The Way of Living
The Way of Living as shown by PERIYAR Celebrated in a Grand Manner at Singapore
The function of “The way of life as shown by Periyar” was celebrated in a
grand manner in Singapore on 8th November, 2009.
Dr.K.Veeramani, President of Dravidar Kazhagam who came to Singapore to take part in the function was given a rousing welcome at the Air-port. Thiru Ramasami, a staunch follower of Thanthai Periyar E.V.R. welcomed by presenting shawls to Dr.K.Veeramani and Tmt.Mohana Veeramani at the venue of the function.
The function started with the singing of the song of Poet Bharathidasan praising Tamil. While welcoming the gathering, Thiru M.Anbalagan said, “The way of living as shown by Periyar” is not an imported one. It is neither a philosophy nor a vedanta. It is not a religion or a scripture. Having lived with the masses, Periyar understood perfectly the problems of people and the country. Often, he used to express the thoughts originated in his mind. Periyar thought about the matters which others have not cared or refused to think. He is the originator of all of his principles. He himself gave explanations to them. He was the writer and speaker of his principles. He will stand in front of all the agitations he had undertaken. Periyar used to say that as nobody came forward to undertake the service, he himself had taken up the cause as his duty.”
He dwelt on the history of Periyar’s two visits to Singapore in 1929 and after. He also said that Dr.K.Veeramani used to visit Singapore regularly from 1968 and that is how the Singapore Social Service Centre took its roots. It was the followers of Periyar who have strived for the social development and the development of Tamil language in Singapore. The supporters of Dravidar Kazhagam started their service in educational field ever since 1946 itself and established 25 Tamil Schools, including E.V.R. Social School, E.V.R. Tamil School and Barathidasan Tamil School.
While delivering his speech, Thiru M.Ilias, Editor of ‘Periyar Sevai’ requested that the statue of Tamilvel K.Sarangapani should be erected during the coming World Tamil Conference. Sri Vaishnavi, a student gave a pleasing dance performance for the poem of Bharathidasan “Let us create a new world.”
While delivering his presidential address, Thiru V.Kalaiselvam recalled his efforts to talk to himself in Tamil nearly for 10 years while he ws in the United States, since there were no other Tamilians to talk to. He declared that our race is Tamil race, our language is Tamil and our country is Singapre.”Periyar used to say that a man should live like a man, should treat others also as humans and for such a broad outlook, one should think rationally.”
A Periayr Pinju, Selvi Kundavi listed more than 15 golden sayings of Periyar.
The first issue of the magazine “Periyar Service” in Tamil was published on the occasion of this function of Periyar Social Service Centre, Singapore and more than 500 copies distributed among the gathering. Releasing the magazine, Dr. Lakshman Tamil, one of the Director of Periyar International of USA, said no other name than that of Periyar will be more suitable to this Service Centre. Whenever we want to praise Periyar, his social service alone will stand out prominently of his all other achievements.
During the 20th century, India gave two great leaders, M.K. Gandhi and Periyar E.V.R. Periyar was a multifaceted leader. It is our bounden duty to propagate his ideals of equal rights for women, humanism, social justice etc. throughout the world. Singapore has set itself as an example in which people of many races are living hormoneously. The Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the architect of Modern Singapore called upon to serve the society, just like Periyar. “Take off your clerical robes before you take on anything economic or political.”
His successor, Hon’ble Lee Hsien Loong, Prime Minister of Singapore, talks like Periyar :”The public debates can’t be about whose religion is right and whose religion is wrong. It has to be a secular rational consideration of public interest and what makes sense for Singapore.”
Dr.Lakshmanan Tamil wanted the Periyar Service Centre and the Periyar International work together to spread the ideals of Periyar throughout the world.
The 87 year-old Poet Ikkuvanam recited a poem in praise of Periyar and another on Dr.K.Veeramani.
Periyar Pinju, Inia Nila sang the song of Bharathidasan describing the Tamil language as nectar, which is precious to us like our life.
In his speech Dr.S.Ilangovan of Periyar International, USA , said that if we have to call ourselves as true followers of Periyar, we must do social service to the extend possible for us. We have to remember that Periyar, who was born in a rich family, endowed all his property for the public cause. Periyar insisted that man should lead a rational life with self-respect. Can anybody refute this? The farsightedness of Periyar astonished even the modern researchers. A French Professor, after reading the french translation of the book of Periyar, ‘How women became slaves?’, wondered how Periyar, who has studied only upto 4th Std. was able to express himself so clearly and differently. While celebrating the birth day of Periyar in America, we used to ask one and all to speak about Periyar. The grandson of Dr. K.Veeramani , Selvan Gouthamani, surprised us by describing Periyar as a Social Scientist.
One Congressman told me that Periyar alone treated him as a man. My wife used to say but for Periyar and Kamaraj, she would have been collecting cow dung in a village. He reqeusted one and all to lead a happy, rational, self-respect life doing possible service to the society.
Tmt. Pushpalatha, the Senior Officer of the Singapore National Library was presented by Periyar Service Centre with the first Periyar Award in recognition of her services in the fields of education, social service and for the development of Tamil language and culture. Tmt. Malaiyarasi listed out the achievements of Tmt. Pushpalatha.
Tmt. Mohana Veeramani honoured Tmt.Pushpalatha by presenting a shawl amidst tremendous handclap.
While delivering her acceptance speech, Tmt. Pushpalatha said, “I am not considering this as an award for the services so far rendered by me, but one as to remind me the vast unfulfilled services pending to be completed before me. I feel proud to receive an award in the name of Periyar, who has spent his life for the emancipation of women. The dreams of Periyar about the liberation of women from slavery, equal rights in all spehers have become reality in Singapore. There is no difference between man and women or any conflict on the basis of race and language in Singapore.
While delivering his special address, Dr.K.Veeramani said Periyar is the proper person to whom all the praise you are lavishing on us are due. Periyar is a great benefactor who has given Tamil race respect and knowledge. It is very appropriate to honour the persons rendering social services by giving such awards encouraging them to do more. I congratulatge Tmt. Pushpalatha for getting this award. Singapore is a country setting itself as an example in honouring the rights of women in society.
Dr.K.Veeramani praised Dr. Devendran and informed that an MoU had been signed between Management Development Institute of Singapre and Periyar Maniammai University.
Appreciating the donations given to the Tamil organisations by Periyar Service Centre, Dr.K.Veeramani said “We have not come here to receive from you, but to donate for the Tamil organisations serving for Tamil development.”
Dr.K.Veeramani referred to a poem of Poet Bharathidasan describing Periyar as a rare and precious leader blooming once in thousand years. Socretes told the peolf of Greece that a lamp of knowledge would liberate the people from the darkness of ignorance. Ignorance is the worst of all the deseases.
Even today many people have not properly understood the various dimensions of Periyar. Some see him only as non-believer of god, someothers see him only as Brahmin-hater. There are even a few who view him as though he was anti-social. some see him only as anti-social. All of them are to be pitied just like the five blind people described in different ways an elephant.
Periyar used to say “our people should lead a knowledgeable life with self-respect and humanity. I have no other interest in life, but only two. One is promotion of knowledge and the other is humanity”. Periyar gave humanity the first and foremost place in life.
The Self-respect principles are not the property of Tamil Nadu or India. The ideals and philosophy of Periyar belong to the entire world. Don’t think Periyar is no more. He is still living through his ideals. Just as C.N.Annadurai said, Periyar is not an individual, but an era, a philosophy, a part of history and an age. If you see the condition of the society before and after Periyar, you will come to know how far the principles of way of living founded by Periyar have succeeded.
Periyar told in 1928 that the self-respect movement was started not for any individual and not out of any aversion towards anybody, but only for the purpose of making the people of this world to conduct themselves as humans with self-respect. Men and women must have some ideals in life.
Dr.K.Veeramani described his experience with Periyar particularly how he used to react when he was praised or condemned. He explained the history of the origin of superstitious beliefs, rites, rituals and how Periyar created a new rational way of thinking. The way of life Periyar had shown is a simple and pleasant life.
Dr.K.Veeramani referred to an interview given by the former PrimeMinister of Singapore Hon’ble Lee kuan Yew to ‘Singapore Strait Times’, in which he declared “I am not a deep religionist; if you ask me about Athma (soul), I want to ask what is it? If it is spirit (feeling), it is related to nervous system. Its growth may be more or less, one can be good or bad. If athma is constant, what is the reason for these differences. You can explain what is athma. Do you want to say that it is the air going out of the body when man dies? Do you say that this athma will continue to exist even after the destruction of the body. I do not believe it.”
I don’t know whether the former Prime Minister had read Periyar. But it is a proof that the ideals of Periyar are universal.
Economic spending is different from being miserly. We should not lead a miserly life, but a simple life without any lavish spending. Living over and above the needs is pompous; spending for the needful purpose is reasonable; not spending even for the basic needs is miserly
Quoting Periyar “If you want to be a true rationalist, you must be honest” Dr.K.Veeramani said the way of life shown by Periyar is not intended for any one country or race, but for the entire world and entire humanity. I won’t ask you to read Periyar and accept his teachings. But I would ask you to understand Periyar properly. If you don’t understand him properly, it is not his fault, but only your fault. Periyar is just like a supermarket; you can take from him whatever you want.
We can go on describing Periyar from so many angles. I have told about him only with regard to one or two aspects. You have got the right to reject my views or express your views. If you feel that it is correct, you can take it. But don’t put a but while accepting the views!.
Thiru Boopalan proposed a vote of thanks.
