V. Kumaresan
Self Respect and Rationalism are the basic traits of every human. They are unique traits only to humans. Though these traits are prevalent, all the humans are not managing them to the fullest extent. Due to the lack of awareness of the surrounding in society, many discriminations emerge and imposed on them. Many divisions and degradations cause inequality in humans which remains a perennial hurdle for the humankind to progress. Imposing birth based discriminations resulting in graded inequalities with social insult, denying education to the vast sections of the toiling masses and the worst form of inhuman treatments and living conditions prevailed in this land.
Periyar Mission
Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879-1973) diagnosed this social malady and founded the Self Respect Movement in 1925 in Tamil Nadu. While founding the movement, Periyar stated that though his initiative originated in a particular territory, the destination of the mission was not confined to it. He added that it has to reach all the parts of the world.
According to him, it is applicable to all the humans and would have an impact on all.
The inadequate awareness and realisation of self respect and rationalist traits in the later integrated Indian territory were caused by the prevailing vedic and dogmatic scriptures. This denied education to a vast section of the people. It confined them only to the paternal occupation continued generation after generation. Periyar not only diagnosed the social disease, he himself advocated the remedy and practised it by enlightening through his propaganda. Periyar changed the name of his movement as Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. Periyar appealed that individual self respect may be subdued for communal Self Respect, if warranted. The propaganda for realisation and application of self respect and rationalist trait went on continuously. Ultimately many people whose forefathers were denied education, became qualified, and assumed jobs deviating from the family occupation. Rationalist mind set must prevail over faith based approach and action of every one. ‘What’, ‘Why’, ‘When’, ‘By whom’, ‘To whom’ – these are the basic questions on which the rationalist mindset has to revolve for any action.
The people who followed Periyar’s ideals identified themselves as Self Respecters and Rationalists. Many of them were educated and well placed in their career. In their career path, remaining as a rationalist and acting as per it must not be a hurdle to their official code of conduct. Acting as per reasoning is the basic right of every individual; nothing could hinder that right.
The disciples of Periyar, who had chosen the political path were elected to rule the Madras State (later named as Tamil Nadu) in 1967. Being a rationalist in no way affected the official career of a person. Above all every approach as a rationalist i.e. managing everything with a rationalist outlook is a natural behavior of every human. How can it be a bar to continue on every walk of life including the career path?
The Rationalists’ Forum
In order to continue the rationalist propaganda, its extension in the form of eradication of superstition and development of scientific temper; it was thought over. Periyar founded The Rationalists’ Forum (in Tamil Pagutharivalar Kazhagam – ð°ˆîPõ£÷˜ èöè‹) in 1970.
Asiriyar K. Veeramani was the Patron of The Rationalists’ Forum from the beginning. The inaugural event of The Rationalists’ Forum was presided over by the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu, Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi. While addressing, Periyar jocularly, of course very pertinently, stated, “Only today I start the Forum for Humans”. (referring ‘rationalism’ as an inborn trait in every human). Many people who were in official careers associated with The Rationalists’ Forum as its members. Rationalist propaganda was carried out in a peaceful way by the Forum. Many officials who associated themselves with The Rationalists’ Forum as its functionaries, later became Chief Secretaries of the State Government, Advisor to State Governors and State Governors in their career. Many a person ascended to the position of Vice-Chancellors of Universities. This itself encouraged successive members of the Forum to associate actively with the activities of The Rationalists’ Forum along with their formal work in their career. The purpose for which The Rationalists’ Forum was started, got incorporated later in Indian Constitution and that was emphasized as the fundamental duty to be carried out by every citizen of the country.
Rationalist duty of every citizen
Indian Constitution came into effect from 26th January 1950. At that time it ensured Fundamental Rights to every citizen; but no mention was there about Fundamental Duties. In 1976, as per the 42nd Amendment to Indian Constitution, Article 51A was inserted in Chapter IV under the Directive Principles of State Policy. Along with other fundamental duties Art. 51A(h) says, –
It shall be the fundamental duty of every citizen to develop scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and humanism.
The ‘spirit of enquiry’ is oriented on ‘what’, ‘why’, ‘whom’, ‘by whom’ and ‘to whom’, and that is nothing but adoption of rationalist mindset and approach. ‘Reform’ refers to eradication of superstition and development of scientific temper. They have been expressly mentioned as duty. The ultimate purpose is to make humanism prevail in humankind.
The purpose of formation of The Rationalists’ Forum and its objective became the prescription as Fundamental Duty for every citizen. Such a farsighted mission has completed 50 years of its remarkable functioning with significant contributions.
The secular perspective as adumbrated in the preamble of the Constitution is being highlighted by The Rationalists’ Forum, whenever it gets violated in public offices, especially in government offices. The challenges ahead are tough and arduous. Sanghparivar deliberately violates the secular, rationalist spirit emphasised in the Constitution. Religious belief and likeminded faith are individual affairs. That should not be disastrous, creating hate speech, religious fanaticism, resulting in disharmony and chaos among the believers of different faith. Retrograde process is increasing by repeating the superstitious rituals, ceremonies and deceptive deeds of god-men. The Rationalists’ Forum and the committed reformative organisations have to jointly function and discharge their duties to weed out everything that is harmful to society.
Globalisation of Periyar Mission
The Rationalists’ Forum is affiliated to Federation of Indian Rationalist Association (FIRA), a member of International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) based in Switzerland. Dravidar Kazhagam is also a member of IHEU. The ideals set by The Rationalists’ Forum is applicable and relevant to global people irrespective of race, language, and boundaries of any type. The ideal is relevant to every human. By sheer realisation of self respect and application of rationalist approach, the quality of human life could be increased besides making humankind prosper and progress. With that ideal, First International Conference of Periyar Self Respect Movement was held in 2017 at Koln, Germany in co-ordination with Periyar International Inc., USA. The second conference of Periyar Self Respect and Humanism was held in 2019 in Silver Spring, Maryland USA in co-ordination with American Humanist Association. The global vision of Periyar Humanism is becoming a reality. Besides, The Rationalists’ Forum organized World Atheist Conferences in 2011 and 2020 at Tiruchirapalli (TN) with the global appeal for joint endeavour by the rationalist organizations everywhere. Participation of atheist fraternity from eminent international atheist-humanist organisations from abroad as well as the fraternity from all the States of the country from Kashmir to Kanyakumari and Gujarat to West Bengal was the notable feature of the World Atheist Conferences.
Golden Jubilee (1970-2020)
The inauguration of the Golden Jubilee of The Rationalists’ Forum was held in Virudhunagar a district headquarter in the southern part of Tamil Nadu in November 2019. The valediction of the Jubilee was conducted on 19th June 2022, staggered due to COVID-19 pandemic, at Gingee, a taluk headquarter in the northern part.
The functionaries and cadres of Periyar Movement gathered with their family members at large. The significance of the conference was the release of the exclusive logo for The Rationalists’ Forum by its patron, Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani. The dignitaries who participated are also prominent. Dr. Ponmudi, Minister for Higher Education for Government of Tamil Nadu, who was the earlier functionary of the Forum in 1980s participated and recalled those days of rationalist propaganda and activities as an associate of the Forum. Hon’ble Ministers A.V. Velu a rationalist, and Gingee K.S.
Masthan not only addressed but were supportive very much in organising the conference. Dr. Sababathi Mohan, former Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, an earlier functionary of the Forum spoke in the conference.
Seminar with the participation of rationalist scholars and activists was a vital proceeding. 12 resolutions were passed unanimously for the onward transmission to the governing authorities both at the State and at Union. In the evening a massive procession on eradication of superstitious practices was held. Many practices which are projected as if they are due to divinity and belief in god were blasted out. It was proved that anyone could practice such deeds with continuous practices. The cadres of the Forum demonstrated such practices before the public at large. A public meeting was held to propagate the application of rationalist approach by public. Sizeable expenditure could be avoided and time saved which can be deployed in individual and collective life in the society. This was stressed during the event.
The Rationalists’ Forum founded by Periyar has been serving the society as a mass movement. The organization of this sort starting from foundation, member enrolment, activities of committed cadres, noteworthy contributions to the Constitution of the country, advocating fundamental duties for the citizens, and appeal for the joint endeavours of international fraternity are unique. The Golden Jubilee of The Rationalists’ Forum has enabled to proceed further amidst all the challenges ahead.
