First documentary film on the history of Tamil Muslims

Chennai, Aug 30: The film opens with the excavation by Kerala Council of Historical Research at Pattanam near Kodungallur, erstwhile capital of the Chera kingdom. The Mesopotamian shreds found there predate south India’s Roman contacts. Such lesser known facts about south India’s connections with West Asia and Islam form part of the narrative in historical researcher S.Anvar’s documentary film on the history of Tamil Muslim community which would be out in a month’s time.
Titled ‘In search of my roots’, the film is the first visual document on the history of Tamil-speaking Muslims. “Islam came to south India through trade contacts with Arabs which is more than 2,000 years old as proved by inscriptions, edicts and copper plates,” Mr Anvar told this newspaper. His film is a result of nearly five years of research and travel across Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
It all began when Anvar found that his Muslim identity posed several challenges post- 9/11. Born near Theni, he always knew Islam as practiced in Tamil Nadu is distinctly different from the way it is practiced elsewhere in the country. “The fact that Muslims here are very much integrated into the Tamil society has a historical legacy as I found during the course of my research,” he said.
Muslims were part of the local rulers’ military such as the army of the Pandyas and the navy of Calicut Zamorins. Amir Khusrau’s chronicle on Muslim presence in the Pandyas’ army and the edict on the Muslim presence in the Zamorins’ navy are filmed to tell the story of how Muslims integrated into the mainstream society in the then south India.
The work of the Sufi saints such as Nathar Vali of Tiruchi and Shahul Hameed of Nagoor in the spread of Islam is another relatively unknown factor in the film. The kinship pattern between Muslims and other communities in the state is depicted in detail.
The film also tells how Islam adapted to the Dravidian milieu, filming many of the hundreds of mosques in the state which were built in Dravidian architectural style of stone masonry.

Jaya's boycott of bypolls is a costly mistake

Chennai, Aug 27: Tamil Nadu is a typical example of thriving electoral democracy. Managing elections is a virtue here. People think voting is not just a necessity, but a duty which cannot be shirked. The popular image of an old lady being carried to the booth by her grandson in the recent byelections is proof for the culture of voting in the state. AIADMK supremo Ms Jayalalithaa’s call for boycott of bypolls is misplaced for several reasons.
Elections are like annual festivals in the temple of local deity. Exercise of franchise is meant for celebrations in rural Tamil Nadu. It gives people a sense of self-importance. The only reason for anyone to stay away from polls is extreme illness. “Voting is proof that I am still alive and kicking,” said 78-year-old Alamelu in Srivaikuntam who voted in the August 18 byelections.
AIADMK cadre were in a dilemma and had problems while distributing nearly two lakh handbills across five constituencies, asking the people to stay away from elections. Lack of faith in the state and central governments could not be sold as an idea when the independent election commission is conducting the elections, reasoned an AIADMK worker at the grassroots level.
“People of Tamil Nadu are used to participation in elections. The elections of 1967 when the people said a resounding no to successive Congress regimes is one such instance,” he said.
According to analysts, AIADMK chief’s call for boycott of re-polling for Chennai Corporation in February 2007 was the first mistake. The then boycott call drastically reduced the number of the AIADMK councilors in the strategically important Chennai corporation. The second boycott of August 18 byelections also has cost dearly for the largest Opposition in the state. MDMK and PMK have played second fiddle to the AIADMK and the people proved them wrong by actively participating in the poll process.

Eternal Bondage: The story of Kashmir in Tamil

The best ever book written on Kashmir in Tamil is out now. The author is A.Marx, veteran human rights activist and liberal thinker. He says there is one Indian Army jawan posted for every five Kashmiris citing the huge deployment of armed forces in the Valley. The militarisation of Kashmir is against the will of the people, he observes.
The book is the result of a fact-finding mission in which A.Marx and G.Sugumaran (Puducherry) were members. Mr Sugumaran is the publisher of the book. Their visit to Kashmir was under scrutiny when they were kept under house arrest for two days citing curfew.
The book talks about the historical mistake of Jawaharlal Nehru who did not keep the promise of conducting a plebiscite. The systematic plan by the Hindutva forces to alienate Muslims in the valley are detailed by the author.
The possibility of armed militants playing into the hands of Pakistan and the worries of the ordinary Army jawan posted in Kashmir are narrated realistically. The objectivity of the author could be seen in portions when he records the viewpoints of the Sikhs and Pandits in Kashmir.
While Mr Marx proclaims the need for autonomy and demilitarization of Kashmir, he tells the readers how people of Kashmir desperately need peace after over two decades of violence, extra-judicial killings, illegal abductions and unaccounted disappearances.
He lauds the hospitality of Kashmiris and understands their aspirations. The people long for freedom from being a playground for two neighbouring countries. They are neither loyal to India nor to Pakistan. They want freedom and peace, he observes in no uncertain terms.
He feels that the acceptance of elections conducted by Indian election commission by the Kashmiris is with a hope that someone would bring them peace. They are open to trying out options which could improve their conditions, he says.
The book tells how the renegades from militant movements run their own goonda raj with the blessings of armed forces and the tacit support of the Indian agencies. Despite some typos, the breezy style of narration helps even a beginner understand how the Indian and Pakistani establishments continue to keep the people of Kashmir in eternal bondage just to show off their military might.

Frisking or grilling of Muslims is very common in India

Frisking or grilling of Muslims is very common in India. Though there are several instances in the past, let me narrate a recent instance of ‘suspicious eye’ on me just because I have a Muslim surname. Independence Day, August 15, 2009. 6 pm. The second gate of Raj Bhavan on Sardar Patel Road in Chennai. Vehicles belonging to mediapersons are asked for invite copies and media ID cards before being allowed in for the tea party hosted by Governor Surjit Singh Barnala on the occasion of I-day.
I was there at the gate a little while before six p.m. A person of the special branch inspects my invite and media ID. When he inspected my media ID, he spontaneously remarked ‘Oh’ and told his fellow special branch person something in a husky voice. He then asked me to register my name in the visitor’s notebook kept on a table beyond the entry point.
I waited to sign in the notebook as there were few people waiting to sign in the notebook. To my surprise, I noticed that all media persons head towards the party after showing the invite and ID to the two special branch guys. Even as I waited, I asked the second special branch guy why I alone should sign the register which is meant for occasional visitors to Raj Bhavan, especially the lower staff of the Raj Bhavan such as gardeners and others.
He apparently does not have an answer. A security person intervened and said, “They are special branch people; you cannot ask them such questions.” I argued back saying: “Why me when other media persons are allowed to go?” At moments of crisis, there is always an answer (I am a believer). One Sathyaseelan of DIPR (Department of Information and Public Relations) came to the rescue. He said, “Sir, you can go as you have shown your credentials.” I then asked the second SB (special branch) guy: “You wanted me to sign the register as I am a Muslim?” He smiled back. I went ahead for the party.
The tea party was good. But I could not stay there for long as I kept thinking that our country needs to change the way it treats its largest religious minority, the Muslims.