DR.R.NAGASWAMY’S REPLY TO M.K.

STALIN

This has reference to the statement by Stalin, the President of DMK party, published in your paper on
3rd March 2019, on my appointment as a member of the selection committee for awards of Central Institute of
Classical Tamil (CICT) for Tamil scholars. I have not received any communication till date about this
assignment and also the term of reference on that aspect. I have also nothing to say about his complaint about
the Central Government not providing funds encouragement to the institute as I have nothing to do about them
in any manner.

However, I would like to clarify certain points on which Stalin has commented on my contribution to
Tamil studies. He claims, I have belittled the Tamils by asserting Valluvar’s Kural is rooted in “Vedas”.

First I had the good fortune to be closely associated with great personality Dr.Kalaingar from day one
of his election in 1967 till his demise and have received his admiration and praise throughout. He asked me to
compose Tamil poems, which he got inscribed on stone at Pumpuhar and Kattabomman’s monument at
Panchalakurichi. He wrote about me in his daily paper in appreciation of my Tamil work as late as 2010. He
appointed me as Vice Chairman of the Exhibition committee for the Chemmozhi Maanadu, Coimbatore in
2010/2011. In 2011 he honoured me at the Great temple of Tanjore for my book on Chola art . Dr.Kalaingar
once told me that I was close to his heart and will support me at all times. I also recall that Stalin himself
praised me when he came to the Bronze exhibition at Tanjore in the Sangeetha Mahal in 2011.

I want to recall to two recent incidents. First 15 days back. I was at Bangladesh, a Muslim country,
attending an International conference, on Bengal Arts and the organizer, Prof. Enamul Haque a distinguished
scholar said, he was dedicating the proceedings of that conference to me as a tribute to my contribution to
Tamil and neighbouring countries. Last week, an English Professor working for UNESCO, London who met
me and told that he was my student for the past thirty years and my books were the texts he studied in London
University. My works on Tamil art and culture for the past sixty years are known the world over. Hence
Stalin’s statement that I am anti- Tamil is untenable

It is amusing that Stalin says I have belittled Thirukkural by asserting it was rooted in vedic tradition.
This is not just my view, but the views of great scholars before me for the past 1000 years. Parimelalagar and
other traditional commentators and western scholars of 17th century – Father Beschi; 18th Century, Mr. Ellis and
Father G.U.Pope 19th century (1886) and Dr. U.V.Swaminatha Iyer 20th century all great men have said in no
equivocal terms that Thirukkural has roots in Vedas. Stalin should ask Tamil experts to read G.U.Pope for his
statement that Kural follows Upanishads, Manu Dharma Sastra and Bhagavad gita. Here I shall give one
example. Pope says in his book, Thiruvalluvar Nayanar, published 1886, that “Thirukkural follows Bhagavad
Gita”. He also says in the notes on Kural that Valluvar used the Chandogya Upanashid – “Tat Tvam Asi” -
There are more than hundred references to Manu Dharma Sastra, and Bhagavad gita by G.U.Pope. I don’t think
Stalin is even aware of 300 years of Tamil historical studies thereby exposing himself and his ignorance of
Tamil language among world Tamil scholars. I suggest he revise his appeal to Govt. of India to save himself
the embarrassment.

Dr.R.Nagaswamy
Chennai

March 7, 2019