TEMPLE – ENTRY RIGHTS – The Modern Rationalist

Even after seventy – five years since the country secured Independence from the Colonial rule, marginalised, scheduled caste people in almost all the States, are unable to enter Temples and worship. The miserable condition continues to exist as it was during the lifetime of Periyar. On 21st July, 1969 Periyar delivered a significant speech in a public meeting at Chidambaram, Tamil Nadu, condemning the social injustice. Excerpts from the speech follow:

Dear Friends, comrades and cadres, I am sick. I rushed to this seminar from a hospital where I am undergoing treatment. After addressing you all at this venue, I have to go back to the hospital. I am tired. I have been speaking at a number of seminars and public meetings. You have all been patiently listening to me, but there is no change in the miserable condition of our people. We must translate our thoughts into action, talking less and also listening less to talks. My topic today is denial of Temple entry rights.
The background of the DK
The younger generation should know what sort of a movement it is and what its principles are. Most people do not know when it was founded and what benefit people have so far derived from it. Make a note today that it was at first founded as the Justice Party in 1916 by two stalwarts named ThiagarayaChettiar and T.M. Nair, it was formed for the welfare of non – Brahmins, exclusively as a non-brahmin movement because the Congress was a party till then devoted to flattering the British in every manner. They were unabashed sycophants paying tributes to the Englishmen. Brahmins were dominating and monopolising all the fields and occupying lucrative posts in Government jobs. The Justice Party was formed in protest of that social injustice.
Shocked by the growth of the Justice Party, the Congress started false propaganda that they were the true well wishers of the people and that the Justice Party of non-brahmins was interested only in grabbing posts and positions for selfish purposes. Gullible people believed them and helped them flourish. I must admit, I too believed in the Congress and I was in fact with them and extending my support.
The support of the people encouraged the Congress to contest elections but I opposed it. The Congress won the elections and I quit them. I started the self respect movement. I fought for the eradication of superstitions, blind belief in God, religions and out dated mythologies. I preached rationalism to reform the degraded people.
I delivered speeches condemning the Congress, the Brahminocracy and even Gandhi at times. I began supporting the Justice Party. In the subsequent elections, the Congress was defeated and the Justice Party formed the Government.
Later, the Congress won the elections in 1937 and captured the rule. They closed nearly 2000 schools and made the study of Hindi compulsory. The Justice Party people were harassed and tortured. They created numerous problems and committed atrocities. The list would be endless. To save the party from total collapse senior leaders unanimously made me the President of the Justice Party.
In 1944 we held Justice Party conference in Salem. Some people in the party turned against me but C.N. Annadurai insisted on my leadership and pacified me. It was in that conference that the Justice Party was renamed as the Dravidar Kazhagam. There were a lot of twists and turns in the political world from 1944 to this year – 1969. They are not relevant to our topic today. Let me discuss today’s burning problems, especially the denial of Temple Entry Rights to the down trodden people.
Unsolved problems
We are at present extending our support to the Government of Tamil Nadu, headed by the DMK. I find people are contended by their rule. There is peace, law and order, but many problems continue to remain unsolved. The Brahmins are 3 per cent of the population here but there is 100 per cent literacy in them. We are 97 per cent of the Population, but not all are literate and well placed in jobs. We need 100 per cent literacy and employment. When would our dream come true? The Brahmins enjoy more than what they deserve. We are lagging behind. We have not even acquired our share, we have the right over. Let this conference be a wake-up call for all our people. Let us believe, the present rule would help us achieve our objectives, but we need unity and collective efforts.
Every rural area in the state must get all the urban facilities. The master-servant category may be in career and profession but beyond that, all of us should be equal in all respects. Everything should be to everybody. Universal brotherhood should be established all over the State.
After the lifetime of Gandhi, morality, integrity, honesty, discipline and conduct are all declining fast in the country. I find only vices – not virtues. Advancement in life is being prevented. In Thanjavur District some Communist leaders are prohibiting the use of tractors in farming work. Farmers are being harassed. Innovations should be welcomed. We cannot still live like the people of the Stone – Age.
Denial of Rights
The S.C. / S.T. people are denied Temple Entry. Brahmins alone have the privilege to access the sanctum-sanctorum of temples. One’s encroachment on the property of the other is also allowed by society. We are not allowed even to enter a temple freely, Temples were built by downtrodden people and marginalised labourers. The coffers in the temple are filled by our contributions. But we, the people – are denied Temple – Entry. A Brahmin, who does nothing except eating without producing, drives us away from the sanctum – sanctorum of temples and shrieks at us – “Stay away! You are an impure sudhra!”
An arrogant Brahmin dares say – “Idols of God would become impure if a sudhra enters a temple!” – How long are we to exist tolerating this humiliation? My question is this – if we are not going to wake up and erase this stigma, who else would come and wipe it clean? Who will help us if we are not willing to help ourselves?
Dignity and Self Respect
The mission of the Dravidar Kazhagam is to make our people live with self respect, safeguarding their dignity. The cause of our degradation is religion and caste, that spring from blind belief in a non-existent God. Hence, all these are to be annihilated altogether. We envision a new world devoid of all these hurdles to humanism. We should strive to progress on a par with all the developed countries in the world. We must remember the golden words – “United – we stand. Divided – we fall.”
Dogs are faithful and grateful to humans but they bark at other dogs of their own family. Most people in our society arelike those dogs. They bark at our own people and pounce on one another without unity. Many people among even the Tamils, betray one another. They drive nails on the coffins of their own people. I find unity among most of the Brahmins. They jointly fight against their rivals, but we keep letting down our own people, stabbing mercilessly at their back.
Support the DMK Rule
I urge you all, not to let down the present DMK rule under any circumstance. Extend your whole hearted support to the entire State Assembly. Strengthen the hands of the present rulers. Never ever even dream of betraying it. I am quite confident our State would become a haven of peace under today’s DMK headed rule in the State. I am sure, Brahminocracy would soon end.
Be proud of being rationalists. Rationalism would make a new era dawn. Give your superstitions a deep burial. Always beware your rivals and be vigilant. Stick to all our policies and principles. Never compromise. Let our schemes and style of functioning change – not our invincible ideals!

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