Episode 1: In conversation with Thirumavalavan (Tamil)

Puram, the podcast on The News Minute

“What is being talked a lot here in TN is, ‘let us keep aside caste, let us not debate casteism. Let us come together as Tamils.’ But this will never happen. ‘Let's not debate caste, but let's come together as the proletariat, as the working class.’ This too will never happen,” says VCK president Thol Thirumavalavan, in the first episode of Puram, the podcast on The News Minute. “The larger understanding or interpretation of Tamil nationalism has been limited to language and race/ethnicity. "My language, my people," has been pushed to the front for a brand of emotional politics. But, Vidudhalai Chiruthaikal – VCK – disagrees with this, sees this differently. Affinity to Tamil, or racial/ethnic affinity alone will not define Tamil nationalism, will not be useful to the movement,” Thirumavalavan says. “Casteism and caste-society is the obstacle to all growth. Which is why, for the VCK there is no Tamil nationalism without uprooting Hindutva,” Thirumavalavan says.