CHENNAI: For the DMK patriarch, it is not the best of times. No more can he lay claim to the mantle of Tamil, as his bête noire and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa has not yielded any political space to regain even a modicum of lost ground. The recent sartorial storm that hit the state is proof of that.
The iron lady of Poes Garden is up in arms about a dhoti-clad judge of the Madras High Court being denied entry into the premises of the Tamil Nadu Cricket Association Club, and has pointed out in the Assembly that the issue of wearing dhoti continues since the DMK regime.
Jayalalithaa pointed out that the previous DMK regime had failed to act when similar complaints were brought to its notice. In this connection, she said during the discussion on the demands for grants for Tourism, Art and Culture in 2011-12, an AIADMK member had brought to the notice of the Assembly that the Cricket Club and Boat Club had banned the entry of those wearing dhoti and asked then Deputy CM Stalin to act on the issue. Stalin had dismissed the issue by just advising the AIADMK member to wear dhoti regularly while attending the Assembly.
On another occasion, the former Honorary Advisor for the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj was denied entry into the TNCA Club premises because he was wearing a dhoti. The Honorary Advisor wrote to then CM M Karunanidhi seeking action and had led a ‘signature movement’ against the TNCA Club. Despite these instances, the DMK had not taken any action on the issue.
Jayalalithaa has promised that legislation would be enacted during the ongoing session to put a full stop to this unconstitutional practice. Leaders of all political parties in the Assembly, cutting across party lines, hailed the decision of the chief minister. Informing that she has directed the Registrar of Societies to send a showcause notice to the TNCA Club, Jaya warned that based on the new legislation, if any of these clubs act against Tamil culture, the state government would cancel the licence given to them.
Describing the denial of entry for the dhoti-clad judge into the TNCA club as ‘sartorial despotism’, the chief minister said, “The denial of entry for Justice D Hariparanthaman has belittled Tamil culture and civilisation. Indeed, it went against the rules of the TNCA itself as the by-laws of the club have nothing against wearing dhoti.”
Making a suo moto statement under Rule 110 in the Assembly, Jayalalithaa observed that at a time when there was no restriction on wearing dhoti even in programmes conducted in foreign countries, it was highly unfortunate that a judge was denied entry into a club’s premises in Tamil Nadu just because he was wearing dhoti. “What has happened was against the Constitution and democratic tradition, individual rights and Tamil culture. It is unfortunate that such practices are followed in India even after 67 years of freedom from the British,” she added.
Jaylalithaa has been steadfast in denying Karunanidhi any scope for political revival on any issue concerning Tamil identity. Be it the Lankan Tamil cause or the fishermen issue, or the inter state river disputes (Cauvery & Mullaiperiyar) he has lost credibility. Meanwhile, the first Bench of the Madras High Court has said that it cannot interfere with the bye laws of private clubs. The court said this when a public interest writ petition from advocate S Karthik of Chromepet praying for a direction to the Tamil Nadu Government to formulate regulations in the functioning of clubs in the state and take appropriate legal action against various clubs in the city.
Will Follow Govt Instruction: Srini
Tamil Nadu Cricket Association president and chairman of the International Cricket Council, N Srinivasan, has said that the association would accept whatever recommendation the government and the Chief Minister provided regarding the dress code at the TNCA Club.
Former Mayor Had Insisted on Attire
The restriction on allowing those who wear dhoti into specific places was introduced by the Britishers. But it is interesting to note that ex-President of Chennai Corporation, Sir P Theyagaraya, resisted a direction not to wear dhoti when he was to receive the Prince of Wales.
Sartorial storm
July 11: Justice D Hariparanthaman of the High Court of Madras and two others stopped by the staff of TNCA Club for arriving for a private function wearing a dhoti.
July 12: PMK and others join the issue, Ramadoss calls for ban of the Club.
July 13: DMK president M Karunanidhi and TNCC president BS Gnanadesikan, too, joins the fray; protests by smaller outfits outside club premises.
July 14: The controversy echoes in state Assembly, members cutting across party lines condemn the club and urge government to take action.
July 16: Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa reacts to the controversy, calls the dhoti ban sartorial despotism, warns of action on all such clubs, and assures to bring in a legislation that empowers authorities to cancel the license of clubs to ban dhoti.