SIRIYAR VEERAMANI
ASIRIYAR VEERAMANI TEACHER IN A LEADER! LONG LIVE!
Periyar E.V.Ramasami ( 1879-1973), icon of Dravidian Movement
affectionately called as Thanthai Periyar, meaning ‘ noble father ’
is respected invariably by all public bodies and political parties in Tamil Nadu. Even his ideological opponents respect him for some of his ideals. The all India political parties have to change their tone and tenor in Tamil Nadu. They can’t speak and do propaganda as they do in other parts of the country. Such an unique culture was inculcated by Thanthai Periyar in the public life of Tamil Nadu.
When Periyar passed away in December,1973, the organisation founded by him, namely Dravidar Kazhagam, came under the leadership of Annai E.V.R. Maniammaiyar (1917 - 1978) who had sacrificed her entire life for the cause of the movement and for the personal care of her leader with whom she willingly entered into a marriage arrangement for the safety and continuity of the Movement in future. During the brief period of Annai E.V.R.Maniammaiyar, as President of Dravidar Kazhagam, unprecedented, remarkable events took place in the history of the movement. One such event, boldly organised and led by her, was Ravana Leela, which made people think and ask , Why not Ravana Leela?
Subsequent to the demise of Annai E.V.R.Maniammaiyar, Asiriyar K.Veeramani shouldered the responsibility of leading the organization. His association with Periyar Movement began at the tender age of 9 years. He was systematically groomed by the movement. He also evinced special interest in its ideals and was committed to the cause. Because of this background, Asiriyar Veeramani was made the General Secretary of the organisation in the year 1960 and served as the ideal disciple till the demise of Periyar and Maniammaiyar.
He continued as General Secretary even after Maniammaiyar’s demise keeping the Presidentship vacant. In the year 2002, he was made the President of Dravidar Kazhagam as per the overwhelming wish of the cadres. He was entrusted with the responsibility of the editorship of ‘Viduthalai’, a rationalist Tamil daily in the year1962. At present, ‘Viduthalai’celebrates its Platinum Jubilee (1935-2009).The editorship of Viduthalai was adorned by various personalities of public significance including late lamented Anna (C.N.Annadurai), who was the chief disciple of Periyar and later became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. The term ‘Editor’ is translated in Tamil as ‘Asiriyar’. The term ‘Asiriyar’ is prefixed to the name of K.Veeramani. Now in the public life of Tamil Nadu the connotation ‘Periyar’ always refers to E.V.Ramasami and ‘Asiriyar’ refers to K.Veeramani.
Anna described the public meetings addressed by Periyar as evening classes for the people at large. Currently, Asiriyar Veeramani continues the rationalist propaganda following the ideological footsteps of Periyar. His style of addressing the public meetings with a pile of books as references and his articulating gestures look like Asiriyar i.e. teacher, handling the class.
The teacher alike leader, Dr.K.Veeramani’s 77th Birth Day falls on 2nd December 2009.Ayya, Amma, Asiriyar – the leadership style is unique. The Vision of Periyar is systematically translated by the Mission of Asiriyar.
Long Live Asiriyar Veeramani !
And the Mission to continue and sustain for ever !
