The Hindu and Medai Pechalar

Cinema and charisma aside, there is one understated reason for the stranglehold the Dravidian parties have achieved on the political landscape of Tamil Nadu

Street side political awareness of their ‘ideology’ and concomitant popular mobilization that they have achieved is largely due to the surfeit of “Medai pechalars”in their ranks.

Stage Orators –that’s the nearest English translation that I can come up for this .However it does not do justice to the profound ‘nativeness’ of this Tamil word. (With the danger of being accused as closet chauvinist, Tamil is incredibly rich language that deserves every bit of its classical tag)

“Medai pechalar”are exemplary orators-all ‘fire and brimstone’ (apologies for using religious allegory to describe supposedly agnostic, godless Dravidian political world).Their originality and creativity is to be seen or should I say ,heard to be believed.

Energised with two or three liberal servings of ‘Golie Soda’ during the course of their speech, they spew venom on their political opponents in the most crass and vulgar way . The assembled audience gleefully lap it up all.

By drawing analogies and allegories from ancient Tamil Literature , Tamil Movies ,global political developments, Mahabharat/Ramayan/Bible ,contemporary national political scene ,they create engaging and compelling canvas that manages to keep the audiences spellbound.

As quickly as they move from one meeting to another they also keep switching loyalities from D Dravidian formation to A Dravidian formation and back .One professional Pechalar joined Congress party albeit very briefly and made a quit ,uneventful exit .Reason-he said Congress doesn’t organize enough political meetings for his trade to flourish and eke out a living .

By all accounts Medai Pechalar get a subsistence wage of Rs 100(even the celebrated ones) with added incentive of autorickshaw pick up and drop from/to residence , sumptuous lunch, which is mostly briyani packed from the nearby military mess plus 60 ml Gold Monk rum or Monitor brandy

ADMK Medai Pechalar can typically be heard describing Jayalitha as “Joan of Arc”,”Jhansi Ran’,” Mother Theresa” and “Maragert Thatcher” all rolled in to one (this would be potentially countered by Medai Pechalar from the opposing Dravidian camp with retort” This explains her size”. This is just how dirty it gets)

Another famous stage speak was the hyperbole on how Clinton advised Katrina relief efforts committee to take inspiration from Jayalalitha’s work on Tsunami

“Hitting below the belt” AIADMK stagespeak includes linking the construction of flyover in the heart of Chennai city to the alleged bigamy of CM who initiated the project .Pechalars felt that flyover was bulit to facilitate his travel from one “house” to another ,with no traffic jams to worry .The other notable speaks centred around his supposedly stage managed theatrics when the high-handed Chennai Police clamped down on his house at wee hours

The other side of political divide, the original Dravidian political party, DMK boasts of impressive array of Medai Pechalars who revel in wisdom,wit and not the least in sexist innuendoes and crass cracks (That their principal antagonist happens to be lady makes it easier) .

In one particular speech that was purported to emphasis the ‘secular’ credentials of Karunanidhi ,’biological explanation’ of Ram’s birthplace was provided as opposed to the ‘geographical’ birthplace beliefs of Ram bhakts. Infact the speaker incurred the wrath of the law enforcing authorities for coming up with this Dravidian variation of 'secularism '

Its rumored that the most infamous is the one on the bio-break taken by the lady CM of the state .Decency demands that I don’t elaborate this one though I need to add that DMK Medai Pechalar ,who is credited with this ,is now cooling is heels in ADMK

This brings me now to the original purpose of the post

While ending their fiery speech, Medai Pechalar never fail to describe the Dravidian Ruler of the day as “Tamizhagathin Neeranthara Mudhalvar” (Permanent Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu)

When it was only used by the Medai Pechalar, who largely operated on the fringes of the political space and not part of serious political debate, this bit on "Neeranthara Mudhalvar" was largerly ignored by the so-called intelligentsia and informed citizens of the Tamil Nadu. However very soon the ruling class - Ministers, MLA’S and even some IAS officers started using the tag of “Neeranthara Mudhalvar’. And the coinage soon began to epitomize the sycophancy and unabashed adulation that Dravidian Thailvars and Thalaivees bask in the Tamil Land and degeneration of the political culture in the state .

When the mainstream political class started using this description, the so called intelligentsia took affront to it (and rightly so) because the description smacked of utter disregard for democratic traditions .How can someone be anointed as permanent chief minister especially when there are election to be fought ,potentially every 5 years or even less ,where people can either throw out the incumbent government or renew the mandate .

With the benefit of hindsight wisdom, it seems intelligentsia have unnecessarily got worked up about the “Neeranthara Mudhalvar”(Permanent Chief Minister ) thing.

Very recently, pride of the so-called intelligentsia editoralised with references to the “Permanent Government” not of China but of Indian state of West Bengal

I dare say that “The Hindu” is now imminently taken the first step towards becoming the “Medai pechalar” of the CPM

The so-called intelligentsia will fume when the political class does it but when this red rag-tag of a newspaper that masquearades as respectable one indulges in this ……………………………..

PS-Related Reading

1.Thanks the ever alert Jagadish for firing the first slavo

2.Chenthil's post on The CPM’s press release describing CPM lead government of WB as “Permanent Government”

3.I am prone to committing typos/grammatical errors Since there is no recorded vists of "The Hindu journalists visiting my blog,i hope there are no corrections suggested