On the second day of the 4th International Humanists Serlf-
Respect Conference in Melbourne organised by Periyar Ambedkar
Thoughts Circle – Australia and Periyar International, USA Asiriyar
Dr.K. Veeramani, President, Dravidar Kazhagam, delivered the
Valedictory Address. The excerpts from the Speech transmitted
on-line on 2nd November, 2025 are as follows:-
Dear friends, delegates, dignitaries and all the participants I am here again on the Valediction Day of the significant seminar organised by Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle in collaboration with Periyar International, U.S.A., on the thought provoking,
aptly chosen theme – Humanism, Self-Respect and Social Cohesion. Though I could not meet you all in person, I watched the events on line and learnt about the proceedings through media as well as reports from our people there. My joy knows no bounds while I watch the Culmination Day events.
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We chose Periyar International – U.S.A., which is 30 years old, to collaborate with the efforts of PATCA, which is nearly 4 years old. Volunteers of the old and young generations work for humanity in any country. The question of generation gap does not arise when we are in public life. I am glad over the enthusiasm of people in Australia in promoting and safe guarding Humanism, Self-respect and social cohesion.
Thanthai Periyar was responsible for awareness of rationalism and humanism in our country. On this very important occasion,
if we wish to summarise the very philosophy of our conference in just one sentence, in the language of Periyar, that sentence would
be – “The beauty of humanity lies in the dignity and rationality of human beings”. This is nothing but Self-respect. If that is to
be achieved, humanity should always be in an equal empowerment, enjoying without any difficulty or discrimination. A proper social
cohesion must be there for the flourish of humanism and self-respect.
We are happy, the milk of human kindness flows all over Australian land. I had the privilege of visiting your land recently. I saw
the way of life there. Even the Government has been doing its best to make the lives of people happy and peaceful. It ensures that people live happily, leading a fully comfortable life and that everything is given to everybody. This kind of society is really modern.
Why did PATCA choose Melbourne in Australia for this historic conference? Because it is a country where humanism is always regarded and where equality thrives marvellously. But on this land we observe an unwarranted, unexpected development.
Some of the reactionary forces who indulge in discriminations on our Indian land have come there to eke out a living. You were all
kind enough to welcome and accommodate them. You have provided them all with job opportunities and livelihood. With a broad
mind full of generosity, you have sheltered all the immigrants. We are truly happy that they are all on your land but we feel sad to note that they have brought the caste system and varnasrama also with them to pollute your land. After becoming the residents of Australia, they are trying to crop up discrimination even there. This may create once again on your land a society of high and low; a society of discrimination. That is why, this conference is very important to warn the Australian fraternity to be aware of the imminent danger and prevent the problems which affected us in India. Prevention is certainly better then cure, but how are we to prevent? A good message explaining it is being spread through this conference.
In Australia, you too have a Rationalist Association and a Humanist Association. All the people residing there have been leading a happy life. The day to day life of the citizens is truly peaceful. This is mainly because you people recognise the merit of human beings. You never discriminate. That is why Periyar International, U.S.A. has been 100 per cent right in choosing your country for our 4th International Conference. Periyar Ambedkar Thoughts Circle (PATCA) has always been young and energetic, even though it is a
budding society. They have played a mighty role in organising this conference. We heartily congratulate and thank them sincerely. I should thank particularly Mr.Annamalai Mahizhnan and his team for their tireless efforts. Because of time constraint, I am unable to specify names and thank every individual, though I know all the people who were behind the success of this conference, especially Mr.Aranga Moorthy, the Organising Committee Chairman and Sumathy Vijayakumar, the General Secretary of PATCA. I thank all the families and all the members who co-operated and contributed for the success of this conference.
What is the ultimate message conveyed by this Conference? We are all humans. There should be no inequality of any sort among
us. All of us should stress on the dire need of humanity. Besides our observing equality, the empowerment of humans is also much more important. In our country, that is the major problem. Let it not crop up on your land.
I am happy, some of the Australian Women members of the Parliament have also participated in this conference. They were
all bold, upright and honest in expressing their views. Even during my previous visit to Australia, I had the privilege of listening to
them
I thank all the delegates from Japan. Our people are rendering Yeoman services there. I sincerely thank all the delegates from
Malaysia, Singapore, Qatar and America. All of them are to be appreciated and applauded. As one of the ardent disciples and as a life- long student of Periyar, I profusely thank you all. In spite of all the odds and difficulties, I have been a loyal worker in the Self-Respect Movement. I thank all the former members of the Australian Parliament and also its present members. Your land has taught us a new lesson that if a society has social cohesion, peace, growth and development will always be there. This message must be absorbed by our own delegates and taken everywhere. At the same time, nothing should go wrong in the system by our people there. The unwarranted caste system or Varnasrama, which is a symbol of discrimination and degradation of the depressed, downtrodden people in our society should never ever place foot on the soil of Australia. That is very important.
The messages of Thanthai Periyar and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar should be indelible in the minds of Australian fraternity too. They are not mere portraits. They are our warning signs. They are our guiding stars who have given us their lives for us. That is why this society PATCA has been named after them,
In my opinion all the delegates at this conference are beneficiaries of our movement – not only economically or educationally, but
also self-respectfully. I convey my hearty thanks to Dr.Soma Ilangovan, President of Periyar International, U.S.A. for his vital
role in this conference. Our unparalleled Dravidian Model Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Honourable Thiru.M.K. Stalin was kind enough to deliver his Address. I thank the Deputy Chief Minister Thiru. Udayanidhi Stalin also for the kind message that he had sent. The dynamic Parliament member of India, Thiru.A.Raja too deserves our sincere thanks. All the conductors, organisers and participants of this conference are thanked.
We salute all the aborigines of Australia who were the earliest settlers and sons and daughters of this soil. I thank them for their
presence here. The Australian Government has been rightly honouring them at all times. This is a lesson to be learnt by people of other countries. We take this message from you on this occasion. We shall spread it everywhere in Tamil Nadu.
Even though it is a small audience, I am glad, it is the cream of the society who are benefited by the Philosophy of dignity and rationality. They have made the conference a splendid success. I congratulate them all.
Let me conclude with just one final message. Dearfriends,takeupthemovementeverywhere. Do not bother about minor problems, hurdles and difficulties. Just go ahead. When you want to unite people of different ideas, first of all see what their common aspects and important features are. Whatever unites, must be united. Whatever divides, should have no room. This is our basic approach.
Next year or during the year after the next, I would visit Australia to see how the seed sown today by this conference has grown as a huge tree. May the seed be good and the aerial root ripe. This is our message.
We are here to find and found a new world which consists of equality, empowerment, fraternity and social cohesion. We salute all
those Australian fraternity who salute the Principles of Thanthai Periyar – Self-respect, dignity, rationality and social cohesion. The
flag of discrimination should be pulled down. The past mistakes must be corrected. It is not the fall – but the rise that is more important. In fact, your flag gives us strength. This has been an energising conference. Let us revitalise ourselves and rise with a new energy. Let us not walk – let us run towards our target.
Long live Thanthai Periyar!
Long live – Humanism, Self-respect and Social
Cohesion!
