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HVK Archives: "Principled" politics (a letter)

"Principled" politics (a letter) - The Hindu

D. Anjaneyulu, Chennai ()
December 23, 1997

Title: "Principled" politics (a letter)
Author: D. Anjaneyulu, Chennai
Publication: The Hindu
Date: December 23, 1997

Sir, - Your Editorial. "An unprincipled alliance" (Dec. 18) raises a
number of vital issues of socio-political significance that need to be
discussed in a rational manner and with a degree of depth as well as
consistency. While the AIADMK's decision to go in for an alliance with the
BJP in the coming Lok Sabha elections has been denounced as
"unprincipled." no example is given of a "principled" alliance to be
emulated. Which may be difficult to do, in the present confusing maze of
permutations and combin
tions. Do the Leftists and the Muslim League, Mr. Mulayam Singh's
Samajwadi and Mr Gujral's Janata, the TDP and the CPI(M), the DMK and the
TMC and such other combinations form and ideal, "principled" alliance?

Regarding the inviolate sanctity of the "Dravidian" legacy in Tamil Nadu,
is it necessary to accept a racial theory based on a hypothesis of Bishop
Caldwell, effectively used for a purpose about 30 to 40 years ago, as one
of the eternal, incontrovertible truths? Does not the concept of Dravida
(Pancha Dravida) include the Telugus, Kannadigas, Malayalees and
Maharashtrians as well as the Tamils?

"Hindutva" and the "Dravidian movement" have been presented as not only
antagonistic and antithetical but as mutually exclusive, in reality. Does
it logically follow from this that a "Dravidian" cannot be a Hindu and
vice versa?

Is it not unrealistic to project political friendships and electoral
alliances as permanent and sacred? In politics, there are no permanent
friends and permanent enemies: only permanent interests. Or even temporary
interests, as at present. If it is accepted that this State has until
recently been a model of communal harmony, are we to take it as being so
fragile that it would be seriously affected by the report of a new
two-party alliance, when the most powerful forces are in full control of
the situatio
s

In any event. is it desirable in a parliamentary democracy such as ours to
propagate the creation of a "political" untouchability on an arbitrary
criterion of "secularism" and "fundamentalism." neither of which has been
clearly defined?


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