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Dr. K. Veeramani
Humans are of superior order, with special traits, different from other living beings. One among such special traits, genetically evolved is Self-Respect. Humanism must flourish for the betterment and progress of humankind. But throughout the world, humanism is inadequate among the humans in varied degrees. This has created divisions and hierarchies in the society. Even social segregations and divisions created by the birth based discrimination prevail in many countries. In India, such birth based discriminations have been created in the name of god and religion. When the issue of social discrimination, thereby inequalities of permanent nature are promoted by god and religion, the discrimination and inequalities are strengthened deriving unquestionable anchorage. The deep rooted discrimination exists in India for many centuries. The social slavery, caused by birth based discrimination is inhuman where the enslaved people, coming in contact with the physical touch, in the vicinity and these persons accessing the public pathway used by the privileged masses were not allowed. To eliminate the inhuman practices and to enable the enslaved people to enjoy the human right of getting education, which was denied to them due to social discrimination, some sort of awakening was required.
Periyar chose the weapon, Self-Respect, launched a movement in the name of Self-Respect Movement in 1926. Periyar, in public life he achieved very much to inculcate a sense of humanism in those people and to bring equality and equal opportunities to all. For the success of the movement, reminding the Self-Respect among the people and to make it meaningful very much, Periyar adopted only the mode of propaganda. The social revolution took place very silently, devoid any form of violence in the propaganda activities. The social and political fabric of people in Tamil Nadu got changed with distinct features, different from the rest of the States in the country. The impact of Self-Respect Movement extends beyond Tamil Nadu creating many progressive changes in the form of legislations for the practice of the advocacy to establish egalitarian society.
The raison-d’etre of establishing Self-Respect Movement may be warranted due to the social conditions prevailing in India and the impact it created in the social life of Tamil Nadu, where the functioning of the movement was intense in practical terms. But the principle of Self-Respect to inculcate humanism viz. Self-Respecting Humanism among the humans is not confined to any particular territory. Self-Respecting Humanism has got universal relevance and application. The half of human population viz. women folk does not get equal status with men. Periyar induced reasoning faculty of women on the ground of Self-Respect, which is relevant practically throughout the world. Only the application part of it has to be modulated according to the social requirements prevailing in the respective territory.
Periyar was revolutionary with a difference.Periyar would not call himself a philosopher or an ideologue. He considered himself a social worker, social revolutionary. He claimed himself a revolutionary and not a reformer, because a social reformer is one who reopairs and renovates the existingtradition. Periyar, on the other hand, a revolutionary bulldozed and falttened the existing cidadel and built a new one in its place.
Let us listen to Periyar. “ Because I am alive my life must have some purpose. There is no life without purpose. My mission was decided by me. I resolved to eradicate the evils of caste system. I decided to crusade against god and superstition……
Human Freedom and Self-Respect are interlinked leading to the philosophy of Self-Respective Humanism which is gaining momentum transcending the boundaries of religion, language, politics, under the mission of globalisation of Periyar.
Periyar, while explaining the Genesis of Self-respect Movement says, “the philosophy of Self-Respect Movement is known to the world. The cause and effect theory is accepted by the wise world. The human being seeks the reasons for everything. He has begun to conduct research of nature. A life with ignorance is considered as a slave’s life. This is the doctrine of Self – Respect Movement. Before doing anything, one should think whether it is right or wrong, see the causes, analyse things, do research, and respect the truths. This is what the Self-Respect means. Freedom and Self-Respect are closely related”.
Humans must be free to think and act. All the obstacles in the society against humans have to be removed. Human Freedom and Self-Respect are interlinked leading to the philosophy of Self-Respective Humanism which is gaining momentum transcending the boundaries of religion, language, politics, under the mission of globalisation of Periyar.
