Duraimurugan, general secretary of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu, has expressed regret over the marriage of his granddaughter as per Vedic rituals. He said that his granddaughter had studied abroad and wanted to marry a young man from another caste. Duraimurugan told that his granddaughter wanted to get married as per Vedic rituals, so he fulfilled her wish. He said that due to his granddaughter's insistence he had to accept her wish, although he regretted it. Duraimurugan has appealed to the people not to make this matter a political issue. The marriage of his granddaughter Senthamarai took place on 1 November in Chennai.
Duraimurugan is the general secretary of DMK. This is a party that emerged from the Dravidian movement. The ideology of the party includes opposition to religious rituals. Therefore, when at the wedding of Duraimurugan's granddaughter, the priests recited Sanskrit mantras and conducted the rituals as per Vedic rituals, there was protest. Among those protesting was Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) president K. Veermani was at the forefront. He raised the question as to how such a marriage took place in the family of a senior leader of a party following the ideology of Dravidian movement. He also appealed to DMK president MK Stalin to pay attention to the matter and stop such incidents. Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) is a social organization founded by Periyar E.V. Carries forward the ideology of Ramasamy. DMK was established by separating from this movement.
Duraimurugan bowed to granddaughter's insistence
According to PTI report, Duraimurugan gave clarification in this matter on 6 November. He said that his granddaughter has studied abroad. She had told them that she loved a young man from another caste and wanted to marry him. He said, 'I had to accept my granddaughter's wish because of her insistence. I regret this incident. No one needs to make it a political issue or a topic of debate.
Duraimurugan also said that the marriage of him and his son Kathir Anand was officiated by former Chief Minister and late DMK leader M. Karunanidhi. Giving clarification, he said that such religious rituals did not take place in those marriages.
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Veermani expressed objection on reciting Vedic mantras
Dravidar Kazhagam is a social organization started in 1944 by E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar). DMK separated from Dravidar Kazhagam in 1949. Behind this there were differences regarding entry into electoral politics and the political role of the organization. President of this Dravidar Kazhagam K. Veeramani has protested against recitation of Vedic mantras at the wedding of Duraimurugan's granddaughter. He said, 'The foundation of the Dravidian movement has been laid on the principles of rationalism and self-respect. These principles of the movement should not be weakened by the personal decision of any individual.
Veeramani also raised questions on the wedding invitation letter. It had pictures of prominent leaders of the Dravidian movement and the DMK leadership, while the priests at the wedding conducted Vedic rituals with Sanskrit mantras. He asked, 'Marriage with Sanskrit Vedic mantras in the presence of priests at the DMK general secretary's house?' Veeramani appealed to DMK President MK Stalin to pay attention to the matter and prevent such incidents from happening in the party in future.
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What is Dravidian movement?
Dravidian movement is a social and political movement in Tamil Nadu. This movement opposes caste discrimination, Brahminical dominance and religious rituals. Its emphasis is on rationalism, social equality and self-respect. Periyar believed that there should be no discrimination on the basis of caste in the society. He also opposed the necessity of priests, Sanskrit mantras and religious rituals in marriage.