Global thinkers have changed the trend of human life through their progressive thoughts coupled with its theory for adherence. Thought – Theory – Practice are the usual phases of any revolutionary deed. While theorizing the thoughts, the initiatives of the thinkers, or their followers may not be simple in their foundation. The theory itself would take much time for its due understanding by the targeted people.
Periyar E.V.Ramasamy (1879 – 1973) was an exception to the order of the phases. Periyar as an individual started to think progressively before designing them as theory. Yes; much earlier to 1919 – (the year in which he joined the Congress party), Periyar conducted many revolutions within his family. Whatever he considered good for the individuals / society, he readily started practising it. In 1909, Periyar conducted the remarriage of his sister’s daughter who got married at the age of 9, but became a widow within a few months.
In those days there was no talking of anything like women liberation and empowerment; But Periyar practised, of course not preached, at first in his own family, resisting the strong opposition of his family members. Later, he understood that to liberate the vast majority of population, from social oppression and indignation, realising ‘self-respect’ is the ideal way based on which people may be liberated and made equal to others. ‘Self-Respect’ was not at first used by Periyar. Many people were well aware of it, but the lacuna prevailed in not realizing one’s own self-respect and harness it to the maximum extent. With such simple word ‘Self-Respect’, Periyar started to revolutionise the society that had been discriminated in the name of birth of an individual in a particular sect for more than 2000 years. The gap between the process of thinking and theory formulation was short for Periyar, but the practical adherence preceded the theory for implementation.
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Periyar, was in the Congress party, with the sole aim of bringing equality through communal representation, facilitating the position and power to all social hierarchies that were denied till then. He had to leave the Congress party in November 1925 with the sole idea of forming an exclusive organization to translate his thoughts of liberating into action. With such a foresight he started to publish Kudi Arasu a Tamil Weekly on 2nd May 1925 itself. After coming out of Congress, Periyar founded Self Respect League with the team of his supporters.
Periyar did vast propaganda on ‘Self-respect’, a core content for the people to acquire knowledge, position and be equal among themselves. In 1929 the First Madras Provincial Self Respect Conference was convened at Chinglepet on 17-18 March. Many leaders of Justice Party that was ruling the Madras Province then, including the First Minister, Respectful Dr.Subbarayan and his ministerial colleagues participated and addressed the conference. The resolutions passed in that conference set the stepping stone for the revolutionary trend of the Madras Province and that continued even after attaining independence in August 1947. The invitation to the conference was extended to women including widows, destitute women and so on. The common dining was practised to all the delegates without any discrimination while serving the food items prepared by the sect of people who had been prohibited for such public events. Many Self-Respect Conferences were convened throughout the entire territory of Madras Province, the effect of which still continues distinctively from the rest of the country even at present.
(to be continued)
Compiled by V. Kumaresan
