3rd International Humanism Conference on Social Justice
Canada 24th September 2022
Self-Respectful Asiriyar and the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, Dr. K. Veeramani, who has delivered the Keynote Address at the 3rd International Humanism Conference on Social Justice, jointly organized by the Periyar International USA and American & Canadian Humanist Associations, Mr. Martin Frith, President of the Humanist Canada,
Dr. Soma Ilangovan,who steers the Periyar International, Hon. Gary Anandasangaree, Member of the Parliament of Canada,
Dr. Kannabiran Ravishankar, who delivered the Plenary Introduction, Scholars of Global Renown, who are delivering speeches on various topics, and all Participants with a Reformist bent of mind, who are attending this conference either in-person or via online, Greetings to all of you!
Periyar is throughout the World; And the World is throughout Periyar – Operating with such a lofty objective, the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, Self-Respectful
Dr. K. Veeramani, undertook a massive project called the Periyar World, just last17th. He gave me the great opportunity of laying the foundation stone for the same.
Within a week, he has again organized such a big conference in Canada. The 1st Conference of the Periyar International was held in Germany during 2017. The 2nd Conference was held in Washington D.C.
It was in this Conference, Asiriyar was awarded with the Humanist Lifetime Achievement Award by the American Humanist Association. The 3rd Conference is now being held in Canada.
I am speaking from the Land of Periyar, who gave a clarion call that Social Justice is the right justice,and it is equal justice. I am speaking from the Land of the Government of the Justice Party, which passed laws about 100 years back, that all communities should get all opportunities.
We appreciate Dr. Soma Ilangovan, who has founded the Periyar International and has been Globalizing Periyar all along.
He came to America on a professional mission, yet he has been carrying out his duty to take Periyar all around the Globe.
Periyar’s birthday last Sep 17th, has been celebrated by many countries of the world including Malaysia, Singapore, America, Australia, Central Gulf Countries and European Nations.
There is no doubt that if such conferences are held on continuous basis, Periyar will be celebrated all over the world.
Canada is the only country, which has declared the month of January every year, as the Tamil Heritage Month.
It is very appropriate that this conference is held in such a country. Canada is one of the countries where Tamil People live in large numbers. Hon. Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau offered his Thai Pongal Wishes and made us all happy.
He has been telling that Canada is developing as an exceptionally diverse country of living, with People from many ethnic groups and religions.
The Bill for Tamil Heritage Month was passed in the Parliament of Canada during 2017.
I recollect my memories with thanks to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Members of the Parliament of Canada, and the Members of the Canadian Tamil Associations, who have been instrumental in bestowing such an honor on Tamil & Tamil People.
In a way, I am happy to participate and deliver my lecture online, at this conference that is being held in Toronto, Canada. But on the other hand, I am a bit sad as well.
I was unable to come to Canada and meet you all in-person, speak to you, and listen to the lectures of so many scholars. That’s the reason for my sadness.
Owing to various Governmental tasks and duties towards people, I am unable to schedule a foreign trip, and I hope you all will understand such a situation.
Even though we are far away by distance, we are united in our feelings towards Tamil, Self-Respect, Equality, Social Justice & Humanism. Only on that account, I am speaking to you via this online platform.
It’s more apt to say, that we are connected more by the light of Periyar, than the light of this video.
This conference is on Humanism & Social Justice. The very basis of Humanism is Social Justice! The Concept of Social Justice itself, is built on the Foundations of Humanism.
I take part in this Humanism & Social Justice Conference, right from the Land of Social Justice.
I am speaking from the Land of Thiruvalluvar, who said “piRappuokkum ellaauyirkkum” (All lives are Equal by Birth). I am speaking from the Land of Vallalar, who echoed his sorrow, that he withers every time he sees a withering crop.
I am speaking from the Land of Periyar, who gave a clarion call that Social Justice is the right justice,and it is equal justice. I am speaking from the Land of the Government of the Justice Party, which passed laws about 100 years back, that all communities should get all opportunities.
I am speaking from Tamil Nadu, where the Dravidian Model Governance is in practice, as the consequence of all these.
Valluvar is praised by the lines, “Tamil Nadu gave Valluvar to the Whole World and attained sky-high glory”.
Even though he was born in Tamil Nadu and wrote his Book: The Thirukkural in Tamil, his verses have been translated in more than 125 languages and hailed as a Universal Scripture.
Similarly, even though Periyar was born in Tamil Nadu; wrote, spoke and composed in Tamil, he is acclaimed today as an International Thinker.
His Books have been translated into English, French, German and a few other languages. On behalf of the Government of Tamil Nadu, we plan to translate and publish his works in 21 world languages.
Both Thiruvalluvar andThanthai Periyar have spoken on Universal Social Justice.
I hope thinkers like yourselves, who are participating in this conference from different countries, and speak different languages, will accept this view.
By globalizing Thiruvalluvar’s KuRaL & Thanthai Periyar’s Thoughts, we can establish a Humanist World, a World of Social Justice, and a World of Equal Justice.
I am happy and proud that Periyar is really going global today. We can say that Periyar was global in his lifetime. He had travelled all these countries:
Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Russia, Africa, Greece, Turkey, Germany, Spain, France, Portugal, England, Egypt, Burma.
He spoke on Rational Views in all these countries. Thanthai Periyar created his own fan base in all those countries, even during those days.
The King of Poets, Bharathidasan hailed Periyar by the words, “The world salutes the Glands of thy Brain”.
So, Periyar’s Prowess was realized by the world, during his lifetime itself. Periyar knew the world and had the farsightedness to predict how the world’s future is going to be shaped.
In 1943, the book of Thanthai Periyar – The World to Come (Ini Varum Ulagam) was published.
It was compiled by Perarignar Anna, when he went with Thanthai Periyar and heard him speak at a Marriage function. Amazed by the loftiness of all those thoughts, Perarignar Anna transformed himself into an Interviewer and wrote that book.
During his lifetime, Perarignar Anna was a voracious reader of many English Books.He was amazed to note that, even those books did not cover the depth of thoughts, that Periyar covered and spoke on.
In the Future..
- Air Planes will be everywhere.
- Wireless Transmission Equipment will be in everyone’s shirt pocket
- Radio will be in everyone’s possession.
- Images would be sent via Wireless Transmission.
- Irrespective of the location, People can all see one another and chat.
- People can be educated remotely at multiple places from a single spot.
- Food capsuled in small containers will be in vogue.
- Human Life Span will increase.
- For childbirth, there would not be any need for male-female conjugation.
- Birth Control will be implemented.
- Use of motors and machines will be less.
- Instead of petrol, electricity will be used.
- All scientific equipment will be easily available to the people.
Such rare thoughts were of Thanthai Periyar in 1943 itself. Today, we use:
Cell phone, Video Calling, Video Conferencing, FM Antenna Facilities, Fax, Food Capsules, Battery Cars. And all these were predicted long ago by Periyar. He had even predicted the advent of test tube babies. Today, Family Planning is successfully practised in several ways. Similarly, Thanthai Periyar spoke on the Topic: ‘Western Countries & Eastern Countries’ in 1947. When he was touring the North Indian States, Periyar spoke on such a topic in a Sangh (association) at Haridwar.He was comparing and contrasting the Countries of Europe with India. He was comparing all facets of the world with the situation in India then.Only people who have toured around the world for 4-5 years would speak with such an authority.Thus, Thanthai Periyar sowed the Seeds of Global Civility in India, and he was truly a Global Leader. Socrates, Ingersoll, Marx, Lenin, Bertrand Russell were Expert Philosophers of World Fame.
Thanthai Periyar translated their works into Tamil and got them published, about 80 years back. Periyar emphasized Humanism and Social Justice as a great reformer.
He introduced many global leaders to Tamil Nadu, who were thinkers like him. The great disciples of such a great leader Periyar were: Perarignar Anna & Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar. Only on their paths, I am carrying on the administration of my Government. I have named this the ‘Dravidian Model’.
The central theme of our Dravidian Model Governance is Humanism & Social Justice.
- We are establishing Social Justice in every place.
- Proportional Representation by Reservation (Affirmative Action) is being granted equally to all.
- Law has been framed to enable persons from all castes to become Trained Priests (Archakas).
- Thanthai Periyar’s Birthday has been declared Social Justice Day and relevant Pledge is to be administered.
- Annal Ambedkar’s Birthday has been declared Equality Day and Pledge is to be administered.
- We are planning to build a memorial for Pt. Iyothee Thass.
- Free Public Transport has been provided to Women as a measure of relief.
- The Mother Tamil Benediction Song has been declared the State Anthem.
- Education in mother tongue has been made mandatory for Government Employment.
- Education at the Doorstep is implemented.
- Door-to-door health care facility for people’s needs.
- Girls who have studied in Government Schools and seek higher education are provided with a monthly financial assistance of Rs. 1,000.
- Free Breakfast Scheme for Government School Children has been implemented.
- To enable Skill Development of All Students and make them professionally strong, Naan Mudhalvan (I am First) scheme has been implemented
- Affirmative Action: 7.5% Reservation for Government School Students in all professional courses.
- Social Justice Monitoring Commission has been setup under Prof. Suba Veerapandiyan’s leadership
- Scheduled Castes & Scheduled Tribes Commission has been setup under Justice Sivakumar’s leadershipThus, we have designed many Dravidian Model Schemes and are nourishing Tamil Nadu through the many schemes of the past 50 years, like:
- Affirmative Action (Reservation) Rights
- Two Language Formula
- Tamil Language Development
- Tamil Nadu’s Infrastructure Development
- Focus on Agriculture
- Creation of Social Development Schemes
- Fighting for State’s Rights
Tamil Nadu has seen a phenomenal growth. Only to boost it further, Dravidian Model Policies have been designed. The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) stands on the bedrock of the following philosophies: Social Justice – Equality – Self-Respect – Love for the Mother Tongue – Ethnic Rights – State Autonomy. Our Growth is also based on the above.
Industrial Development, Social Change, Educational Development – all have to happen at the same time. Growth should not only be economic, but social as well.
Finance – Education – Society – Thoughts – Actions, all five parameters have to grow in unison. That was the growth that Thanthai Periyar, Perarignar Anna and Muthamizh Arignar Kalaignar envisioned. That is the Dravidian Model Growth. I keep stressing this again and again.
I have been emphasizing that this Dravidian Model of Growth has to spread in all the States of India. The Governments of other States in the Union of India are keen to know about Tamil Nadu’s Dravidian Model and its policies & philosophies. They are eager to implement the same in their own states.
In such a context, I think that this conference that is held in Canada, is to attract global attention on the Dravidian Model philosophy.
“All People who were oppressed are Dravidians”, so said Thanthai Periyar. “There is no blood discrimination in Humanity. There is no gender discrimination, said Thanthai Periyar. Treating fellow Human as Human is the Basis of Humanism!
Delivering Justice to All Humans is Social Justice!
The Philosophies that Thanthai Periyar emphasized were: Social Justice, Humanism, Self-Respect, Rationality, Equality. All these 5 Principles are Universal Principles. These are beyond the boundaries of Nation, Language & Ethnic group. The time for Asiriyar Veeramani’s Vision of Globalizing Periyar is fast approaching. I congratulate the following people who are undertaking this great task:
Self-Respectful Asiriyar K. Veeramani,
Dr. Soma Ilangovan, Dr. Kannabiran Ravishankar, Dr. Lakshman Tamil, Arulselvi Veeramani, V. Kumaresan, V. Anburaj.
I thank Hon. Gary Anandasangaree and his Team, Hon. Members of the Parliament of Canada, Danton & Sivan Ilangko of the Canadian Tamil Congress, and Humanist Associations of Canada, for giving me an opportunity to participate in this conference and address the assembly.
In 1932, Thanthai Periyar spoke thus in Sri Lanka. “Let us demolish the discrimination prevailing amongst us. Over it, let us build a Humanist Structure of Equal Rights & Equality, that is beyond the boundaries of Nation, Religion & Caste. Let us Unite with All People of the World without any division. Then we will win! Then we will win!”
I also say the same thing today. Herald that I am the Ocean of Humanity – so sang the Revolutionary Poet. Humanism & Social Justice alone will Unify the Ocean of Humanity!
Thanks, Vanakkam!
(Translated version of the
Tamil Speech, delivered)