Confluence of humanist – delegates from various countries
Proceedings
The 3rd International Humanism Conference on Social Justice was conducted at the Centennial College Event Centre, Scarborough, Toronto, for 2 days – 24-25 September 2022. The conference was organised under the auspices of Periyar International USA, Center for Inquiry – Canada, Humanist Canada and Humanist Association of Toronto. The proceedings of the conference are as follows.
First Day: 24-09-2022
The programme started by 9.00 am. The Welcome Address was by Martin Frith of Humanist Canada and Dr. Soma Ilangovan of Periyar International USA. The introduction of plenary speaker was made by Dr. Kannabiran Ravi Shankar. Plenary speech on Humanism & Social Justice was by Gus Lyn – Pilusco of Center for Inquiry, Canada.
Keynote Address by Asiriyar Dr.K. Veeramani
Asiriyar Dr.K. Veeramani, President Dravidar Kazhagam, Tamil Nadu, India, delivered the Keynote Address. (full text of the address is published in separate pages). The Keynote Address was under the title: ‘Practical ways to Eliminate Caste & Instill Equality’.
After the tea-break, the morning session lectures, commenced.
The first lecture on ‘Dispelling the Myth of Astrology’ was by Hemant Mehta, Editor, Friendly Atheist. Richard Dowsett of Humanist Association of Toronto offered his presentation on ‘Humanist Answers to Immigrants’. Prof. V.Arasu, University of Madras, delivered his lecture on ‘Social Justice’ in Tamil Nadu -Past, Present & Future’. The presentation on ‘Winning back Women’s Right via Humanism’ was by Shristi Hukku of Humanist Canada. Dr. S. Sivasegaram of University of Peredeniya, Sri Lanka, presented inputs on ‘Socio-politics of Caste & Social Justice in Sri Lanka’.
The event got a break for lunch. When the afternoon session started, an interesting and thought-provoking video presentation was there as Social Justice Skit on ‘Renouncing Caste in the Diaspora’. The presentation was by the popular YouTube team ‘Nakkalites’ of Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. The presentation depicted in a realistic way the cunning and dominant caste that subjugates even an American family. It was not an exaggeration but relevant to the current situation there.
There was a video presentation on ‘Periyar World’, the great monument of Globalizing Periyar Mission – with the statue of Periyar, 95 feet tall, standing on a 60 feet pedestal to be installed with the ‘theme park’ comprising science exhibition, library, children’s park, etc. coupled with the laying of foundation by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu Self-Respectful M.K.Stalin on the 144th birthday of Thanthai Periyar. The presentation was by V. Anburaj, General Secretary, Dravidar Kazhagam.
Evening lectures started with the presentation by Martin Frith of Humanist Canada on ‘Social Justice in Life Ceremonies’.
V.Kumaresan, Treasurer of Dravidar Kazhagam delivered a lecture on ‘Approaches in Social Justice – Periyar and other Reformers’ The unique features of Periyar, his philosophy, its propaganda and practices that are distinguished from other reformers were highlighted.
A rapid-fire group discussion on ‘Myths Vs Truths’ was by Periyar Ambedkar Study Circle, Canada. The team members Puyal, Ezhilan, Vijayakumar answered questions in a convincing way and clarified certain points. The session had a tea-break.
Presentation as College Talk: Thiruvalluvar and Social Justice was given by Amaran Kandiar, University of North Carolina.
Message of Greetings and Special Address by Hon’ble Chief Minister, M.K. Stalin
A video presentation, with the Message of Greetings and Special Address by Hon’ble Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was given. The message was exclusively for the International Humanism Conference on Social Justice. (Full text of the message is covered separately in this issue).
Books as mementos were presented to the dignitaries of Periyar International USA and Center for Inquiry, Canada. They were all commended and felicitated formally.
A programme for Hungry Children Throughout the World was conducted. All the delegates of the conference participated in ‘Kids Against Hunger’ as a team in preparation of food packets to be sent to different countries. The programme was a humanist gesture to the underfed kids who starve and suffer in various countries.
The first day events concluded with Art & Cultural entertainment programme and social hour followed by dinner.
Second Day: 25-09-2022
The dignitaries and speakers of the second day programme were welcomed by Arulselvi Balaguru, Treasurer, Periyar International USA. The first day events were summarised by Dr. Soma Ilangovan, President, Periyar International USA. Dr.Kannabiran Ravishankar introduced the plenary speaker.
Plenary Speech by Asiriyar Dr.K. Veeramani
The plenary speech on ‘Humanism and Social Justice’ was by Asiriyar
Dr.K. Veeramani, President, DK.
During the plenary speech, Asiriyar explains the social malady and the remedy for it. He pointed out that the challenging part of waging war for social justice is ahead:
“Our major problem is inequality in all respects for all our people. After succeeding in establishing absolute equality, our task would be to empower people who are victimised either by economic slavery or social injustice. People are divided as fifth caste, sixth caste, etc. They are untouchable, unseeable and unapproachable – categories unheard of in any other part of the world.
They are all unacceptable concepts. Long ago, washermen and women used to wash dirty clothes in rivers not in the daytime, but at night and bring them to the houses of people because they were dubbed as the lowest of the low in the caste system and hence were unseeable. They had to stay out of the sight of upper caste people. It was believed that seeing them itself would cause pollution and pollute people of upper castes. You may now wonder how mad those people were to impose such evil codes. The concept of pollution nowadays is scientifically very different. But that was then the condition. It was the worst kind of social injustice then. It is still prevalent in many parts of our country as the condition has not completely changed. We must wage a great war to destroy this social injustice and bring about complete change. Though we have won many battles in the past, we are yet to win some more. Our movement is restlessly working to achieve this objective.
On this occasion I extend my invitation to Mr. Martin, Mr. Richard and everyone in this conference room to visit India, especially the southern part of Tamil Nadu and see how our great social movement works for several notable causes.”
Conferring Humanist Achievement Award to Asiriyar Dr.K.Veeramani
Humanist Canada conferred ‘Humanist Achievement Award 2022’ to Asiriyar Dr.K.Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam. It was awarded in recognition of his lifelong contributions to Humanism and Human Rights. The Award was presented by Martin Frith, President of Humanist Canada. On behalf of Asiriyar Dr.K.Veeramani, along with the functionaries and cadres of Dravidar Kazhagam and in the presence of Dr.Soma Ilangovan and Arulselvi Blaguru of Periyar International USA, V.Kumaresan, Treasurer od Dravidar Kazhagam received the Award,
Acceptance Address
After the conferment of the Award Asiriyar delivered his Acceptance Address (the text of the speech is published separately in this issue).
After the tea-break, morning session lectures, started.
The research scholar, who translated Thirukkural from Tamil to English, Thomas Hitoshi Pruiksma delivered a lecture on ‘Openness to All People: Thirukkural and Social Justice.’
Prof. Dr. Kannabiran Ravishankar offered a presentation on ‘Social Justice & Tamil History’. The lectures with indepth analysis on ancient Tamil literature highlighted the respectable and esteemed position prevailed for women in the Sangam Period.
Leslie Rosenblood of Center for Inquiry delivered his lecture on ‘Humanism in Children and Women’s Rights’. The presentation of Fr. Chandrakanthan of University of Toronto on ‘Humanist Answers to Immigrants, Especially Canadian Tamils’ highlighted problems faced by the Canadian Tamils and the way to solve them.
Prof. Arasu Chelliah from Maryland, United States of America gave a presentation on ‘Countering Climate Crisis via Humanism’ The presentation on ‘Humanism & Social Justice in Sri Lanka’ was by Sri Kathirgamanathan of Annamalai University Centre in Canada.
Puhazh Gandhi of Dravidian Professionals Forum narrated ‘Practical Methods to Inspire Secularism in Youth’. He differentiated the secularism that is practised in the West and in India. Both the practices aim at making religion as insignificant in state governance.
After lunch, the afternoon session started. A special programme was held in a jovial way with informative content, ‘Dravidian Youth Kit’. It was conducted by Elankathir Elamaran and Nikhil Muniappan.
Prince Ennares Periyar, State Secretary of Dravidian Students’ Forum, gave his presentation on ‘Today’s Youth and Social Justice – Inspiration from Periyar’.
Hon’ble Gary Anandasangaree, Member of Parliament, Canada and Special Guest delivered a lecture on ‘Social Justice: Dravidian Model & Canadian Model’.
Special Guests were formally commended and felicitated.
Parallel Session also started.
In one session, ‘Students’ Discussion’ was conducted with the functionaries of Center for Inquiry, Canada, Humanist Canada and Humanist Association of Toronto.
Another session in Tamil was coordinated and conducted by Dr.Soma Ilangovan with the participation and addressing by the delegates of Dravidar Kazhagam from Tamil Nadu and Tamils from Canada and other countries. The theme of the session was ‘Social Justice in Tamil Nadu – Next Steps’.
The concluding session was by Dr. Soma Ilangovan and the team of Periyar International USA with summing up of the entire proceedings of the conference.
Vote of thanks was proposed by the team that organised the conference.
The 3rd International Humanism Conference on Social Justice, conducted at Toronto, Canada paved the way for globalising Periyar Mission in furtherance.
Compiled by: nietsche
