Massive Cauvery protests bring out the long-forgotten Tamil Nadu flag

Even during Tuesday’s protest in Chepauk here, the protesters had only waved the Tamil Nadu flag bearing the image of a tiger, fish and bow and arrow, signifying the rule of the Chola, Pandiya and Chera kings. 

The flags have come out after director Bharathiraja-led collective of artists, litterateurs and directors made an appeal to the participants to keep the protests apolitical and only carry the Tamil Nadu flag. 

Surprisingly, DMK working president M K Stalin had waved the Tamil Nadu flag while kicking off the rally of MDMK leader Vaiko who has been marching against the Theni neutrino project. 

On Wednesday, Naam Tamizhar Katchi chief Seeman justified the waving of the Tamil flag by arguing; “We did not introduce it. It is Tamil Nadu’s flag. Our ancestors designed the flag based on the reign of Cheras, Cholas and Pandiyas. During his tenure, Kamarajar had obliged Ma Po Si and let the flag flutter atop Ripon Building.” 

A belligerent Seeman, who called the flag waving their right, added: “If you had noticed the protests in Karnataka, they only carry the state flag. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had declared the flag, the official flag of Karnataka. We have an identity. We have tradition of carrying our flag when we fight for our rights or celebrate festivals.”

P Maniarasan of Tamil Desa Podhuvudamai Katchi allayed fears of the flag being a precursor to a separate Tamil Nadu demand and said, “A nationalist Siddharamiah has declared the flag the official flag in Karnataka. Whether it was during BJP or Congress rule, the flag was used for 20 years in all state functions. The debate of separate statehood is raised only when the state flag is used in Tamil Nadu.” 

A chorus, in fact, had built up here a few weeks ago, courtesy Siddaramiah who had declared a separate flag for the state and sent it for the Centre’s approval.