Thanthai Periyar pinned his hope on the younger generation and always believed that as the custodians of the world to come, hot blooded youths can bring about reformations in society. On 21st February, 1943 he delivered a speech at the Annual Day Celebration of a Young Men’s Association in Trichy, advising them to act fast but be wise at all times. The content of his speech was in brief as follows:
My dear young men, I am delighted to address you all especially because you are all fearless dare devils; brave hearts without any blemish; full of overwhelming do-or-die spirit. You are the pillars of the world to come. Old people like us are all tired and exhausted. We hand over our tomorrows to you all. Transform society as a casteless, humanist habitat. Form an egalitarian society of self-respect and rationalism by acting vigorously as fast as possible but at the same time wisely. Hasty actions without wisdom would only be futile; meaningless; fruitless. Efforts without wisdom would be in vain.
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Better than elders
Family responsibilities are obstacles to most of the elders. Women make them cowards. They prevent their men from taking bold steps and plunge into action. Personal safety gets top priority. Shackles of domestic duties keep married men bound, but unmarried young men are like free birds. They would boldly face any challenge in life. Hence, we elders pin our hope on you all. At the same time, we are scared of your rash decisions and hasty plans, at the risk of your life. I shall advise you all to make slowly even your haste. Precaution and vigilance are essential to emerge successful quite safely. You must foresee the possible consequences before every action and be alert every moment. Therein lies your wisdom. Venturing blind fold is always hazardous.
Problems in society
People lie immersed in blind beliefs such as heaven, hell, rebirth, salvation etc; It is the duty of youngsters to draw such people out of the darkness of ignorance. Outdated customs, rituals and conventions could be eradicated to a large extent if the youths take steps. You can create an awareness in the minds of the elders at home. Do not hesitate to transform them. Reforms should begin first at your home. Other homes come later.
Advice your parents not to spend lavishly on marriages in the family. Exorbitant expenses can be avoided if you youngsters raise voice of protest. Make your parents spend money wisely and save some for the welfare of the son or daughter getting married.
Gender bias still exists in our society. Men are considered superior to women. Women are being treated as bonded labourers. How are we to empower them as long as you youngsters continue to be silent spectators? Society comprises your sisters and mothers too. Can you tolerate their sufferings? I urge upon you all to fight for the equality of men and women. Help women acquire literacy to achieve advancement in life.
Dehumanisation menace
Caste supremacy has not vanished yet. Arrogant upper caste fanatics do not allow the marginalised people of scheduled caste, even to come in their proximity. Elders like us have tried our best to abolish birth based disparities and discriminations but we are yet to achieve complete success. The fulfilment lies now in your arms. Annihilate castes and form a casteless society. Encourage inter-caste as well as self-respect marriages in your own families first. Other families would gradually follow.
Religious fanaticism can be curbed if young men and women come forward to strive. Prevent students from exposing signs of their religion. Stop the minds of innocent little children getting polluted by religious extremism. This can be achieved if the youths determine to execute it. Identify fanatics who still languish in a barbaric mind-set and transform them as humanists. Inhuman treatment meted out to the downtrodden must be ended.
Facelift to villages
I am against dividing habitats as rural and urban areas. Villages need improvements with all the urban facilities. How long should the villages be denied urban amenities? Youngsters like you should give face-lift to our villages and modernise them. Thrash corrupt politicians and see that they do not exploit gullible villagers any longer. See that motorable roads are laid in and around villages and people get transport facilities. Help every village get a school for the benefit of children there.
Approach Government authorities and draw their attention to the grievances of the villagers. Motivate people to fight for their rights. Most of our villages struggle even for potable drinking water and for electricity. On behalf of the suffering villages, the youths can contact the officials of all the departments concerned and persuade them peacefully to sanction relief measures and implement welfare schemes.
Choice of books
I urge upon the youths to stay away from old, spiritual works and outdated religious, mythological books advocating Manu Shastra codes. The so called divine literature would make you superstitious and irrational. Cultivate a rational outlook and choose only books that promote critical enquiry. Avoid journals, weeklies, monthlies and dailies that churn out articles related to astrology. Always prefer books that encourage free thinking and scientific temper.
Works such as Ramayana, Kandapurana and Maha Bharat are all fictitious and baseless fabrications. Young men and women should not waste precious time reading and discussing them. Choose books of great thinkers that are store houses of wisdom.
Godmen and charlatans
Fake Godmen and charlatans are found everywhere these days. Never ever place your trust in any of them. Do not believe in the predictions of these tricksters. Advice your family members to beware of these cheats who take people for a ride only to earn quick money. Believe in your own mental strength. Do not believe in auspicious or inauspicious time. Every second is good for every activity. There is nothing called the right time for a task.
Do not soak yourself in delusions and illusions. Your destiny is in your hands. Hence, avoid approaching astrologers for senseless predictions. Make your parents at home think and act rationally at all times. Nature has bestowed the ability to reason only on humans, so always ask questions such as – What? How? Why? Imbibe the spirit of enquiry and question every irrational concept.
Festivals and celebrations
Throughout the year there are numerous festivals religious events and meaningless celebrations causing waste of money, time and energy. Young men and women should make their parents and other family members realise this truth and avoid them. Youths can bring about a change in their minds. Festivals that glorify Aryans must be totally given up. Harvest festivals such as Pongal and celebrations of the birth anniversaries of great thinkers are also welcome but all others are sheer waste of the hard earned money of your parents and other elders at home.
Offering money to the temple priests and purohits should also be stopped. Public contributions to temples are generally embezzled or misused. They are not used for the cause of public welfare. Youngsters should dissuade elders at home from pouring money into the temple coffers.
All kinds of senseless rituals at home should stop. The youths can achieve it if they make up their mind. Marriages by lavish expenses do not make any sense. Paying huge amounts to purohits who recite unintelligible words in Sanskrit during wedding events, is ridiculous indeed. Unless youths realise this and put an end to this meaninglessness, reforming ignorant elders would certainly not be possible.
Need of propaganda
I urge upon the youths to travel widely all over the State, meet people in person and inculcate an awareness in their minds about the dire need of rationalist outlook, self-respect, social justice, humanism, equality and universal brotherhood. This can be done by organising street corner meetings in all the prominent places in districts.
Young men and women should form associations, barracks and federations to bring about changes in society. We elders have spent our yesterdays for your tomorrows. I was once young too like you all but I did not go astray. I spent my youth in noble deeds. I have been neck-deep in public life. I expect the youths to lead a meaningful life in constructive and productive tasks. The world to come must be proud of the younger generation. You must bring name, fame and laurels to us by your nobility. My dear young boys and girls, invigorate yourselves and achieve all the objectives with a revitalised energy. I believe you would make our dreams come true.
Source: ‘Viduthalai’
Translated by: M.R.Manohar
