ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on cultural nationalism in Tamil Nadu to make several arguments about cultural nationalism in a competitive political environment. First, cultural pride is insufficient to produce a mass movement: to become a mass political movement, themes of cultural deprivation typically need to be plausibly linked to the career aspirations of a broader public. Second, even cultural nationalist movements with a mass following may not win elections: this may require championing bread-and butter issues that dilute cultural nationalism. The chapter provides a political history of Tamil Nadu viewed as an evolving electoral contest. It examines the broad outlines of the ideologies and support bases of different parties. The chapter traces the evolution of the programs espoused by different phases of the movement subdivided into sections dealing with policies relating to cultural concerns, job-related concerns, and social welfare. The role of cultural self-assertion in stimulating subnationalism can be greatly over-emphasized.
