The “Hindu way” of promoting “thomas myth” – how the so-called historians have been hysterical than historical in spreading such myth!
How S. Muthaiah used to promote “Thomas myth”: It has been usual for the unblushing Christians of Chennai to take every opportunity to spread the myth of thomas through media, wherever possible. Though, the former archbishop Arulappa and his men got into forgery, court cases, jail, out-of-court compromise etc., they have been relentless and continue to indulge in such theological frauds with their mite. Unfortunately, now, “The Hindu” has been aiding and abetting in spreading the myth. Earlier, S. Muthaiah (1930-2019) used to accommodate such myths, wherever possible. In fact, when, Ishwar Sharan recorded in his book “Mylapore Kapeleswarar Temple and the Myth of St.Thomas,” he even responded in his column defending himself. Ishwara Sharan and I used to write letters to the editor of “The Hindu,” but, it never cared to publish anything. However, it is evident that Muthaiah had read them, as he responded by mentioning name in his “Madras Miacelleny” columns. Anyway, since he expired, his services in this regard automatically ended.
N. Ram, Mariam Chandy and others: Now the trend has been perhaps continuing, after N. Ram marrying Mariyam Chandi and “The Hindu” accommodates graciously to accommodate “the Thomas myth.” I pointed out in my blogs about the earlier occasions[1]. Recently, Nevidita Louis has started her enterprise using every opportunity to make discourses about the myth[2]. In her “organized” walk also, she did that in 2020[3]. Recently, her talk was scheduled at Roja Muthaiah Library, but, suddenly announced that it has been postponed. Then, how such “Thomas myth promotors” have been increasing day by day thriving on such myth[4] has also been pointed out[5]. Really, it is intriguing how Geeta Padmanabhan, Subhashini Tremmel, “The Hindu” Journalist College – students, Temple-“historians” and others have also been taking in such narratives[6]. Therefore, it is evident that such myth-promoting activities have been going on in an orchestrated and well-planned manner with influential power operating from many sources. Here, the so-called “Hindutwa” guys, gangs and the right-wingers have not been matching them by any means. As perhaps, the myth-promoting experts and historians have to safeguard their credentials, they adopt the method of making two sets of news appearing on the same day, so that one- would be normally appearing and another- as usual myth promoting.
25-11-2023 Heritage walk on the “Parangi Malai / Thomas Mount”: A group of residents participated in a heritage walk at St. Thomas Mount on 25-11-2023, Saturday, exploring various aspects of fieldwork for the Great Trigonometrical Survey and the heritage of old settlements in the area. Starting the walk, organised by The Hindu Made of Chennai as part of Heritage Week, at the foot of St. Thomas Mount, historian Thirupurasundari Sevvel from Nam Veedu, Nam Oor, Nam Kadhai covered various heritage aspects associated with the locality and the role played by various persons and communities in the development of the heritage value of St. Thomas Mount, otherwise known as Parangimalai[7]. “There are many reasons to celebrate our city. One is to understand and acknowledge the various contributions and support from different communities and groups — Portuguese connect, Armenian contribution, Anglo-Indian legacy and the various paintings and accounts from yesteryears. While climbing the St. Thomas mount, we can hear the temple bells and the prayers from the mosque as we reach to hear the songs from the church,” said the historian[8].
The Great Trigonometrical Survey on April 10, 1802 started here: Pointing to the oral tradition of St. Thomas Mount, otherwise known as Parangimalai, The group focused on discussing the heritage conservation initiatives and the metal bust in remembrance of the Survey, also located at the Church complex. “By extension, it is also the name of the neighbourhood surrounding the hillock. …St. Thomas Mount is the place where William Lambton started his fieldwork for the Great Trigonometrical Survey on April 10, 1802. He was the Lieutenant Colonel, who headed the large-scale trigonometrical survey across the width of the peninsula of India and went on a mission for two decades to map the extent of British India,” she said.
How GTS was carried on: “There was a need to understand how much territory of India they really controlled and wanted to scientifically and precisely measure. One of the surveys was the Great Trigonometrical Survey of India. The triangulation method had been perfected to measure land. It was started in Madras, as Madras already had a School of Survey set up for Anglo-Indian orphans near Fort St. George on Poonamallee High Road. The Fort St. George School of Survey was rechristened as the College of Engineering, Guindy later,” she said. As the group came down the mount, the historian explained the significance of St. Thomas Charnockite, also known as Pallavaram granite, a type of rock used for the pathway and its significance in export.
The Portuguese built the Church in 1523: The St. Thomas Mount National Shrine at St Thomas Mount, known as “Parangimalai” in the vernacular, is celebrating its 500th anniversary[9]. Built in 1523 by the Portuguese, it figures among the oldest churches in Chennai[10]. The hillock is associated with the apostle St. Thomas as he is believed to have attained martyrdom on it. The church is said to have served as a lighthouse for the Portuguese and Armenian ships and vessels in the Bay of Bengal in the 16th and 17th centuries. Without buildings of the kind existing now, there is reason to believe that these ships had an unobstructed view of the mount. When sailors saw the Church they offered prayers for a safe voyage and then discharged from their artillery in salutation, says a note on the official website of the church – stthomasmountnationalshrine.org.
Hindu temple destroyed by the Portuguese not mentioned: The shrine along with the place surrounding has witnessed considerable change over the years. According to The Hindu Archives, as the church is situated near the airport, its steeple caused some inconvenience during the landing of an aircraft. The 68-foot steeple of the church was cut by 14 feet to ensure greater safety of aircraft flying over it and this was done without altering the elegance of the church, says a report in The Hindu pages of August 1970. However, the historian does not mention how a temple there was demolished and the church built. Ironically, the former archbishop Arulappa clearly recorded in his book that there was a temple pointing out a “chakra” stone recovered there underground, when the Portuguese tried to build the church at the same point.
The visit of the Pope etc: Significant visits- Even before the place was proclaimed a national shrine in January 2010, it attracted people from various parts of India and abroad. Pope John Paul II visited the place on February 5, 1986. The Pontiff greeted in Tamil (saying ‘vanakkam) and then a statue was built to remember Papal’s visit. Former Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi along with his wife Flavia Franzonio is another celebrity who visited the place on February 11, 2007. The plans -Father Michael A.D., shrine rector, St. Thomas Mount National Shrine, says the jubilee year celebrations started last year and they plan to conclude it in May/June of 2024. “A calvary dedicated to St. Thomas has been specially created to explain to the public the significance the life of the saint holds for the Christian community,” says Father Michael. On December 8, the feast of the patron saint of the Church “Our Lady of Expectation” will be celebrated in a grand manner. Thus, we can expect more narratives, discourses and news appearing in “The Hindu” etc.
© Vedaprakash
26-11-2023
[1] Vedaprakash, Christian music, Christian Tamil music, Christian keerthanais and Kutchery: All with “Thomas myth”, the way, Nivedita Louis spreads it!, July 06, 2020.
[2] https://vedaprakash.wordpress.com/2020/07/06/christian-music-christian-tamil-music-christian-keerthanais-and-kutchery-all-with-thomas-myth-the-way-nivedita-louis-spreads-it/
[3] Vedaprakash, Why the list of “Thomas myth-makers” has been increasing day by day in Tamilagam and India? [1], November 11, 2020.
[4] https://vedaprakash.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/why-the-list-of-thomas-myth-makers-has-been-increasing-day-by-day-in-tamilagam-and-india-1/
[5] Vedaprakash, Why the list of “Thomas myth-makers” has been increasing day by day in Tamilagam and India? [2], November 11, 2020.
[6] https://vedaprakash.wordpress.com/2020/07/11/why-the-list-of-thomas-myth-makers-has-been-increasing-day-by-day-in-tamilagam-and-india-2/
[7] The Hindu, Heritage walk exploring St. Thomas Mount held in Chennai, THE HINDU BUREAU, November 26, 2023 12:29 am | Updated 12:45 pm IST – CHENNAI.
[8] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/heritage-walk-exploring-st-thomas-mount-held-in-chennai/article67574173.ece
[9] The Hindu, St. Thomas Mount National Shrine: 500 years on a hillock, Liffy Thomas, November 26, 2023 02:23 pm | Updated 03:03 pm IST.
[10] https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/st-thomas-mount-national-shrine-500-years-on-a-hillock/article67576002.ece
Indology 