Chennai: Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, who spewed venom against Sanatan, has now spewed venom against Hindi. He said on Saturday that if the state fails to protect its languages, Hindi will replace them, thereby erasing the identity of the state language. This is why Tamil Nadu is against the imposition of Hindi. However, he said that he has no animosity towards the language.

He said the Dravidian political movement in Tamil Nadu has long had literature and language as its pillars. This blend of literary, linguistic and political ethos created a powerful identity that has profoundly shaped Tamil Nadu's social and political landscape. He said both Tamil Nadu and Kerala are two of India's most progressive states and both have successfully kept fascist and communal forces at bay.

Udayanidhi said this about language

On literary and linguistic ethos in Dravidian politics, he said the Dravidian political movement in Tamil Nadu, known for its strong linguistic and cultural pride, has long had literature and language as its pillars. This blend of literary, linguistic and political ethos created a strong identity that profoundly shaped the social and political landscape of Tamil Nadu, Udhayanidhi said at the Manorama Daily Group's Arts and Literature Festival in Kozhikode today.

Tamil literature is very popular among the people.

He said both Tamil Nadu and Kerala are the two most progressive states of India and both have successfully kept fascist and communal forces at bay. The Deputy Chief Minister said Dravidian leaders used Tamil literature to propagate nationalism and scientific temper and leaders like C N Annadurai and M Karunanidhi popularised Tamil literature among the people.

Udhayanidhi said the Dravidian movement made Tamil the core of its identity and Tamil was not seen as a mere medium of communication but as the voice of the community. He said our leaders used literature to connect with the masses. The speeches of Annadurai and Kalaignar (Karunanidhi) contained literary references and made the political philosophy of the Dravidian movement easily understandable to the masses.

Telugu and Kannada films are also doing well

Udhayanidhi said that before joining politics, I spent some time in the Tamil film industry, which is doing business worth billions. Similarly, the film industry in Kerala is also flourishing. I like most of the Malayalam films made in recent times. Similarly, Telugu and Kannada films are also doing well.