In Karnataka’s history of protests, if there is one politician who has gained a reputation of being a “serial protester” it is Vatal Nagaraj.
For this octogenarian, theatrics is key to marking his protests on issues ranging from the Cauvery water dispute, job reservations for Kannadigas to seeking a ban on the screening of non-Kannada films. He has participated in more than 10,000 protests, and many of them have been unique.
Whether on the floor of Karnataka’s legislative assembly or on the roads, Nagaraj can invariably capture public attention or bring Bengaluru to a standstill with his innovative protests — from simply waving a small piece of black cloth in the assembly to parading with bullock carts, donkeys, footwear, or even commodes, raising slogans of protest on the matters concerning Karnataka and Kannadiga pride.
Nagaraj has once again called for Karnataka bandh on September 29. Under the banner of his political party, the Kannada Chalavali Vatal Paksha (KCVP), Nagaraj, with the support of several pro-Kannada groups, will be raising their voice against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu at a time when Karnataka is facing drought and severe rain deficit.
“We are sure that every Kannadiga who is worth his salt will participate in it as it is now all about our survival, our lives,” Nagaraj told News18.
“How can we give water to Tamil Nadu when our own people – farmers — are parched for water? If we release any more water, our dams will go dry. The Krishna Raja Sagar dam will become a ‘maidan’,” Nagaraj said soon after he heard of the decision of the Cauvery Water Regulation Committee (CWRC) directing Karnataka to release 3,000 cusecs of water to Tamil Nadu until October 15.
He is undoubtedly one of the most maverick politicians in Karnataka, and is loved for his innovative activism. Each time Nagaraj leads a protest on the Cauvery issue that has swung like a pendulum between emotion and politics, he finds immense support amongst Kannadigas.
“My fight is for the people of Karnataka. For five decades and more, I have been committed to protect Kannada and fight for every Kannadiga cause. I have seen a remarkable change in the way people pride themselves in our culture and language. We must fight together,” says the man who staunchly refuses to speak in English to anyone or on any occasion, which is most unusual in Karnataka.
Nagaraj’s fervent advocacy for linguistic identity has earned him considerable political clout and secured him electoral victories solely on the language agenda. He gained prominence during the anti-dubbing movement of the 1960s when Telugu films were being dubbed into Kannada, and he vehemently opposed the practice.
His call for a bandh to protest on any pro-Kannada/Karnataka issue has historically been seen as one of the most effective ways state-wide. The effectiveness of his strikes stems from the fear of potential violence in the state by his followers and also the imperative need for all pro-Kannada groups to unite under a single banner for Karnataka.
His unconventional methods of protest have consistently captured attention – whether it was his endeavour to urinate in front of Raj Bhavan to draw attention to the absence of public restrooms or his use of a bullock cart to travel to Vidhan Soudha in protest of rising fuel prices.
Such is his eccentricity that he marks his birthday as the day he was kicked in the head by a police officer. On September 7, 1962, while he was leading a protest against the screening of a Hindi movie at Alanakar Talkies in Bengaluru, a Superintendent of Police kicked him in the head in the midst of the chaos. Later, he and his supporters were arrested by the police for allegedly setting fire to the film theatre. “I celebrate that day as my birthday as that was the day I felt I was born. We do not know our birthdates as our parents did not have those records,” he told News18 in an earlier interview.
Hailing from Vatala in Mysore district, Nagaraj’s political career began in 1964 in Bengaluru as a corporator, and has been a six-time legislator (1989, 1994, and 2004) for the Chamarajanagar assembly seat. He contested under his party banner in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections from Bangalore South constituency and lost to then sitting MP Ananth Kumar.
In 1969, he demanded the resignation of then CM Veerendra Patil and threatened to hold protests outside his office inside Vidhan Soudha. A thick security cover was set up to stop Nagaraj from entering the premises, but the leader did not stop there. He wore a burkha, took the lift, shouted in protest, and was then whisked away by the police. Even today, he speaks of how Patil congratulated him for his innovative way to protest.
Another incident that garnered significant public attention was his demonstration against the 1996 Miss Universe event held in Bengaluru. He had five women dressed as Rakshasis (demonesses) such as Shoorpanaka, Mandodari and Hidimba from the Ramayana and Mahabharata. Nagaraj argued that he was not against beauty but vehemently opposed putting a value or grade to it. This was the pageant where Aishwarya Rai claimed the crown and achieved international fame.
During 2009, when Hindu fringe groups claimed they would attack those who celebrated the Valentine’s Day in Bengaluru, Nagaraj decided to play Cupid. He took to the streets in a horse-drawn chariot, a bow and arrow in hand, stating he was there for the safety and protection of all lovers. “I firmly uphold the principles of love and justice, and I will persistently fight for it,” he declared.
In 2017, Kollywood actor Sathyaraj found himself in a situation where he had to publicly apologise to the people of Karnataka for a comment he had made nine years earlier regarding the Cauvery issue. Nagaraj asked the actor to apologise or he would prevent the screening of the blockbuster movie ‘Baahubali’.
In 2016, even superstar Rajinikanth could not escape Nagaraj’s threats. When the Tamil film ‘Kabali’ was released, it was done so under tight security measures. Nagaraj and his supporters burned effigies in protest of what they perceived as undue attention given to a “non-Kannada” film in the state.
Once, he honoured domestic animals, including donkeys, dogs, buffaloes, cows, with his version of a state award — ‘Rajyotsava’ (similar to the second-highest civilian honour in Karnataka) — for their loyalty, dedication and hard work towards the state.
“I believe that animals are the most loyal and trustworthy beings than politicians or people. By protesting alongside them, I feel that the cause finds more meaning,” the leader explained when asked why he parades them during protests.
As much as Nagaraj is popularly called a “pro-Kannada activist”, he also fights for the rationalist and progressive causes, which makes him popular among his political colleagues and is considered to be one of the most well-informed leaders on issues relating to Karnataka politics, water sharing, language, and culture. Political analysts also say that Nagaraj’s form of protests is plain histrionics with no solid solution.
“I am staying to reach out to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. If I can connect with him, I want to tell him that we should not let a drop of water from the Cauvery until the reservoir levels are restored. I hope he pays heed to the voices of the people of the state; I am also one of them,” Nagaraj stressed why he launched yet another protest in the state.
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