A vibrant and intellectually stimulating seminar under the banner of the Babasaheb Ambedkar–Periyar Friendship Movement was held on May 31, 2026, at the Bhanudas Chavan Auditorium of Chelipura High School in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Maharashtra. Organized by the civic rights organization Nagari Mulbhut Hakk Abhiyan (Citizens’ Basic Rights Campaign), the event marked the second lecture series dedicated to exploring the shared legacy of Babasaheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.
Conducted in Marathi, Hindi, and English, the seminar brought together distinguished scholars, educators, social activists, and public intellectuals from different parts of India to discuss the enduring relevance and convergence of Ambedkarite and Periyarist thought in contemporary India. Among the featured speakers were educator Sunil Vaikekar, engineer Deepak Gaikwad, Bishop Dr. Jo. Ravikumar Stephen, Professor Dr. Laxman Yadav, and Professor Pratibha Agire.
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From Study to Social Action
In his inaugural address, educator Sunil Vaikekar emphasized that Ambedkar and Periyar should not remain confined to textbooks but must be actively practiced in everyday life and social engagement. He noted that the lecture series was conceived to inspire citizens to resist injustice and contribute to social transformation.
Referring to Dr. Ambedkar’s celebrated call to “Educate, Agitate, Organize” Vaikekar highlighted how Periyar strengthened this vision through his relentless advocacy of self-respect and rational thinking. He argued that social activism cannot be reduced to symbolic celebrations and commemorations; meaningful commitment requires sustained action.
According to him, Ambedkar provided constitutional frameworks and intellectual empowerment, while Periyar instilled the courage to question injustice and entrenched social hierarchies. He stressed that the profound influence of Periyar’s rationalist movement on Tamil Nadu’s social and political culture offers valuable lessons for the rest of India. The challenge, he said, is to transform the principles of Ambedkar and Periyar into concrete social action beyond seminar halls.
Periyar: Myth and Reality
Engineer Deepak Gaikwad delivered his lecture in Marathi, drawing upon the book Periyar: Myth and Reality. He observed that Periyar’s influence permeates the political landscape of Tamil Nadu and questioned why persistent efforts are made to prevent his ideas from reaching wider audiences.
Gaikwad argued that conservative and Manuvadi forces fear that a deeper understanding of Periyar’s philosophy could significantly challenge existing social and political power structures. He offered a striking analogy: while Ambedkar’s writings are often received like a sweet medicinal syrup and enjoy widespread acceptance, Periyar’s ideas resemble a bitter herbal remedy—difficult to swallow but necessary for confronting social inequality and entrenched hierarchies.
He further suggested that contemporary social movements have much to learn from Periyar’s strategic, result-oriented approach to activism. One of Periyar’s enduring lessons, he said, is that social demands must be backed by credible and organized action. Merely requesting change is insufficient; authorities must be made accountable through determined and purposeful mobilization. Many of Periyar’s controversial agitations, he argued, were carefully designed strategies to compel social and political accountability—a model that remains relevant today.
Language, Identity, and Federalism
Bishop Dr. Jo. Ravikumar Stephen, founder of the Dravidianism Revival Centre, delivered an English lecture titled “From Tamil Nadu to Maharashtra: The Politics of Language, Identity, and Linguistic Federalism in India.”
He cautioned against confusing India’s unity with uniformity. The anti-Hindi movements in Tamil Nadu and the linguistic statehood movements in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, he explained, were not directed against Hindi speakers but against the state’s imposition of one language over others.
Language, he argued, carries literature, history, spirituality, humor, memory, and collective identity. The weakening of a language inevitably weakens the cultural heritage associated with it. India, he pointed out, has never functioned as a single-language civilization. From Emperor Ashoka’s multilingual inscriptions to the parallel development of diverse linguistic traditions, India’s history reflects plurality rather than linguistic dominance.
Dr. Stephen also clarified that India has no national language. Under Part XVII of the Constitution, Hindi functions as an official language of the Union, while English continues as an associate official language. He called for expanding the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution beyond its current twenty-two recognized languages to accommodate other major linguistic communities.
Drawing connections between Ambedkar and Periyar, he noted that Periyar viewed Hindi imposition as part of a broader project of Brahminical domination and cultural centralization, whereas Ambedkar supported linguistic reorganization and regarded English as a socially neutral instrument of empowerment and advancement. He further argued that retaining English as an associate official language significantly contributed to India’s technological growth and enabled the emergence of global technology leaders, particularly from South India.
Can a Caste Census Lead to a Casteless Society?
Professor Dr. Laxman Yadav addressed the audience in Hindi on the theme “Can a Caste Census Create a Casteless Society?”
He asserted that India’s true identity lies in its diversity and that nationhood is not merely a matter of geographical boundaries but also of mutual care and solidarity among its people. Governments, he emphasized, should serve citizens rather than intimidate them.
According to Yadav, Ambedkar and Periyar provide the intellectual courage necessary to confront injustice. The social divisions created under the varna system continue to shape Indian society, making social reform an ongoing necessity.
He observed that while Ambedkar’s message has spread widely across large parts of North India, the ideas of Periyar and Jyotirao Phule still require broader dissemination. Yadav also warned against reducing Ambedkar to an object of worship, arguing that such tendencies risk diluting the transformative and rational essence of his thought. Greater solidarity between Ambedkarite and Mandal movements, he suggested, is essential for challenging deeply rooted social hierarchies.
Continuing the Campaign
In her presidential address, Professor Pratibha Agire passionately stressed the need to sustain the Ambedkar–Periyar Friendship Campaign and strengthen educational and social reform initiatives.
She referred to the Periyar statue established by educator Sunil Vaikekar, which was subsequently removed following administrative action, and expressed hope that it would be reinstated through legal means at the earliest opportunity. Highlighting the contributions of social reformers such as Jyotirao Phule, Periyar, and Ambedkar, she noted that they dedicated their lives to eradicating caste discrimination, advancing women’s rights, and promoting self-respect. Ambedkar’s legacy, she argued, must be translated into practice rather than reduced to slogans.
She concluded with a powerful reminder that future generations will judge today’s citizens by whether they chose to confront injustice or remain silent in the face of it.
Celebrating Cultural and Linguistic Solidarity
As a symbol of cultural and linguistic unity, Bishop Dr. Jo. Ravikumar Stephen presented Marathi and Bhojpuri translations of the Thirukkural to educator Sunil Vaikekar and Professor Dr. Laxman Yadav, respectively.
The event was effectively anchored by Mrs. Archana Khairnar and attracted approximately 300 participants, including attendees who had traveled from distant cities such as Pune and Nashik.
The seminar concluded with a renewed commitment to advancing the ideals championed by Babasaheb Ambedkar and Thanthai Periyar—social justice, rationalism, constitutional democracy, linguistic equality, and human dignity. The successful program was organized by the members of Nagari Mulbhut Hakk Abhiyan, reaffirming the continuing relevance of these transformative ideas in contemporary India.
Compiled by: V. Kumaresan
