When Kamal Haasan Called Himself A Neo-Polityculturist—Here’s What That Term Really Means

Kamal Haasan is a legendary actor, director, and producer. In addition to delivering memorable hits in the film industry, he has also expressed his strong views on the cultural and political reform of his homeland, Tamil Nadu. He also leads the political party Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM), which he established in 2018. In the same year, he spoke at Harvard, where he said he is a “neo-polityculturist,” and the phrase immediately caught attention. The term is said to be a blend of politics and culture. But what does it really mean?

What Is A Neo-Polityculturist?

As per Times of India, in his keynote address at Harvard in 2018, Kamal Haasan first mentioned the phrase “polityculturist.” He said that being a neo-polityculturist means cultivating a new polity while embracing culture. He referenced history and spoke of Spartacus, Genghis Khan, and the ancient Tamil kingdoms. He said these leaders left ideas through their rule. Haasan said he wants to learn from their models and build a new social and political system. The prefix neo makes it modern. It means adapting to a changing society, and it signals a blend of culture and governance suited to today’s world. He brought back the word in an interview with Times Now in 2021 as well to express his views on re-shaping the fabric of politics and political culture that has been prevalent in Tamil Nadu.

His social media bios mention him as a neo-polityculturist, and his political party also uses the idea. MNM uses decentralized governance and cultural engagement. He says that being a neo-polityculturist is more than politics. It is about shaping society through both politics and culture.