Dr. Palani Arangasamy
The conferment of Thagaisal Virudhu the highest award of the Govt of Tamil Nadu to Thamizhar Thalaivar Dr.K.Veeramani on the 15th of August 2023 is one more feather on his cap and a crown on his head. We all feel that it is a fitting recognition to the leader who is celebrated as a voracious reader, versatile writer and an extemporaneous speaker besides an invigorating fighter for social justice. To my knowledge, as a non-agenarian, he might be one of a very few persons in India, keeping normal maladies of old age such as amnesia and physical fraility at a distance. But even beyond this, his alertness of mind is astounding and his retentive memory is astonishing.
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More than a hundred titles he has written on politics, society, history, literature, culture, epics and ethics speak volumes of his intellect. I am yet to see in India, a person of such versatility. Even outstanding academics lag behind in the output of such various titles.
Even if one had been an acquaintance years back, the leader would recollect and treat him with utmost courtesy and kindness. His being on the pinnacle of socio- political domain doesn’t stand in the way of his moving with the rank and file of the party and showing a benign camaraderie. As he says very often, the policy- relation is more essential than blood relation. It is this quality that has kept the solidarity of the Kazhagam.
His familial touch with workers goes far beyond even to their home which he unfailingly visits, be it an occasion of birth or death or any other event. To make it short, the entire Kazhagam is a solid family of which he is a pater familias. It may appear to be a regional unit but its raison detre is vital, valid and relevant even to –day.
The statement he issues on the front pages of Viduthalai are symbolic of his alertness as they predict and awaken the politicians to know about the ills and evils in the vicious politicking of the Centre. The measures clandestinely passed on and taken by the Centre go diametrically opposite democratic norms.
None but a person of keen eyes and penetrating observation alone could discern their strategems but Dr.Veeramani has discerned it. The gist of all that he forebodes in his statements should reach the leaders of opposition, especially when they conjoin together to confront the dogmatic Sanghis in April 2024.
The clarion call of Periyarism which he declares not only sounds within the confines of Tamil Nadu but echoes far beyond in the north of India and re-echoes in the USA, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore.
It is the Socio-political sagacity of the Thalaivar that has planned Street –corner meetings and the Policy work-shop for the teenagers and adolescents all over the state of Tamil Nadu. These wisdom-oriented programmes successfully conducted – are bound to stabilize the organization and ensure its longevity. This strategic performance is bound to pay wonderful dividends in the days to come.
Besides being a writer, the leader is an active journalist and editor as well. He has been editing Viduthalai for the past sixty years. I am yet to see a person who has served as the editor for such a long time and continues editing till date.
Viduthalai , the Tamil daily, due to his personal touch and well-planned campaign goes to lakhs of readers in Tamil Nadu at present. It should be multiplied. If this job is done by the activists of the Kazhagam, that alone will be a pleasing presentation to our great leader and let us all strive to do it.
