A recent incident in Tamil Nadu's Erode sparked controversy when a mural depicting the esteemed sixth-century Tamil saint and poet, Thiruvalluvar, adorned in saffron attire, was observed on the compound wall of a government-operated school. The mural portrayed Thiruvalluvar clad in saffron robes, adorned with a rudraksha necklace and holy ash on his forehead.
The presence of the saffron-clad depiction of Thiruvalluvar triggered a political uproar in the state, with Dravidian parties accusing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to 'saffronize' the revered figure, who is conventionally depicted in white attire without religious connotations.
Subsequently, authorities intervened and removed the mural, aiming to modify it to depict Thiruvalluvar in his traditional white attire. However, this decision was met with resistance from a large group of BJP supporters, who staged a protest outside the school, advocating for the mural's removal without replacement.
The recent controversy over Thiruvalluvar's portrayal in saffron attire emerged shortly after Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi shared a contentious portrait of the Tamil sage on 'Thiruvalluvar Day,' celebrated on January 16 as part of Pongal festivities to honor the sage's literary contributions. The portrait depicted Thiruvalluvar adorned in saffron robes, a depiction that drew criticism from Dravidian leaders.
Tensions regarding Thiruvalluvar's depiction in saffron attire have surfaced repeatedly, with clashes between the Governor and Dravidian leaders over the portrayal of the revered saint-poet in attire deviating from his traditional white robes. This controversy initially erupted in November 2019 when the Tamil Nadu BJP unit shared an image of Thiruvalluvar donning saffron attire, prompting backlash from Dravidian party leaders who condemned it as an attempt to "saffronize" the figure.
In a similar incident in April 2022, a dispute arose when Arjun Sambath, president of the Hindu Makkal Katchi, draped a saffron-colored shawl over Thiruvalluvar's statue in Thanjavur district, reigniting debates over the appropriate depiction of the revered poet.
