Author: M. Anand
Publication: IndiaInteracts.com
Date: January 24, 2007
URL: http://indiainteracts.com/columnist/2007/01/24/Karunanidhi-and-Sai-Baba--do-symbols-matter-any-more/
Karunanidhi, the only confirmed atheist among
our political long distance runners, has virtually diluted his anti-God and
anti-Godmen stand when he shared a public platform with Sathya Sai Baba, the
Godman with probably the largest number of followers in this country. And
went on to equate him with the Almighty since he was noble hearted and was
serving humanity.
In the process Karunanidhi even drew a parallel
between himself and Sai Baba calling them two branches of a river that ultimately
benefits mankind. And the rash of freebies being distributed by his financially
stretched government was compared to the free education and medical treatment
being given by the Sathya Sai Trust. If only he had produced a gold ring or
vibhuthi out of air Karunanidhi would have emerged as the Sai Baba's long
lost twin.
True, the DMK veteran and the first disciple
of atheist iconoclast EVR Periyar was only expressing his thanks and that
of thousands of Chennaiites for Baba's help in funding Rs.200 to line the
water canal that fetches Krishna water from Andhra Pradesh to Chennai. So
you might ask, how can saying thanks to Sai Baba amount to dilution of Karunanidhi's
beliefs?
Let us apply this simple logic. The funding
for the canal project comes from the Sathya Sai Trust which in turn has given
this money from the huge donations of Sai Baba's devotees from the world over.
Mind you this trust does not solicit for donations
unlike many other spiritual outfits and all its revenues are from voluntary
donations from the world over which in turn are spent on for charity work
like building hospitals, educational institutions and also infrastructure
works like water supply other than relief operation during natural calamities.
So those who send their money to the Sai Baba
Trust are devotees of Baba and his spiritual prowess - either in healing diseased
bodies or producing lingams or vibhuthi out of thin air or masterminding huge
public welfare projects for the good of the common man. It is out of faith
in his personality and his deeds have millions donated to the trust run by
him, convinced that the money would be put to proper use.
So every paisa out of this Rs.200 crore used
to fetch Krishna water to Chennai have come out of pockets of believers -
a majority of them Hindus whom Kalaignar regularly berates. For example the
Athirudhra Maha Yagnam that is happening at the same time elsewhere in Chennai
is Baba's brainchild. And it consists of Vedic chants and doing abhishekham
to a Lingam specially brought from Baba's Puttabharthi Ashram.
So when Karunanidhi expresses his gratitude
to Baba for helping out Chennai he would in turn be thanking thousands of
believers in Hinduism and Baba faithfuls, including those belonging to other
religions, for it is their money that ultimately went into the canal work.
For a proclaimed rationalist and unswerving
atheist, Karunanidhi's participation in Sunday's function amounted to an acknowledgement
of Baba's spiritual hold on his devotees and his ability to channelise this
hold for the cause of public good. Without that hold the donations would not
have come in nor would have the money for the canal.
True, Karunanidhi tried to explain away his
participation by latching to a Baba saying, "Love for man is love for
God".
But by the same yardstick why does Karunanidhi,
who prides himself for loving man, especially the poor and the weak, deprecates
the Gods held in high esteem by a majority of these men who he is seeking
to help.
Love for man should also mean respect for
his beliefs whatever be his faith.
Baba's visit also effectively exposed another
chink in Karunanidhi's atheist armour. When Sai Baba visited Karunanidhi's
Gopalapuram residence the most defining moment was not the two sitting together
but the sight of Karunanidhi staring vacantly at the ceiling even as his wife
Dayalu touched Baba's feet to seek his blessings.
That fleeting event was substantial proof
that even Karunanidhi's family members do not care for or share his views
on atheism, rationalism and anti-Hinduism.
Why should a leader unable to convince his
own family about his ideology tire himself and the Tamil society by preaching
about a principle whose time has passed. Periyar's atheism came in handy to
sharpen his anti-Brahmin agenda. But with Brahmins sidelined by the Backward
Classes - the new ruling class, atheism has long lost its relevance in Tamil
Nadu.
In the worship of Amman and Lord Aiyappa the
BCs during the last four decades have created their own class of Gods effectively
countering the anti-God campaign of Periyar and his DK disciples. Also do
not forget the innumerable village deities who have a mesmerizing hold on
the psyche of the rural Tamil.
Sai Baba, Mata Amrithanandamayi and Bangaru
Adigalar are the new spiritual gurus of the assertive BC consciousness.
So who is Karunanidhi battling with his atheistic
propaganda - his own constituency of BCs and SCs? It is time the DMK veteran
realised that the sell by date of atheism is long gone and the Tamils, especially
the Hindu majority, have become more religious than ever.
Rather than stand on ego it is time Karunanidhi
shed those outdated anti-God and anti-Hindu symbols.
That would be the best way to thank Sai Baba,
whom he is now expecting to clean up the Cooum.
