Hindu Munnani
Encyclopedia
Hindu Munnani is a religious and cultural organization
based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
which was formed to defend the Hinduism
and protect Hindu religious monuments.
in response to the Meenakshipuram conversions. Since the, the Hindu Munnani has often espoused the cause of Hindus, the Hindu religion and Hindu culture.
However, the most remarkable achievement of the Hindu Munnani was the organization of Vinayaka Chathurthi processions in Tamil Nadu. On May 16, 2006, the Hindu Munnani organized the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the installation of the shivalinga in the Jalakanteswarar temple in Vellore
as a protest against discrimination by caste Hindus and changed the name of their village to Rehmatpuram. The Hindu Munnani was active in organizing a mass movement and bringing the converted Dalits back into the Hindu fold. In March 1982, when riots broke up between Hindus and Christians at Mandaikadu in Kanyakumari district
, the Hindu Munnani played an active role. However, the Hindu organizations are often accused of promoting Sanskritization in order to resist the efforts of Christian missionaries.
The Vinayaga Chathurthi celebrations organized by the Hindu Munnani were often accompanied by sporadic incidents of communal violence.
In 1993, there were bomb attacks made on the R.S.S. state headquarters at Chetpet
, Chennai
. Islamic organizations were found guily for the blasts and a crackdown was launched on extremist Islamic organizations.
During the visit of BJP leaders Advani and Vajpayee to Coimbatore in 1998, a series of 13 blasts rocked the city killing over 58 people.
Recently, there have been clashes between the Hindu Munnani and the DMK over the remarks made by BJP leader Vedanti on DMK President and Chief Minister Karunanidhi. DMK cadres attacked the Hindu Munnani state headquarters in Chennai on motorbikes.
In November 2007, a photo of Tamil actress Kushboo sitting cross-legged with slippers in front of idols of Hindu goddesses landed the actress in the middle of a huge controversy. A complaint was lodged by Gurumurthy a Hindu Munnani leader. The Hindu Munnani President Rama Gopalan said that Kushboo's act was unbecoming of a public figure and demanded a public apology from her. In June 2008, the Hindu Munnani threatened to block Kamal Hassan's film Dasavatharam on the ground that certain scenes in the film affected the sentiments of Hindus.
In 1981, Hindu Munnani leader Thirukovilur Sundaram was murdered at R. S. Puram in Coimbatore
by Islamic fundamentalists. A Muslim platform speaker called Abdul Latheef who ridiculed Hinduism in a public speech was murdered through possible involvement of Hindu Munnani activists. In retaliation, a Hindu Munnani activist called Veera Ganesh was stabbed to death in Coimbatore on August 30, 1989. In December 1993, on the first anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, there was widespread violence in the Kottaimedu area of Coimbatore. Violence also occurred during the fifth anniversary of the demolition in 1997 and also during the aftermath of the Coimbatore bomb blasts in 1998.
Several assassination attempts have been made on the life of Hindu Munnani founder and President Ramagopalan. Another leader of the Hindu Munnani and State President of the organization, Rajagopalan succumbed to stab wounds.
Organization
An organization is a social group which distributes tasks for a collective goal. The word itself is derived from the Greek word organon, itself derived from the better-known word ergon - as we know `organ` - and it means a compartment for a particular job.There are a variety of legal types of...
based in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
which was formed to defend the Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
and protect Hindu religious monuments.
History
Hindu Munnani was founded in the year 1980 or 1982 by Shri Ramagopalan in the backdrop of the Meenakshipuram conversions. Since then, it has been lobbying for the rights of the Hindus, fighting the Islamic right-wing and radical Islamic political groups and vehemently opposing Christian conversions.Objectives
The Hindu Munnani website describes its objectives as follows:- To wrest Hindu temples from government control and entrust them to the care of a public body.
- To fight for a Common Civil Code.
- To strive for compulsory enforcement of family planning.
- To strive for enaction of Anti-Conversion law.
- Ban on cow slaughter
- Liberation of Hindu shrines at Ayodhya, KasiKasiKASI or Kasi may refer to:* Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute, South Korea* Kingdom of Kashi, or Kasi, an ancient kingdom with Varanasi as its capital* 1430KASI, a radio station licensed to serve Ames, Iowa...
and Mathura. - Repeal of Article 370
- To protect Hindu rights and interests.
Motto
The motto of Hindu Munnani is Vadhadu (வாதாடு),Poradu (போராட),Parindhu Pesu (பரிந்தபேச) which could be translated roughly into English as Defend, Fight and Speak in Support.Activities
The Hindu Munnani first came to limelight in 1982 when it began to mobilize the Hindu population of Ramanathapuram districtRamanathapuram District
Ramanathapuram District is an administrative district of Tamil Nadu state in southern India. The city of Ramanathapuram is the district headquarters. Ramanthapuram District has an area of 4123 km²...
in response to the Meenakshipuram conversions. Since the, the Hindu Munnani has often espoused the cause of Hindus, the Hindu religion and Hindu culture.
However, the most remarkable achievement of the Hindu Munnani was the organization of Vinayaka Chathurthi processions in Tamil Nadu. On May 16, 2006, the Hindu Munnani organized the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the installation of the shivalinga in the Jalakanteswarar temple in Vellore
Vellore
Vellore It is considered one of the oldest cities in South India and lies on the banks of the Palar river on the site of Vellore Fort. The city lies between Chennai and Bangalore and the Temple towns of Thiruvannamalai and Tirupati...
Controversies
Right from its genesis, the Hindu Munnani was involved in a number of controversies. Its genesis was coeval with the Meenakshipuram conversions and the Hindu-Muslim and Hindu-Christian riots which followed. On February 19, 1981, about 200 Dalit families in the village of Meenakshipuram in the Tirunelveli district of Tamil Nadu converted to IslamIslam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
as a protest against discrimination by caste Hindus and changed the name of their village to Rehmatpuram. The Hindu Munnani was active in organizing a mass movement and bringing the converted Dalits back into the Hindu fold. In March 1982, when riots broke up between Hindus and Christians at Mandaikadu in Kanyakumari district
Kanyakumari District
Kanyakumari District ) is a district of Tamil Nadu state, India and is the southernmost land area of mainland India.The district is the second most urbanised district in Tamilnadu, next only to Chennai and ahead of Coimbatore. It also has the highest literacy and education levels in the...
, the Hindu Munnani played an active role. However, the Hindu organizations are often accused of promoting Sanskritization in order to resist the efforts of Christian missionaries.
The Vinayaga Chathurthi celebrations organized by the Hindu Munnani were often accompanied by sporadic incidents of communal violence.
In 1993, there were bomb attacks made on the R.S.S. state headquarters at Chetpet
Chetpet
This page is about Chetpet village in Thiruvannamalai. See Chetput for the Chennai suburb.Chetpet is a panchayat town in Thiruvanaamalai district in the state of Tamil Nadu, India.-Demographics:...
, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
. Islamic organizations were found guily for the blasts and a crackdown was launched on extremist Islamic organizations.
During the visit of BJP leaders Advani and Vajpayee to Coimbatore in 1998, a series of 13 blasts rocked the city killing over 58 people.
Recently, there have been clashes between the Hindu Munnani and the DMK over the remarks made by BJP leader Vedanti on DMK President and Chief Minister Karunanidhi. DMK cadres attacked the Hindu Munnani state headquarters in Chennai on motorbikes.
In November 2007, a photo of Tamil actress Kushboo sitting cross-legged with slippers in front of idols of Hindu goddesses landed the actress in the middle of a huge controversy. A complaint was lodged by Gurumurthy a Hindu Munnani leader. The Hindu Munnani President Rama Gopalan said that Kushboo's act was unbecoming of a public figure and demanded a public apology from her. In June 2008, the Hindu Munnani threatened to block Kamal Hassan's film Dasavatharam on the ground that certain scenes in the film affected the sentiments of Hindus.
In 1981, Hindu Munnani leader Thirukovilur Sundaram was murdered at R. S. Puram in Coimbatore
Coimbatore
Coimbatore , also known as Kovai , is the second largest city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is a major commercial centre in Tamil Nadu and is known as the "Manchester of South India"....
by Islamic fundamentalists. A Muslim platform speaker called Abdul Latheef who ridiculed Hinduism in a public speech was murdered through possible involvement of Hindu Munnani activists. In retaliation, a Hindu Munnani activist called Veera Ganesh was stabbed to death in Coimbatore on August 30, 1989. In December 1993, on the first anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, there was widespread violence in the Kottaimedu area of Coimbatore. Violence also occurred during the fifth anniversary of the demolition in 1997 and also during the aftermath of the Coimbatore bomb blasts in 1998.
Several assassination attempts have been made on the life of Hindu Munnani founder and President Ramagopalan. Another leader of the Hindu Munnani and State President of the organization, Rajagopalan succumbed to stab wounds.