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Dr. Priyadharshini Rajendran
“If you want to respect money, you have to respect Reserve bank, If you want to respect knowledge, you have to respect library, If you want to respect wisdom, you have to respect encyclopedia. Then what else left in the society to respect? It is only humanism….” Periyar once said.
Periyar EVR’s staunch conviction in humanism led him to join Indian National Congress in 1919. This stand was the outcome of Jallianwala Bagh massacre carried out by the bullets of Gen. Dyer of then Imperial army. During his tenure as a Chairman of the Erode Municipality, he had fearlessly handled the disastrous cholera epidemics in and around the district. When municipal workers were unwilling to dispose of human carcases during that epidemic, he himself had carried the dead bodies to the burial sites. It thus reveals his own characteristic style of functioning in a critical situation and his unflinching faith in humanism.
As an ardent follower of Gandhi in the Indian National Congress, he had ordered to fell 500 coconut trees in his own farm to upheld the prohibition policy despite incurring huge financial losses.
In 1924, Kerala State Congress Committee for Untouchability had organized an agitation for the entry of backward castes and untouchables into the Vaikcom Mahadevar temple and the public roads surrounding it. Accepting the call from the organizers of the agitation, he spearheaded the agitation in Vaikom along with his wife Nagammal, sister Kannammal and two of his colleagues. In spite of rigorous imprisonment and hardships to Periyar and his colleagues the agitation had a successful end. Thereby, the public roads were opened to all communities. This was the first successful event in the history that had challenged the caste orthodoxy, broken the stronghold of caste supremacy and created a humane approach in the worship places of Hindu temples.
Continuing his battle against injustices, inequalities, irrational beliefs and dogmas in all forms, he fought for social equality and gender rights to establish a social order with fraternity and universal brotherhood. Periyar organized the first self-respect conference in February 17-18, 1929. This conference passed 34 resolutions which can be called as Magna Carta of Dravidian Movement and humanism. Abolition of untouchability, promoting equality of all irrespective of caste, colour and creed, enforcing medium of education in mother tongue, equal property right to women, increasing the eligibility age for marriage, education and employment to women, right to divorce, widow remarriage, free education to scheduled class and tribes and allotment of free lands to scheduled class, were some of the most progressive policy resolutions passed in the conference.
Later he strongly opposed Gandhi’s views on Varnasrama Dharma which is based on hierarchical caste order and placing the majority of working people as Sudras and untouchables, as serfs in the socio-economic order. This order violates all aspects of humanism. Therefore, Periyar EVR confronted Gandhi in 1927 and explained to him the evil nature of Hindu dharma. Periyar had always argued that by using this varnasrama dharma code, the brahmins undermined the majority of non-brahmin communities. This order denied the concept of equality and virtually made the majority of non-brahmins as slaves and servants only to work for the interest of the upper castes. Periyar argued that Hinduism should be abolished.
The science and technology have created a revolution and we are living in an era of information science. Today we could exchange views across countries and continents. In spite of this knowledge revolution, India witnesses religious fundamentalism and violent attacks on social and religious minorities. The Hindu fundamentalists compel the people not to eat beef and interfere in the food and cultural habits of vast majority of the different nationalities and communities. Daily media reports on the murders on Dalilts and Muslims for the above said purpose in the name of nationalism.
Periyar’s unique approach to humanism has been highlighted by an eminent historian Ramachandra Guha. Guha Published a book on “Makers of Modern India” in 2010. While writing the introduction in the Part I of the book, Guha has raised an important issue by stating that “the question is: Can mankind fulfil its destiny without a fundamental revolution in the social state of Asia?” This question is yet to be answered. If it is to be answered, Periyar’s yeomen contribution and service could be the answer.
Another interesting incident occurred in Periyar’s long journey of social emancipation. During 1970, the family planning was insisted at all India level. All the states were asked to seriously pursue family planning policy. Dr. Chandrasekar, world famous demographer and Union Minister for Family Planning had sought the cooperation of religious leaders and reformists in India. Dr. Chandrasekar met Periyar and asked his opinion on family planning. During their meeting, Dr. Chandrasekar had wondered how Periyar was able to preach for a small family as earlier as 1930.
Periyar reply to that was, ‘women are not childbearing machines.’ Periyar had quoted the 1921 population census and lamented about the thousands of young female children becoming widows. He also said that it was very atrocious and intolerable for a rational society. Women were subjugated and not allowed to go to educational institutions and join employments. They were treated worst than animals. As a rationalist, concerned with the health of the women he pleaded for family planning in 1930s.
Periyar felt that even in the worship of idols, a blatant discrimination and communalism were accepted in the theory and practice of Hinduism. The communities other than brahmins are not allowed in the sanctum and sanctorum of Hindu temples. As an atheist, he had put forth logical arguments against the concept of god. Periyar believed that brahmins treated god and religion as a trade and earned money and vital positions. He had expressed that the priests in the Hindu temples should not be appointed based on birth. Therefore, he had pleaded for the appointment of Archagas (temple priests) from all communities and Tamil language should be made as a medium of worship instead of Sanskrit. This was his last clarion call before his death in 1973.
“If you want to respect money, you have to respect Reserve bank, If you want to respect knowledge, you have to respect library, If you want to respect wisdom, you have to respect encyclopedia. Then what else left in the society to respect? It is only humanism….” Periyar once said.
Unfortunately, the world is surrounded by regional wars based on religious fundamentalism, armed violence, deterioration of the environment and crime against women. The Human Development annual report by UNIDO states that growth should enhance human development. Hence, a prolonged strategy has to be adopted across continents to sustain a peaceful and sustainable world.
Humanism should be placed above all other interventions for an inclusive growth. In this context, Periyar’s approach to humanism should be recognised universally. Acknowledging Periyar’s immortal contribution to the humanity, the UNESCO conferred an award in 1970 and cited “Periyar the prophet of the new age. The Socrates of South East Asia. Father of the social reform movement and arch enemy of ignorance; superstitions;
meaningless customs and base manners”
