Author:
Publication: Organiser
Date: June 16, 2002
It is now widely acknowledged that
it was Shree Narayana Guru who saved Kerala from total conversion to Christianity,
more than 150 years ago. But for the Guru and his strong stand against
Christianity, a large number of the so-called backward class of Kerala
would have become Christian, as in the North-east. The Sree Narayana Dharma
Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, started with the inspiration from the Guru has
completed 100 years of its existence. At this juncture, when Kerala is
facing increasing threats from Islam and Christianity and when the Hindu
population of Kerala is coming down day by day, the people are looking
for revival in Hinduism.
The present general secretary of
SNDP Yogam Shri Vellapalli Natesan's criticism of a section of against
Christians, Muslims and Marxists have raised many eyebrows. In an exclusive
interview to Organiser correspondent S. Chandrasekhar, Shri Natesan speaks
on a wide range of issues from minority appeasement to Hindu unity. Excerpts:
Q. Your strong utterances against
the Christians have earned you the the epithet Hindu communalist Kindly,
elucidate that aspect.
A. The Christians who are roughly
25 per cent of the population of Kerala have enormous money and political
power. They control the economy, agriculture, industry, education and health
sectors in Kerala. Although they are in various denominations like Latin
Catholic, Dheevra, Roman, Protestant, Syrian, Malankara, etc, when an issue
concerns Christianity, they are all one. Similarly Christians like Oomen
Chandy, K.M. Mani, P.J. Joseph, T.M. Jacob and others, who although they
belong to different parties in, UDF and LDF, act in tandem and unison on
an issue concerning Christians. The Christians run 105 professional and
other colleges in Kerala whereas the Hindu communities together have a
meagre 25 colleges. The Hindu Ezhava community has no medical/ engineering
college in Kerala. These are controlled by Muslims and Christians. The
Christians with their political clout and foreign money power are trying
to destroy the Hindu communities of Kerala. When I speak out against this
bias, I am branded a Hindu communalist, but I don't care.
Q. What about the Muslims?
A. The Muslims who are 17 per cent
of the population of Kerala have also enormous political clout and money
power. They own almost all the schools and colleges in the 6 districts
of north Kerala. Arabic is taught in schools at government expense. Till
date the education portfolio of Kerala is held either by a Muslim or a
Christian, when UDF or LDF is in power. This pampering of Christians and
Muslims by successive governments will eventually lead to social discord.
Q. What about the encroachments
on forest land, especially at Mathikettan Shola?
A. Not only in Mathikettan, but
in almost all the forest areas of Kerala, there has been widespread encroachment
aided and abetted by the Church and Christian politicians. Hundreds of
crosses have been planted in forest areas of Kerala. Large-scale plundering
of forest wealth and ganja cultivation is going on for years. Even the
tribal agitation for allotment of forest land is a Christian ploy to encroach.
I see it as part of a worldwide plot to crush Hinduism.
Q. What about the largescale conversions
of Hindu Ezhavas to Christianity in Idukki district?
A. Idukki is a district where the
Christians have immense network and money power. The Hindus here are poor
and backward. With the lure of money, house and employment, etc, missionaries
are indulging in massive conversions. Even education is denied to those
refusing to adopt Christianity. We are working hard for social and economic
uplift of the Hindus there to prevent further exodus. As a result, we are
getting threats from Christians, but we will continue our work.
Q. Of late, you have become extremely
critical of the CPM; why?
A. Since the 1940s, the Ezhava
community has been the backbone of the Communists. They have used this
community politically, but not allowed us to grow socially. 99 per cent
of the martyrs of Communist agitations are from our community. They have
trampled us and have not given us our share of political or social power.
During the Nayanar led LDF rule, they attacked the Sree Narayana College
in Quilon and destroyed property worth lakhs of rupees. The headquarters
of the SNDP Yogam was also attacked. Statues of Sree Narayana Guru were
beheaded, defaced and destroyed all over Kerala by CPM goons. No action
was taken by the then CPM government. Even during the allotment of plus
two schools, the Nayanar government gave 300 schools to Christians and
Muslims whereas Hindu communities were given only 15 schools. They are
now after minority vote-banks. Hence we taught them a lesson during the
2001 elections. Anti-Hindu leaders like P.J. Joseph, P.K. Gurudasan and
Mercykutty Amma were targeted and defeated. The CPM has buried communist
idealism and ideology.
Q. What about the reported clashes
with CPM in Malabar area?
A. The SNDP Yogam has made enormous
plans to strengthen the community all over Kerala with specific reference
to Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, etc. Here large number of CPM cadres
are flocking to SNDP. As a result, we are facing stiff resistance from
CPM. Even physical attacks; but we are going forward in full strength.
Since politicians understand only the language of vote-banks, we are planning
to make the SNDP Yogam a powerful Hindu vote-bank.
Q. What about the controversy regarding
liquor policy of the Government and the antiliquor agitation spearheaded
by Bishop Sosapakiyam?
A. I agree with your contention
that Sree Narayana Guru strongly spoke against liquor. But unfortunately
over a period of time, toddy-tapping and its trade has become the main
occupation of the Ezhava community. Governments have recognised and legalised
it. But the antiliquor agitation by Bishop Sosapakiyam is nothing but a
Christian ploy to economically crush the Ezhava community. It is a strategic
move to help the thousands of bars and bar-attached hotels being run by
Christians all over Kerala. Lakhs and lakhs of litres of liquor, spirit
and illicit liquor are flowing into Kerala with the connivance of the Church
and Christian political leaders. If the Government introduces total prohibition
in Kerala, we will wholeheartedly welcome it. But the present policy will
only help the bars and bar hotels run by Christians.
Q. You have strongly reacted against
the controversial Rain Dance held in Kochi recently?
A. The night long Rain Dance was
conducted in a property owned by the Church. The vicar of the island and
his two brothers participated in the Rain Dance along with hundreds of
locals and foreigners. All of them, including the vicar were boozing all
through the night. 14,000 litres of drinking water was wasted to create
an artificial rain, whereas in many islands of Kochi, there is no drinking
water. Moreover this is alien to our culture. There is a move to promote
sex tourism in Kerala. We Hindus should strongly protest against this.
While all other print and visual media reported this, the Malayala Manorama
(owned by Christians) and Kairali TV (CPM channel) blacked out this issue.
This shows that the CPM wants to pamper minority vote-banks. It does not
want to embarass Christians.
Q. What about your recent interactions
with BJP leaders?
A. I have great respect and regard
for RSS leader P. Parameshwaran and BJP leader and Union Minister of State
for Railways, O. Rajagopal. I felt happy when Parameshwajji said that it
was Sree Narayana Guru and SNDP which saved Hinduism in Kerala. Many of
our workers are also RSS cadres. We are also prepared to co-operate with
the Hindu organisations to tackle the CPM, since they are our common enemy.
Q. Is there any political relevance
for Hindu unity at present?
A. I am proud to have been born
a Hindu and have also great pride in our culture. But we are now in the
process of strengthening our house and developing it into a powerful vote-bank.
But on issues affecting the Hindus of Kerala, we are certainly prepared
to co-operate with the Nair Service Society (NSS), RSS, BJP and others.
