Salute Pon Manickavel! – the ideal I.G. arresting idol thieves.!

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 By Baskaran Krishnamurthy: Is it really worth a story for the All India readers? Yes. It is.

The Inspector General of Police A.G.Pon Manickavel, the head of ‘Idol Wing’ is making headlines in Tamil Nadu. By his stern and swift actions , this honest Police officer has brought back hundreds of stolen antique idols and has stolen the hearts of millions!

It is not just about unearthing the hidden artefacts but also breaking the very backbone of a network that transcends States and Nations.

The value of the captured idols in terms of money runs into billions but its cultural, traditional value far exceeds this amount. The unprotected, unguarded, uncared for temples of Tamilnadu have remained a hunting ground to the bandits who never once had any problem whatsoever in smuggling the idols out of the places of worship.

Tamilnadu, if not known, is a state filled with ancient temples of both Shiva and Vishnu, apart from temples of local deities which have their roots deeply entrenched in Tamil culture, customs and tradition.

Every village has a ‘Mariamman temple’, an ‘Iyanaar temple’, or a ‘Muneeswarar temple’ which is revered as the sacred abode of their ‘God of Protection’ (‘kaaval theyvam’)

People do staunchly believe that these ‘Gods’ are the Ones defending their villages – fiercely fighting against dreaded evils; saving them from any outbreak of epidemics or natural calamities.

These temples and the deities therein are too ancient that many people in vilages very honestly argue that they are all ‘Suyambu’ meaning ‘rose on its own’.

The idols, mostly, are made of clay and stone, sometimes rock. Also, some of these temples possess high valued ‘Aimpon silagal’ i.e. made of ‘Panch Lokas’. These ‘five metal idols’ are considered too precious not only for their artistic making but for their ‘sanctity’ as well. 

The rural populace are of the view that the ‘Gods’ are strong enough and that ‘they’ can take care of themselves. It would be unbelievable, if not shocking, to  see that in many temples in these villages, even the ‘sanctum sanctorium’ is left with no roof on top – exposing them to the ‘shine’ or rain all through the day and night, all through the year.

It is not ignorance; it is not negligence or carelessness or even complacence. It is sheer belief that it is ‘God’ who should protect us and not vice versa. It is an unshakable faith – of harmless people with an undiluted innocence from unpolluted minds.

This ‘open’ mindedness has served more as an ‘invite’ to all the anti social elements who were ready to go to any extent in destroying the solemn, serene, sacred atmosphere of divinity. The ‘gates’(?) of the temples were opened to all the disgruntled elements in the name of a ‘Board’ and there it all started.

This is not an attempt to either directly or indirectly support or oppose any individual or group politically or ideologically. It is NOT our intention. This is just recording of the wrong doings or happenings that have gone unchecked for decades without anyone bothering to question them.

Temples are not places meant for a particular religion. They carry a history of centuries old culture and customs full of glory and pride.  In the days of the glorious Kings, every department of the Government revolved around the temples. Economy, employment, literature, arts and culture, even the Judiciary and the Executive had their roots in temples. Hence, there is much more than the religion.  Temples are as noble and as revered as our forefathers themselves.

But, during the past half a century or so, the administrators of temples of Tamilnadu allowed these places of worship to be converted into open fields for carrying out all sorts of anti social activities – very much from within the premises.

This helped the smugglers of the idols to have an easy access to all that is precious and that can have money’s worth. The ‘mission’ started taking all possible dimensions. Right from the local rich man to the International market, the idols could find a number of takers and so the stakes kept soaring.

It was a blatant, open, almost unchallenged looting and robbery when the foreign invaders ran away with the most precious idols on earth. But in independent India, our own people driven by greed and power ‘captured’ these temples and ruined their treasures.

Hundreds, if not thousands, of antique, artistic marvels were stolen – some in the dark; and many, in broad day light!  It all went on and on and on for years before finally a separate wing was established in Tamilnadu Police in the year 1983. The Idol Wing CID was constituted vide G.O.Ms no. 2098 Home (Police IV) Dept dated 7.10.1983 (thanks – Economic Offences Wing – Police Department, Government of Tamilnadu)

The creation of a special wing was not as effective as anyone would have anticipated. That was not to be till the time our ‘hero’ Pon Manickavel stormed into the Wing in September 2017 as the Inspector General in charge of investigating, unearthing and restoring the stolen idols.

When shri Pon Manickavel I.P.S. was appointed as the I.G. of the Idol Wing, perhaps, nobody in the network could have expected a sort of a tornado in action. The I.G. wasted no time. He has been able to bring back hundreds of ‘missing’ idols back now.

Apart from bringing back the idols of Raja Raja Chola, which are 1000+ year old bronze pieces, many rackets have been busted by the plan and actions of Pon Manickavel. The news of his achievements keeps ticking in everyday.

As is only expected, the I.G. had to face many hurdles from the very government and the higher authorities whose job it should have been to support him. Pon Manickavel remained unmoved and stood firmly on the ground.

The High Court on – July 2018 firmly stood by the I.G. and directed the government and the authorities to keep off from the investigations of the I.G. and his team.

Now on 27^th September 2018, Pon Manickavel raided the premises of a businessman in Chennai and has captured 89 artifacts worth more than Rs 100 crores. The irony is that the Government Museum in Chennai has refused to allot a space to safe keep the idols. The I.G. is planning to shift the idols to a special court in Kumbakonam, around 300 km from Chennai.

We could understand the pressure tactics employed by the vested interests on the Inspector General. But he carries on tirelessly, least worried about the challenges ahead.

It is still a long way to go. But, we have to admit. Honest, upright officers like Pon Manickavel, here and there, help restore people’s faith in the system and rejuvenate our youth in particular to take to the path of righteousness – come what may!

Salute shri Pon Manickavel IPS, Inspector General of Police.

 

Baskaran Krishnamurthy, Income tax officer in chennai. He is a columinist and a trainer for competitive exams.

 

• Baskaran Krishnamurthy.
• [email protected]