Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani addresses the meeting. A. Raja, DMK Member of Parliament and Cine artist S.Sathyaraj addressed earlier.
The 13th National Conference, organised by the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations (FIRA), in collaboration with the Rationalists’ Forum, Tamil Nadu, was held on 28th and 29th December, 2024 at Periyar Centenary Educational Complex, K.K.Nagar, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu. The speech delivered in the public meeting by Asiriyar Dr.K. Veeramani, Thiru A.Raja M.P. and Thiru.Sathyaraj, Cine-Artist were the highlights of the event. The excerpts from their speeches are as follows in nutshell:
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Asiriyar Dr. K. Veeramani
Dear friends, cadres and well-wishers, I am glad that our two-days conference has been a thundering success inspite of the disturbing weather conditions all over Tamil Nadu for some time in the past. As the followers in the foot prints of Thanthai Periyar, we have always been undeterred by inclement weather or any other obstale on our path. I recall, once the eminent Pontiff Kundrakkudi Adigalar asked Periyar to specify which couplet he liked the best out of all the 1330 couplets of Thiruvalluvar in his ‘Thirukkural’. The people at the venue waited anxiously to see which couplet, Periyar would cite. Periyar quoted one particular couplet the substance of which was that the unflinching resolve of people in public life would make them face all challenges and hurdles unmindful of time. He was quite right. We, following in his footsteps, have been tolerating scorching heat, torrential rains, and violent storm in our public services. There were several threatening announcements recently about the possibility of inclement weather and effects of low pressure in the atmosphere etc; but nothing could scare us. We have successfully conducted the two-day seminar and made it an undeniably grand success.
Our Movement was called by Periyar as a movement of “Free Thought”. He meant a movement of people who think on their own and come to a wise conclusion. The spirit of enquiry was implied by him. Once, at an event in a College while delivering his speech, Periyar said – “Never believe what others say” is our principle. A student rose up and asked Periyar – “Do you mean to say we should not believe what you said now?” Periyar immediately retorted – “Yes. Do not believe even that which I said. Think over freely and find out what is right according to your own mind. Make your wisdom answer your queries.” This is stressed even by our Indian Constitution. It is adumbrated in its Preamble that questioning is one of the fundamental duties of every citizen. We have involved ourselves infact only in such a task of questioning everything and seeking answers.
Thiru A. Raja, Member of Parliament (DMK) addresses
Is God aware of mobile phones?
We can hardly find today a person who does not own a mobile phone. There are millions of so called gods and goddesses fabricated by fanatics. Do those gods know about the invention of mobile phones? Is Science related in any way to theism? We find today blind belief of people all around us in the non-existent gods. Irrespective of the parties and outfits you are associated with, you should all think deeply if this blind faith really makes any sense. Atheism is not merely denial of god’s existence. It is an intellectual movement. It is a rationalist movement. It is a humanist movement. There are some who blame us for always targeting and criticising only the Hindu religion. That is not true. We question almost everything under the sun, that is hindrance to the growth and advancement of human beings. The great rationalist Buddha denied the existence of God and opposed superstitions, but what did the Hindu religion do on its part? It treated Buddha himself as a god.
Periyar used to say at all times – “Forget God – Think of Humans”. He urged upon us all to forget god so that we can care for human beings. When an aircraft faces a danger of crash, the passengers pray to gods and goddesses to save their lives. At the moment of crisis, they invoke the gods and goddesses of all religions on the earth. An alliance of gods is formed only at that hour of fear.
None sought the aids of gods
Recently there was a disastrous land slide in the temple – town Thiruvannamalai in Tamil Nadu. People did not seek any relief or help from the gods. They sought the aid of the government. They obviously had no trust then in gods. They knew none of their gods would rush and rescue.
Rationalist outlook and views are not meant to hurt anyone. They are meant to refine ourselves. You might have read recently about a young man in Tamil Nadu who was an I.P.S. Officer. He had been to London pursuing a course in Political Science. Upon his return, we thought he would share with us all that he learned there but he flogged himself in public on flimsy grounds. To make such people measure up we have to organise many more meetings.
Long ago we had no speakers, amplifiers and acoustic devices. We used to struggle to make our speeches audible. Invention of novel sound systems made our meetings comfortable. This was a marvel of science and was by man’s efforts. What was the contribution of the so called gods to the marvels of science? Today, using my mike if I scream – “There is no God!” – would god turn up now at this venue and say – “I am here!”? God is believed to be omnipresent. When we deny his existence, why can’t god appear before us and prove its existence? Such questions of ours continue to be unanswered.
Doctors do that which gods fail to do
Once Periyar was invited to deliver a speech at the Medical College in Thanjavur, Tamil Nadu. Doctors extended a warm welcome to him and commended his public services. Periyar humbly said – “I have not been doing anything great. You people cure patients of all the diseases and ailments that gods give them. You do not leave them to the mercy of the so called gods. I have been performing like you all. I advise people not to place their trust in the non-existent gods.”
Periyar was once invited to address prisoners in an open-air prison in Thanjavur. He asked the life term convicts to come forward and asked how many of them believed in gods. Almost every prisoner raised his hand. Periyar asked them why they were let down by their gods. None could come out with an answer. Such questions help us analyse everything deeply. The refinement of our life lies in our spirit of enquiry.
Tamil Nadu at the forefront
Tamil Nadu has always been at the forefront in such historic celebrations. For this FIRA Conference, delegates have arrived from 17 States. I am proud to say that among Rationalist Associations we have been at the forefront at all times. Tamil Nadu has been inspiring all other Rationalist Associations. Our Rationalist Movement functions as a People’s movement. Our need is felt all over the country. We shall always extend our patronage. We are on the same wave-length of our thoughts, principles and policies. Thanks to everyone of you at this Conference.
A. Raja Member of Parliament
Dear friends, I deem it a great privilege addressing you all at this significant conference, representing our Dravidian Model.
Government in Tamil Nadu is headed by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and its President Thiru.M.K. Stalin, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
Our D.M.K. Movement was born as a social movement and blossomed as a political party. Today it is the party ruling the state. As a Parliament member of this eminent party, I am here addressing at a glorious historic event. This makes me immensely delighted. I am surprised to find a large crowd of participants here. Such a crowd of participants and invitees could usually be seen only in our Tamil Nadu – nowhere else in the country.
Darwin provided us with the theory of evolution, explaining the origin of species. Long before his research, we have had much written in Tamil Classics about animals with five senses and humans with six sense. Lives with all the five senses do not bother about castes and religions, but Man with the sixth sense is deeply involved in caste and religion based clashes, communal riots and class struggles. Human beings alone are adamantly remaining bound by the chains of castes and religions. Periyar asked man to delink himself from those chains and free himself. That was his only vision and mission throughout his life. It was this Periyar thought that Babasaheb Ambedkar made resonate all over the Northern part of the country. They were both on the same wave length of thoughts, policies and principles.
Asiriyar – Our beacon light and guide
Rationalism is against every kind of slavery, gender bias and inequality in society. It severely opposes upper castes dominating and oppressing lower castes. It was said that a mosque was built at the birth place of Rama. It is puzzling why Rama failed to prevent it when it was done. Later the mosque was demolished and Ram Temple was built in its place. Allah too did not stop that demolition. Rama was cleverly used by vested interests to play smart political games. Kalaignar Karunanidhi asked which Engineering College Rama studied at. Only Tamil Nadu had the courage to boldly ask such a question. Hon’ble Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Thiru.M.K.Stalin proudly admits everywhere that he is always guided by the Periyar Thidal and by our Asiriyar K.Veeramani, the custodian of Periyar Thidal.
We are 20; You are 300!
Twenty of us from Tamil Nadu and there in the Parliament. The others are totally 300 in number. We, 20 in number, are not individual entities. We are backed by Periyar, Ambedkar and their rationalist thought. Our prominent principles are social justice, annihilation of castes and gender equality. These are the vision and mission of our movement. Following in the foot prints of Kalaignar and Thiru M.K. Stalin, the Deputy Chief Minister Udayanidhi Stalin is also serious about annihilation of castes. Those who are soaked in rationalism would naturally acquire the mental strength to annihilate castes at all costs.
Periyar – a Blaze
Periyar Thought itself is like inextinguishable fire. It would burn to ashes all the ploys of wicked people. Once a cadre said to Periyar – “Ayya, you are now 92 in age. Self-respect marriage has become legal. Kalaignar has become the Chief Minister. Your dreams have all come true. It is now the right time for you to rest.” Periyar said – “I eat two Idlis in the morning, followed by a cup of tea. A simple lunch in the afternoon and very light food at night. Those who work hard for this food of mine, suffer with a stigma of “Sudhras”. Until I wipe it clean, I shall never rest.” Our Asiriyar is also striving restlessly today like his mentor Periyar. After the life time of Periyar, Asiriyar has been taking care of us as our mentor. We need him for ever. We should not forget the truth that we are being guided by Periyar Thidal – not by any Shankara Mutt. I take leave of you, conveying my hearty thanks for listening to me attentively.
Cine-artist Sathyaraj:
Dear friends, it is a great honour addressing you all at this magnificent conference. The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and Kerala jointly celebrated in a grand manner, the centenary of the Vaikom struggle. Our hearty thanks to them at the outset. Both these great stalwarts and able Chief Ministers are needed for ever by the entire country. Their rationalist outlook is the dire need of the hour.
Our Asiriyar keeps highlighting time and again – “Periyar has been Globalised; The Globe has been Periyarised.” Periyarising itself means raising everyone’s level of intellect. A life devoid of superstitions is a meaningful, peaceful, purposeful, ideal life.
In my opinion, every child is born as an atheist. The religion of its place of birth invades it later. As the child grows up, the parents dunk it in the mess of superstitions. The memory of my scenes in the biopic “PERIYAR” is still fresh in my mind’s eye. My getting felicitated by Periyar before the commencement of the DMK rule, the implementation of Self-respect marriage and all such historic events were included in that biopic.
The delegates of the FIRA Conference visited the ‘Periyar World’ and planted plant saplings individually to mark the occasion – Siruganur, Trichy – 29th December 2024.
Why is the contribution coffer locked?
To explain the difference between theism and atheism, I would say briefly that contributing money in temple coffers is theism. Not placing trust in God, locking the coffers is atheism. Praying to god while suffering a headache is theism. Swallowing a tablet to get rid of headache is atheism. Denial of God is with the purpose of refining our people by driving away their ignorance. There was no animosity or personal rivalry of any sort between Thanthai Periyar and god.
The outdated Shastras and Vedas of the fanatics have caused gender bias, caste disparities, birth based discriminations and graded inequality. Rationalists from all the parts of India have assembled here today at this Conference. They have all been consistently fighting for the emancipation of society. One such rebel was Gowri Lankesh of Karnataka who was assassinated mercilessly.
Ridiculous practice
As an actor, I have had funny experiences. After shooting a scene where the character played by an actor passes away, the directors used to perform crazy rituals to ensure his long life in reality. I used to avoid such silly practices. I am hale and healthy even after acting in such scenes in a few films. When I had to undergo a major surgery, I deliberately underwent it at a time believed by many as inauspicious. Ten years have passed since that surgery. I am quite O.K. till this date. Science is invincible. No power on earth can curb its development. I urge upon all of you, — never give up your scientific temper. It is indispensable for every rationalist. Thank you dear friends for this opportunity to say a few things to you at this glorious event.
Compiled by: M.R. Manohar
