Translated version of the original Tamil post (translated on request for a friend).
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When the risen sea had inundated 49 divisions of the country swallowing priceless books and others along with the lands, people who ran towards the higher lands realised the need for preserving their culture and language via oral folklore. Some educated folks discussed it by meeting up, thus creating a Sangam. The first Sangam was born. Iraiyanaar also wrote poems later.
When the Cheran from higher lands and the Cholan from lower fertile lands resisted the immigrants, the migrant population felt the need for own military, flag and the feeling of Pandiyanism.
When the language commonly spoken brought people together or pushed them apart, girls married off and married into the families – grouped us all as Tamils.
Then came the Pallavan who spoke Sanskrit. Sivan and Vishnu, Sin and virtue, Parvathi, Sarasvathi and Lakshmi started confusing and confusing us. Rajarajan, the one who finally stood steady, built temples and temples. Sivaism surrounded us all.
World got wider with Kangan, Kalingan, Kadaran and Marathi. Ganges was conquered and Sumatra was reached too. The language, religion and culture spread wider.
The Moghuls and the English left us with the mighty and a mysterious India. Moghul’s food is very tasty and English’s clothes and language are very important too.
Don’t know how it all started, but could have been like, Pandiyans after meeting Cherans and Cholans.
We have been Tamils for the last 3000+ years, according to the evidences discovered so far.
Though we are just 60 years old, we are Indians today. Bless India. Long live Bharath. Isn’t Bharath Hindi? Isn’t India English? No no no, It was Alexander who first referred as “people who spoke Hindi on the bank of River Sindh in the country India“. Wasn’t Alexander a foreigner too? ?Isn’t the River Sindh in Pakistan? How do a Tamil can comprehend, let alone relate to it all?
Don’t be a brat. It is our National Day. Bless India. Long Live Bharath. Sing National Anthem, Jana Gana Mana in “Bangla”.
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IMHO, too much nationalism is fanaticism. Nationalism as such is a collective ego. Indians first, Tamils next, then what? caste? region? or religion? So, there starts racism. Racism starts when we feel too much of “someone” that identifies us collectively. When we get goose bumps for national anthem, we confirm that we are fanatics. Of course these are all just my opinion.
Did the independence from British do good or bad is a continuing debate which definitely has very interesting and very intelligent arguments for both sides.
Of course, who am I to say? I do not live in India anymore and I am not even Indian according to my official records. My skin colour, my food habits and my first language will keep my ethnic origin intact for generations and generations to come. Am I proud or am I ashamed? Neither. I am just informed. Proud or ashamed, both are fanaticism IMHO.