Smarami which had been penned by late poet Muthuswami Dickshitar was sung by the students after the arrival of honorable guests.This move hasn’t gone down well with the students of the state who staged protests against this alleged attempt of Sanskritization of Dravidian Culture.
The incident also invited the wrath of the MDMK chief of Tamil Nadu,Vaiyapuri Gopalsamy.He alleged that the Centre is trying to impose Hindi and Sanskrit in the state and strict actions should be taken against everyone responsible.He was reported saying ‘Both Nitin Gadkari and Pon Radhakrishnan,who were at the function should publicly tender an apology for the incident,as singing of the Tamil invocation song is the usual practice in any government institution.’
WHAT DID THE AUTHORITIES SAY?
The director of IIT Madras clarified the situation and stated that no directions were issued by the institution for singing a particular song.he was quoted saying ‘We do not issue any directions to the students.It is they who choose the invocation song and render it on such occasions.’¬†The authorities said that they were not trying to impose anything on the students.
