As a part of his twenty days tour through Australia, Asiriyar Dr.K. Veeramani visited Melbourne on 22nd March, 2025 to participate in the International Women’s Rights Day celebration organised by Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle, Australia (PATCA). The significant meet revolved around noble principles such as equality, human rights, women’s empowerment and Social Justice.
Dr. K.Veeramani delivered an inspiring speech, the content of which was as follows, in a nutshell.
Dear friends, at the outset I convey my hearty thanks to Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle, Australia (PATCA), for inviting us to this historic celebration of International Women’s Rights Day. I convey my regards to all the natives who were born and bred on this land; to all the senior diaspora who have their roots in India and to all the young Tamil immigrants who landed in the recent past, embracing this land like their own soil. I am extremely delighted to be together here with you all. I wholeheartedly commend PATCA that has been serving with tremendous success and a proven track record nurturing noble principles such as equality and social justice. It has been existing as a catalyst for social transformation, communal conservation and universal brotherhood. As a custodian of humanity PATCA deserves high praise.
The Vital roles of Periyar and Ambedkar
In stressing the dire need of women’s rights and humanism, Periyar and Ambedkar had played vital roles throughout their life time. Our self-respect movement was founded with this noble objective and vision. This event today recalls their great services and we have come crossing numerous nautical miles to witness this historic occasion. It is a rare opportunity indeed for us all as your guests of honour from India. At this International Women’s Rights Day event, I am glad to see a large number of women among the audience. It is a marvellous achievement for PATCA movement, that has been striving especially for women’s rights. It is said, “well begun is half done”. According to those words of wisdom, this event has made a good beginning by the presence of women in a large number. I place on record, my appreciation to all the delegates who have so far delivered their speeches before this Address of mine.
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Not merely as guests
We have arrived on this land not just as guests but as a part of your own family with an ideological bondage. The root of Dravidian culture itself lies in declaring proudly – “Every place on this earth is ours. Every one on this land is our kith and kin.”
Other world countries have been striving to protect Women’s rights but they have so far achieved only a partial success. Most of the women in Australia who had migrated from India have enhanced your literacy level, occupied respectful posts and positions and settled well in life, but women in India left behind by you are yet to achieve absolute equality and rights. Indian women still have a long way to go and reach the level of your achievements in Australia.
Like an oasis on a large desert, very few women in India are employed in Print medium. Most of the female journalists would be from dominating upper castes. Women from the oppressed and downtrodden families; women from the homes below the poverty line; women enduring inexplicable sufferings are generally prevented from becoming journalists and also from occupying respectful posts and positions. Even if a few women manage to climb on the ladder of a successful career, they are pulled down by envious elements. Women empowerment still continues to be a difficult task in India. I am glad to find a far better situation in Australian states and cities.
The struggles of Periyar
Nearly before a century and a half, most people from India went abroad as manual labourers, gardeners, plantation workers and paupers in rags. In 1929 Periyar toured through Malaya; met our poor people struggling there and motivated them to nourish a “never-say-die” spirit. He advised them to be loyal to their employers and practise enormous patience. His wife Nagammaiar had accompanied him. They avoided visiting large cities and met small people in remote undeveloped areas. He propagated widely his noble principles and ideals. He spoke to them condemning enslavement of women and encouraging eradication of caste based disparities. Even when he visited Sri Lanka, he met poor Indian migrant labourers and offered motivating counselling. If Periyar had been among us today, he would have been proud of the advancement of you all in Australia. This progress is what he was desirous of watching everywhere on the earth.
You people in Australia have attained a glorious level of equality and status in life. I must thank your parents for making you all scale enviable heights in life. You have all made dreams of Periyar and Ambedkar come true to a great extent. I wish you all much more prosperity and success in life. Before the commencement of the meeting today, a migrant of Indian origin said to me – “Sir, my mother offered me food, my father offered me clothing. But it was Periyar who offered me education.” He implied that he was inspired by Periyar and used education to advance in life. My joy knows no bounds when I see the Indian Tamils in Australia leading a prosperous and peaceful life making proud their roots in India.
Our restless efforts
None of our Dravidar Kazhagam movement is interested in posts and positions. We never contest elections. Ours is purely a people’s movement. We do not deliver speeches for applause. We avoid touring for pleasure. This visit to Australia was to meet you all after a long period and to study your progress in life. We have come to learn how you became achievers so that we can go back and motivate our people in India who still have a long way to go. This visit to Australia was not to entertain ourselves but only to educate ourselves. We have also come to advise you all to be much more alert and shut the door for all social evils. We are afraid, the toxic substances in other societies may spread and infect this land which is now free from social maladies. Eternal vigilance is essential to safeguard yourselves. For every disease in society Periyar is the vital drug to be injected for immediate cure. Adherence to his ideals is the most powerful antidote. I was 92 – year old when I arrived at this venue but I would feel like I am 29 when I return. Meeting you all, would have revitalised and invigorated me when I reach India.
Periyar Global Mission
We have got accustomed to receiving brickbats from rivals more than receiving bouquets from well-wishers. We have got used to stones and abuses hurled at us all these decades. But we are continuing with unflinching resolve to annihilate castes, enslavement of women and all birth-based disparities. This is the objective of self-respect movement. We strive to eradicate dehumanisation and establish absolute humanism everywhere. People were once isolated as untouchable, unseeable and unapproachable. Graded inequality divided people as Brahmins and Sudhras. Education was once the sole right of the upper caste fanatics. Periyar waged a mighty war against all these atrocities.
As a token of our gratitude to Periyar, in Siruganur near Trichy in Tamil Nadu, we are now busy constructing “PERIYAR WORLD” like ‘DISNEY LAND’. It is coming up on a 30 acre land with a 95 -feet high statue of Periyar and a 60 – feet high pedestal. It is tentatively a 100 crore rupees project. This monumental world would contain everything about Periyar – his life; his ideals; his achievements etc; It would be like one of the wonders of the world. It would also prove that Periyar has been globalised. Our objective is to enable the forthcoming generations know our history without any sort of disinformation. We welcome you all to our ‘PERIYAR WORLD’ when the construction is complete.
Obstacles on our path
Rationalistic outlook is our sixth sense. We should use wisely our power of reasoning and make our self-confidence stronger by throwing overboard all superstitions and outdated codes of conduct and conventions. Our self-respect movement has been marching ahead vigorously to spread rationalism far and wide.
Eradicating every form of social injustice would spontaneously establish social justice. Male chauvinism is for example a social injustice that must be eradicated. Men and women should be equal in all respects. We have been insisting on it. Old scriptures and ancient mythologies were dumped on us in the names of gods and goddesses. Since religions and caste disparities were all said to be god’s will, Periyar protested against god and religion. Evils such as Manusmriti and Sanatana dharma have been major obstacles on our path. We have been striving to smash them all.
Graded inequality menace
Dr.Ambedkar was quite right when he said – “There is inequality in many of the world countries, but graded inequality exists only in India.” The segregation of people as Brahmins, Kshatriyas, Vysyas, Sudhras and Panchamas is an atrocity never heard of anywhere else in this world. This must be annihilated in order to establish an egalitarian society. It is our vision and mission.
Periyar and Ambedkar are needed for all at all times. Toxic forces and undesirable elements may sneak in and intrude any country and make social evils widespread.
Dignity and Intellect
Periyar used to say at all times that the real beauty of humankind lies in its dignity and intellect. People organise beauty contests but rarely conduct tests of intellect. True wisdom lies in spirit of enquiry. Periyar advised people to think on their own and come to conclusions. He never compelled people to accept his views without thinking over them deeply.
We find cultural invasion all around us these days in various forms. It should be curbed. PACTA prevents lessons on Varnasrama Dharma in school text books. It is a commendable move in my opinion. Signs of religions should not be there on the faces and arms of children. Threads of various colours serve as caste indicators. This must be curbed. Periyar thought and Ambedkar thought strive to unite people – unlike the evil Varna dharma that divides people.
Women Empowerment
Education must always be common for all. Especially, women should reach the highest level of literacy. They deserve equal treatment in all respects. Female infanticide is an unpardonable crime. This cruelty still exists in India. The condition is the worst in North India. Preventing the birth and the growth of a female child is a horrible crime.
Women should come forward and raise voice of protest against all sorts of injustice against women. Women should not be treated as show pieces and store houses of pleasures. Long ago, widows used to get tonsured and isolated. By the impact of Periyar thought, this cruelty has now vanished. There are numerous other reforms.
Women were long ago denied property rights. Dravidian parties struggled a lot to help women get those rights. Periyar passed a resolution for this in 1929. Ambedkar renounced his post and quit the ministry when property rights were denied to women. In 1989 when Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, he enacted a law at State level and granted ancestral property rights to women. In 2006, when DMK was in the United Progressive Alliance, Kalaignar led to the enactment of that law applicable country wide. One of the dreams of Periyar and Ambedkar thus came true at last.
Expired thought
While buying medicines for our health, we check the date of expiry. Should we not discard all the outdated beliefs and thoughts, the dates of which expired long ago? We should all stay away from outdated codes of conduct by our collective efforts.
Self-respect movement strives for equality of humankind. This movement should spread world-wide. I urge upon you all to strengthen our arms in forming a new casteless egalitarian world. Do not find fault in others and isolate them. Absorb the good qualities in every individual. “Help ever; Hurt never!” Be fearless at all times. Lead your life with an open mind. Thanks a lot for listening to me attentively.
Tailpiece: Once Dr.K.Veeramani concluded his speech, the audience gave him a STANDING OVATION – a great conventional honour to an orator.
‘Viduthalai’ – 25th March 2025
Translated by : M.R. Manohar
