South Indian culture is incompatible with North India: TJS George

The man carrying a large canister walks through the garden outside the French doors on which we are sitting. When he announces that he is about to release large clouds of mosquito repellent, TJS George swiftly gets out of his chair and closes the glass doors. “This second door is just a trap,” he clarifies, “it lets all the smoke into the living room.”

A wall of books dominate this living room and its tasteful interiors, including crockery serving us coffee and apple pie. “The decorations are the work of my sister, Sheba,” explains author Jeet Thayil, George’s son.

We begin the discussion on George’s latest book, disintegration of india – A collection of short biographies of 35 Indian personalities, depicting the trajectory of this country since independence. TJS (Thayil Jacob Soni) George is singularly qualified for this kind of venture. His 75-year career as a journalist began in 1947 – the year of Indian independence. He turns 94 this year, and remains a working journalist. The book lists 35 personalities of his Indians who have made a significant impact on the history of the country, and therefore, our lives. They are people of arts, entertainment, politics, science, business, crime and reason.

Typically, such a selection would have been made from a long list of possibilities. But George’s subjects were decisively chosen to compose this collection. “As a journalist,” he explains, “I have an understanding of who’s new. What do they call it… the sixth sense? That sense… it’s me as someone worthy of news. chooses.”

Equally specific would be expected with the anticipation of behind-the-scenes stories – that George knew most of them personally, but he is clear that the biographies were written only from a professional standpoint: “I don’t think my Have personally interacted with many of them, or in fact with any of them.”

Some names are predictable – Gandhi, Savarkar, Ambedkar, Bal Thackeray, JRD Tata. Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and the Gandhi family – from Indira to Rahul. There are some surprising inclusions. For example the bandit Veerappan and India’s most wanted Dawood Ibrahim. Another stock market chisel is Harshad Mehta and Abdul Karim Telgi, who were convicted of counterfeit stamp papers. Says George, “Harshad Mehta misused his talent, but that doesn’t diminish his importance. Bad people also play an important role in nation building. And (Telgi) when he was active, he had a lot of control over public life.

‘Favorite’ Veerappan

As for Veerappan – for many, a rural folk-hero who fought injustice and exploitation, despite his criminal journeys – George does not see him as a villain: “I think he is a good The man was He was badly portrayed by the press and by politicians who lost because of him. He’s one of my favorites, if I may use that word.”

Insight into each biography is a window to their own point of view. For politicians, George has impatience and a sharp wit. For people of culture – musicians, artists, artists – sensitivity and respect.

“Out of all the artists, I would choose Vilayat Khan as the idol for the study of the people in that area. He is one of those people whom I respect greatly.” His praise of MF Hussain is with regret: “It is shameful as an Indian … that Hussain was expelled from this country. His name brought him to the attention of some so called patriots. He was a great, great artist, one of the greatest artists in Indian history. And see how (the country) treated him.”

Dravidian ethics

Chapters on Annadurai and Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and MGR have a definite tone to the politics of the Dravidian movement – ​​a subject on which George’s views are sharp, but not unnecessarily dogmatic.

George credits CN Annadurai with defining Dravidian ethics for the world. “Annadurai was the person who made us all aware of the importance and importance of Dravidian culture. In that sense, I think he made such an impact on Indian history that very few people have. ,

In this context, George is clearly specific on the north-south divide: “South Indian culture … Dravidian culture … is incompatible with North Indian culture. This may be an unpopular view. This patriotic ‘Indian’ approach. Can’t be, I’m sorry… Because we are South Indians, we look at things in a different way. We don’t have the prejudices – if I may use that word – that North Indians have. I think the Dravidian approach is more…”

including? “That’s not a word I’d use. More… cosmopolitan, more civilized from an Aryan point of view.”

Wisdom and Barb is not far below George’s busy and serious demeanor, which – when he cites a complicated argument – brings to mind the similarity of his passing with Leon Trotsky. And it’s all packed into one very precise man – whose sense of style is as sharp as his wit.

In the late 1990s, a local magazine, Bangalore MonthlyVoted him as one of the ‘Sexiest Men of Bangalore’. When reminded of her, she replies, “Ah yes, wonderful… wonderful.”

The author hosts the podcast The Literary City, Exploitation.