Public Service is undeniably a sign of humanism but not all are seriously involved in it with a noble ideal. Some are hypocrites craving only for publicity. Public service is an intricate task that is multidimensional. In 1962 Periyar encoded his views thus on the complex issue.
Dear readers, cadres, friends and followers, I wish to share with you my views on Public Service. As usual, I expect you all to think on your own and decide to agree or disagree with me. Public Service always welcomes selfless people who really care for others in society. Self-centred people have no role to play in it. Generally men and women are selfish since birth. With the passing of time some of them undergo a change and begin to bother about the welfare of others. Such exceptional people enter public service.
Survival instinct is an inherent feature of human beings. Human wants are insatiable. I believe, five basic needs revolve around us all – food, clothing, shelter, sleep and maritalobligations. An urge to satisfy all these needs make people self-centred. They choose various occupations to satisfy all these needs. An advocate, a doctor, a trader and even a newspaper editor render public services in my opinion. There are thousands of other occupations which are also in a sense public services. Apart from these we have social services like rendering help to people during disasters, feeding the poor, taking care of the sick, the downtrodden and people suffering from various kinds of biological handicap. This sort of public service needs true humanists, but it is not as easy as it seems to be.
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Family first
Unless a man’s family is absolutely comfortable he can never think of public service. Charity begins at home. He can concentrate on social service only when his people at home are properly fed, clothed and sheltered. A public servant should be free from the shackles of commitments. This kind of freedom made me enter public service. Drawing people out of the darkness of ignorance was my major service through propaganda of my ideals, policies and principles. I was free from domestic responsibilities. None depended on me for their survival. This made my public services possible without hurdles and obstacles.
Public welfare
Social Services include building hospitals, schools, orphanages etc., for society. I needed funds for such services. Our cadres have been generously donating wherever and whenever I toured to propagate my policies. I have been saving all the monetary contributions for future public services. I am not a spend thrift to squander money. I have always been frugal. My needs are a few. I spend only around fifty rupees per month for my food. For my simple apparel only fifty rupees annually. I have no heirs. My wife too spends less for her food and clothing. I travel by train in third class compartments. I also travel long distance by goods-carriers. I have money by selling the books published by us. My wife has been assisting me in this for the past fifteen years. Atleast for twenty days in a month I undertake propagation tours. I have been saving money for public services. After my life time people following in my foot prints would fulfil my dreams. I am contented with it. My well-wishers feed me wherever I go. Why do I need money for my personal needs which are so few?
I maintain a diary and keep jotting down the money collected for public service. I keep a track of the accounts. I accumulate money only for our movement – not for myself. I keep multiplying my savings. I ignore my health and augment wealth. Every public servant should emulate my practice. I am delighted by the love, respect and regard of my cadres like you. I am selfish only in this respect.
My fear and worry
My only concern is about the future of our movement. Our funds should be constructively used for public services after my lifetime. I wish the objective of our self-respect movement is accomplished by my followers. I am very particular about three public services:
1) Brahminocracy should be annihilated.
2) The craze of people for cinema must be curbed.
3) Caste disparity in temples should be eradicated.
These are all public services in my view. That would pave the way for the welfare of society.
I want atleast 25000 members to join our movement and atleast 500 branch offices. Committees are needed in every district. The books published by us should be sold in large numbers. Discipline and dignity must be there in all our meetings and conferences held for propaganda. Public service is my objective behind all these wishes.
Hypocrites in Public Service
Under the guise of public service some are exploiting society. They pretend cleverly and embezzle public contributions. People should identify and beware such hypocrites. Those who indulge in public service for cheap publicity must also be identified and exposed. Genuine Public servants must avoid boasting about it by self-glorification. Action should speak louder than words. Vain glory is certainly meaningless.
People should verify the background of the so called public servants. Find out what they were long ago and what they are now. Try to find out their policies and check whether they are honest in spreading them. Do not accept everyone as a public servant without probing deeply into them. Prison cells have become comfortable rest houses for criminals. Anti-social elements have learnt how to escape from the clutches of law. These pseudo public servants are the root cause of filth in our society. Newspapers pull wool over the eyes of readers by their rubbish in print. Democracy itself seems to have become a butt of ridicule. There is a scarcity of selfless leaders. Gullible people are being taken for a ride by self centred politicians. To believe that they are serving public is merely an illusion.
Come forward gladly
Genuine movements, forums and outfits of public service have become scarce. There is sycophancy in the existing organisations. Members flatter one another through hero-worship and eulogise wrong people around them. True public service is marred by such people. In my 83 years of public service so far these are all my observations. Very few people willingly come forward for public service. This must change. I have pinned my hope in all of you. Set an example for others by rendering true public service. Serve with pleasure. Avoid soaking yourself in self-pity. Never render public service as if it is a compulsion. Regretting doing it defeats the purpose of service. Hence, serve with a smile; let it not be a fake smile under any circumstance. Before I conclude I wish to state that even today’s face a lot of challenges, hurdles and obstacles in public service, but I go on undeterred and I want you all to serve people with unflinching resolve and unswerving patience, like me.
Courtesy: Periyar’s 84th Birthday – Viduthalai Souvenir published in 1962.
Translated by: M.R.Manohar
