Rajya Sabha member and Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) founder Kamal Haasan delivered a powerful address in Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) on Tuesday, emphatically rejecting the notion of a homogenised India. The veteran actor-politician was speaking at an awards ceremony organised by the Physical Education Foundation of India to honour sporting achievers.
Celebrating Diversity: The Core of Indian Identity
Kamal Haasan firmly stated that the idea of imposing a single language, food, dress, or belief system across the nation is destined to fail. "The idea that everyone should have a single mark on the forehead or follow a single religious symbol will never, ever happen," he declared. He elaborated that India's inherent strength lies in its plurality, and any attempt to enforce uniformity goes against its democratic and cultural fabric.
He connected this philosophy to the spirit of sports, describing athletics as a symbol of health, strength, and mental resilience. "Sports are also about sacrifice. If you understand the sacrifice of a sportsperson, you will understand democracy," he said, drawing a profound parallel between the discipline of sports and the principles of a democratic society.
Education, Cinema, and Social Reform
Stressing the interconnected importance of education, health, and sports, Kamal Haasan remarked that learning is essential in every walk of life. "You cannot get on a stage without learning," he noted, paying tribute to his own teachers, including the late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi (Kalaignar), poet Kannadasan, and actor Sivaji Ganesan.
He also drew a significant link between cinema and social progress. Kamal Haasan observed that caste discrimination was first challenged and broken within the shared space of cinema halls. He expressed a heartfelt wish to see such discrimination eradicated from public life within his lifetime.
A Vision for Tamil Nadu's Sporting Future
Looking ahead, the MNM leader expressed strong hope that Olympic-level athletes would soon emerge from Tamil Nadu. He framed sporting excellence as a national imperative, stating, "Winning across fields on the global stage is the true mark of a superpower, and we must move towards that." He affirmed that sports possess the transformative power to change society for the better.
School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi, who was also present at the event, praised Kamal Haasan's contributions beyond cinema. He stated that the leader cannot be confined to the identity of an actor alone, highlighting his sustained involvement in social causes, particularly in supporting education. "His hard work should be taken as a lesson by everyone," Minister Poyyamozhi said.
The minister also outlined the state government's commitment to sports, noting, "The Tamil Nadu government is providing various forms of encouragement and assistance to those who participate in sports and those who emerge winners." The ceremony stood as a testament to the collective belief in sports as a catalyst for individual and societal excellence, rooted in a celebration of India's diverse identity.
