The 146th Birthday of Thanthai Periyar was celebrated in Singapore on 17th September, 2024. The event was presided over by Dr.K.Veeramani, Chancellor, Periyar Maniammai University, Tamil Nadu. It was organised by Periyar Community Services of Singapore in collaboration with the National Library Board. The celebration was held at the Library buildings on Victoria Road, Singapore.
A book on the Tamils in South Asia and Singapore under the title “Oor Thirumbiyavar Ver Oondriyavar” (Sojourners to Settlers) was compiled by Arun Mahizhnan and M.S.Nalina Gopal. This book was reviewed by Aruna Kandasamy, a student of National University, Singapore. The Presidential Address was delivered by Dr.K.Veeramani. The excerpts from his speech are as follows:-
GUARDIAN OF HUMANKIND
“At the outset I convey my hearty thanks to Periyar Community Services of Singapore and the National Library Board for their tremendous celebration of the Birth Anniversary of Thanthai Periyar. I wholeheartedly commend everyone behind this mega event. Periyar is hailed all over the world as the “Guardian of Humankind.” He had visited Malaya (present Malaysia and Singapore were then united) twice in his life time. During his second visit he was delighted to find the Tamil migrants in coveted posts and positions, having reached a higher level of literacy and intellect. The advancement of the Tamil was undeniably by the impact of Periyar. Periyar thought had paved the way for their progress and advancement in life. Periyar was a social scientist who believed that science never stops with a conclusion and that every end marks a new beginning as an endless process. Your celebration here by collective efforts deserves high praise. This sort of group mentality and united felicitations of great stalwarts makes us all proud.
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A Treasure in Print
The book reviewed today at this venue was compiled by Arun Mahizhnan, Special Research Advisor at the Institute of Policy Study, with the assistance of Ms. Nalina Gopal. He gave me this book a few months back. I read it, chewed and digested. It is undeniably a treasure in print. A shelf in our Periyar Rationalist Library and Research Centre at Periyar Thidal in Chennai is adorned today by the display of this book of historical importance. Watching this book reviewed here by a student of Singapore National University was indeed a great pleasure for me. Whenever I return after a foreign tour people used to look quizzically at my heavy bag. Had they found it open, they would have found dozens of books; nothing but books. As a great lover of books, I finished reading fast this particular book compiled by Arun Mahizhnan and Nalina Gopal. It is an excellent research work on the Tamils in South East Asia and Singapore. I congratulate them on their exceptionally thought provoking book. The book review by Aruna Kandasamy and her speech have also impressed me much.
Amazing changes
Long ago thousands of Tamils migrated from Tamil Nadu and worked on foreign lands as gardeners and Cofffee planters. They returned to their native towns as exhausted labourers. The succeeding generations that migrated, reached great heights in life without giving up their roots and identities. These changes are amazing indeed. The impact of Periyar made it possible. He paved the way for the upliftment and emancipation of the Malaya diaspora; the non-resident Tamil Indians. Periyar infused self-respect into the migrants in Malaysia and revitalised their energy to strive for progress in life. Malaya Tamils have reached glorious heights today in life.
In the Tamil community of Singapore itself, long ago there were clashes between the upper class elite and the labour class. This wide gulf has been perfectly bridged today.
Unity and diversity
I urge upon all the Tamils in Singapore and other Malaysian cities to seek unity in diversity and avoid for ever diversity in unity. This is my prime message to all of you on this memorable occasion.
Long ago, caste based discriminations and social injustice did exist in Malaysian cities including Singapore. They were carried and brought from India by fanatics. Meaningless rituals and outdated customs were followed even in Singapore in the bygone era. Atrocities like denial of temple entry too were in vogue even here. Literacy rate was also poor among the Tamils. In 1929 Periyar visited Malaya and gave an alarming call to the Tamils. He advised giving up family occupations and motivated people to come up in life acquiring education.
Expired drugs
We carefully look at the expiry dates of drugs and life saving medicines but we fail to avoid expired thoughts, concepts and outdated beliefs. Periyar severely condemned this attitude. Old, dilapidated houses are dangerous places to live in. We leave such places and move to well-built safer places. Hence Periyar advised people to throw overboard all the outdated codes of conduct and turn over a new leaf of life. He modernised our people and made them imbibe novelty in all respects.
When Periyar visited Singapore and other Malaysian lands, he advised the Tamils to reform drunk labourers lying on gardens and plantations in an inebriated condition. He motivated our people to establish schools instead of wasting money and energy on building temples. He injected the elixir of wisdom in Malaya Tamils. That paved the way for ultimate transformations.
Amusing incident:
During the first visit of Periyar to Malaya, a plantation labourer hosted lunch for Periyar and his wife Nagammaiar. A woman barged into the house along with her daughter and requested Periyar to bless her so that she could beget a child. Periyar laughed at her blind belief and convinced her that it was her superstition. He introduced Nagammaiar to her and said – “We ourselves are a childless couple. Our first child died in infancy. We stopped longing for a child. All the children in the country are our children. Do not believe in blessings.” The woman went back convinced against her will. This is an instance of the rationalist outlook and scientific temper of Periyar. Such progressive thoughts gradually transformed the lives of the Tamils of Malaysia and Singapore. The youth of the present day in Singapore should know that people did not reform and transform overnight. Great thinker Periyar sowed the seeds for all the changes.
Second visit in 1954
After touring in Burma (presently Myanmar), Periyar visited Malaysia and Singapore for the second time in 1954. Young Tamil citizens highly educated and well placed in lucrative jobs extended a warm welcome to Periyar. He was delighted to see the Tamils well advanced in life. He delivered speeches at many places and made a much more stronger impact on people during this second visit. He insisted on avoiding caste suffixes with names. Infact, in 1927 itself he practised in Tamil Nadu, that which he preached. Today, the State is free from suffix of caste names. I am glad to notice that in Malaysia and Singapore too this principle is being adhered to today.
Recalling G. Sarangapani
Periyar’s policies and principles were sprinkled all over Singapore as seeds by the eminent Tamil Singaporean Stalwart G.Sarangapani. We are all indebted to him for his noble services. He formed a society for the reformation of the Tamil and invited Periyar to Malaysia, Singapore and several other places to propagate his ideals. Periyar addressed people and spoke in detail on women liberation, self-respect and equality in society. There were widespread changes in the mind-set of Malaysian Tamils by the inspiring speeches of Periyar. Racial extremism, birth based disparities and class struggles have all vanished. The prop roots should know and identify the roots of origin. The stalwarts of the past were the deep seated roots. The youth of the new generation are the descending prop roots. They have to derive strength from the roots at the bottom.
Forums and Outfits
I appeal to all of you to never ever form caste based associations. Establish forums, outfits and movements that can succeed in achievements and productive tasks. Stalwarts like Sarangapani used to go door to door and urge people to acquire citizenship rights. Today people here are peacefully settled without any fear of dislocation. People like him were your roots. We celebrate the birth anniversary of Periyar as a sign of our gratitude for his achievements. The outcome of these celebrations is much more important. Mere celebrations are not enough. They should cause much more advancement in life.
Haven of peace
Today I find Singapore as a haven of peace. All the Tamils have scaled great heights. The dreams of great thinkers like Periyar have come true. They would not have expected gratitude but it is your bounden duty to be grateful to them who were your roots. Ingratitude is unpardonable according to couplet No.109 in ‘Thirukkural’ by the renowned Tamil sage Thiruvalluvar. Hence, be indebted to all the great men who sacrificed their “Today” for your “Tomorrow”.
On 15th of September, when I was at an event in Tokyo, I requested the Member of Indian Parliament Mr.Abdullah to take steps and constitute an award in Tamil Nadu in the name of K. Sarangapani. The Stalwart who gave a face lift to Singapore deserves to be honoured and thanked.
Dear friends, I urge you all to stay away from divisive forces and increase the number of uniting forces. Insist on “Unity in Diversity” at all times. Adopt a humanist outlook and care for the welfare of humankind. Use the old as manure to grow something new. Conserve the rich culture of Singapore and make it proud by everlasting adherence to the ideals of Periyar.
Thanks to every one of you.
I take leave of you all immensely pleased by this memorable event.”
