Thiruvalluvar's robes go 'White' from 'Saffron' in College Library

Coimbatore: Tamil Nadu government has ordered the poster of Thiruvalluvar to be replaced with a state-approved representation of saint-poet Thiruvalluvar in white robes, according to a report published in The News Minute. The previous poster showed the poet to be wearing saffron robes.

Ayyan Thiruvalluvar is often seen wearing saffron robes and black hair, and it has led to controversy several times and criticism towards the AIADMK government for saffronising the poet. The original representation of the poet has no visible religious representation and jewellery.

The state minister for agriculture and farmer welfare MRK Paneerselvam tweeted that he has removed the poster in the Tamil Nadu Agricultural University's library in Coimbatore. He added that it was put up between 2017 and 2018.

Kalvi TV, a state-owned channel for school students, also got into trouble in December 2020 for using an image that showed Thiruvalluvar wearing saffron robes.

Earlier this year, a class 8 CBSE Hindi textbook showed Thiruvalluvar with indicators of Brahmanism which also sparked controversy. He was seen wearing a saffron robe, holy ash on his forehead, a single knotted hair lock at the centre of his head, and rudraksha beads on his neck and arms.

Tamil writer Umanath Vizhyan wrote on social media that the depiction of the poet in a Hindi textbook has an Aryan disguise. He called out the BJP and AIADMK governments for allowing it. He wrote that Tamil Nadu will not accept the Aryan gimmick in Tamil culture.