Dr. Annamalai Mahizhnan BSc MSc PhD MCMS MAusIMM
President, Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia
When the Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle of Australia (PATCA) welcomes scholars, activists, and humanists to Melbourne on 1–2 November 2025 for the 4th International Humanists Conference, it will mark far more than a prestigious global gathering. It will stand as the culmination of two years of tireless advocacy by a determined collective inspired by the rationalist ideals of Thanthai Periyar E. V. Ramasamy and Dr B. R. Ambedkar—and as the direct outcome of the encouragement offered by Asiriyar K.Veeramani, President of Dravidar Kazhagam, during his visit to Melbourne earlier this year.
From Asiriyar Veeramani’s Visit to
a Global Milestone
When Asiriyar Veeramani, the torch-bearer of the rationalist movement in Tamil Nadu, met PATCA members in Melbourne during
his last leg of tour in Australia, he urged the President and Vice-President of PATCA and Melbourne team led by Aranga Moorthy and Suresh, to carry Periyar’s message of rationalism, equality, and self- respect to a global stage and to organise the 4th International
Humanists Conference in Melbourne in Partnership Periyar International, USA led by its President Dr. Soma Ilangovan. The decision to host the 4th International Humanists Conference 2025 was not merely organisational; it was profoundly symbolic. It declared that the Dravidian Humanist tradition, rooted in Tamil Nadu’s progressive movements, now resonates across the global south—carried forward by diaspora communities who continue to challenge injustice wherever they live.
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PATCA: A Movement Born of Conviction
Founded in 2017 as an online group addressing sectarianism and casteism, PATCA has since become a nationally recognised organisation promoting humanism, equality, and rational thought in Australia. In 2024, PATCA was incorporated as an organisation in Australia and inaugurated by Asiriyar Veeramani and Hon’ble Thol. Thirumavalavan, MP and President of Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi, via a Zoom and in person meeting held in Sydney. Its mission, set out on https://patca.org.au/, is to expose the structural invisibility of caste discrimination and the social exclusion faced by caste-oppressed communities. Through education, advocacy, and partnerships with universities and government agencies, PATCA has become a powerful voice for equality.
Key achievements include:
PATCA: A Movement Born of Conviction
l Formal submissions to state governments
calling for caste to be recognised
as a protected attribute under anti- discrimination law.
l Partnerships with multi-
cultural and academic bodies
to document caste-based
discrimination.
l Dialogue platforms uniting
Tamil, Dalit, Muslim, and
South-Asian voices against
extremism and exclusion.
From these foundations,
PATCA’s credibility and
international reach grew—
culminating in this landmark
humanist conference.
An Unprecedented
Humanist Gathering in
Australia
The 4th International Humanists Conference 2025, co-presented by PATCA and Humanist Global Charity, carries the theme “Humanism, Self-Respect, and Social Cohesion.” The two- day event blends activism, scholarship, and art, bringing together leading thinkers and practitioners from around the world. According to the official program, highlights include:
l Opening Plenary on humanist approaches
to democracy and equality.
Keynote Sessions exploring caste
abolition, secular education, intersectional
humanism, decolonising narratives, and
rational ethics.
l Panel Discussions on social accountability
and the role of humanism in corporate and
civic life.
l Documentary Screening and discussion
examining caste discrimination in
contemporary Australia.
l International Forum linking activists and
policymakers from India, Australia, and
the global diaspora.
This diversity of themes and participants
embodies the inclusivity at the heart of modern
humanism.
In 2024, PATCA was incorporated as an organisation in Australia and inaugurated by Asiriyar Veeramani and Hon’ble Thol. Thirumavalavan, MP and President of Viduthalai Chiruththaikal Katchi, via a Zoom and in person meeting held in Sydney.
From Local Struggle to Global Platform
PATCA’s leadership stresses that the conference is a logical extension of its ongoing advocacy. The organisation has raised awareness of caste discrimination in education, employment, and faith institutions, influencing major reviews by the Australian Human Rights Commission and the Federation of Ethnic Communities Councils of Australia (FECCA). It has also challenged Hindutva extremism
in diaspora cultural spaces, warning that imported sectarian ideologies erode Australia’s multicultural harmony. Through alliances
with international and interfaith partners, PATCA has helped position Australia within the global conversation on transnational hate
and humanist resistance.
PATCA’s Vision for Tomorrow
Beyond 2025, PATCA aims to ensure that the
conference leaves a lasting legacy:
l Launching an Online Caste Discrimination
Register documenting lived experiences of
caste-oppressed Hindus in Australia.
l Developing teacher-training and
curriculum resources that promote caste-
inclusive values in schools.
l Establishing Humanist Research
Fellowships linking Australian and South-
Asian academics.
l Strengthening coalitions with multicultural,
humanist, and interfaith groups to combat
racism and religious intolerance.
These initiatives turn ideals into action—
fulfilling Periyar and Ambedkar’s conviction
that education is the weapon of liberation.
Humanism Across Borders
PATCA’s rise shows how diaspora communities can unite cultural identity with universal humanist principles. Tamil humanism ,
grounded in reason and compassion, has become a global ethic resonating with all who seek justice and equality. The conference’s central themes are rational inquiry, gender equality, social inclusion, and freedom of conscience reflecting both the Dravidian legacy and Australia’s multicultural aspirations. PATCA has become a model for how rationalism can flourish within democratic societies worldwide.
An Unprecedented Pace of Progress
Few organisations have advanced so swiftly. From a handful of activists to a global humanist voice influencing public policy,
PATCA’s journey embodies courage, intellect, and collective will. Its work demonstrates that when guided by compassion and reason, humanism becomes a transformative social force. This achievement, nurtured by Asiriyar Veeramani’s faith in the diaspora, stands as a testament to how conviction can translate into change at remarkable speed.
A Legacy Continues
When delegates gather in Melbourne this November 2025, they will witness more than a conference—they will witness history unfolding. Inspired by Periyar and Ambedkar, guided by Asiriyar Veeramani, and driven by the dedication of PATCA’s leadership, this
event cements Australia’s place on the world map of humanism. As Periyar declared, “The future belongs to those who dare to think.” Through its daring and its action, PATCA has made that future a living reality—linking Tamil Nadu and Australia in a shared vision of humanism, self-respect, and social cohesion.
