V.Kumaresan
“You dissolve your own self
While doing the work laid down by Periyar-
You find joy
While losing your identity
“I do not seek a new way
I am contended with the way Periyar has shown”
So saying you do not make any claim
On your genius and your outstanding ability,
You defy comparison in public life
You have reached the age of ninety one years
We wish you a long life in your service
For the upliftment of the oppressed,
For the spread of rationalist principles
And for the triumph of humanism”
– The Rationalists’ Forum
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It is something amazing, but true. Thanthai Periyar won the hearts of the people by his life – giving rational thoughts, dedicated sincere public service and immeasurable sacrifice-founded a movement with their support and witnessed his principles taking the shape of laws in his own life time. He spoke frankly and realistically. He submitted his ideas for open comments and criticism, a method a few people followed. He was unyielding in the pursuit of his ideals and principles. While translating them into practice, he met with serious obstacles and difficulties that were very difficult to overcome. But he persisted in his pursuits of uplifting the downtrodden steeped in ignorance and superstition. Being pragmatic in approach, he gave priority to the vital issues at a time and took up the other issues at some other appropriate time. When he thought that certain aims had become obsolete, he would discard them unmindful of public criticism. His only concern was the long-term benefit to the society.
Dr. K.Veeramani is a GREAT leader among the contemporaries, marvelously leading the Dravidian movement as ideological-heir of Periyar, admired even by the ideological-opponents, after the lifetime of Periyar.
Commencing from his school days, guided by his informal school teacher, he was involved in public life, propagating the ideas and ideals of Periyar. Nowhere in any movement such a disciple succeeded as Asiriyar Veeramani did Thanthai Periyar. The leadership – forecasting talent of Periyar EVR vividly appears in the identification of leadership of Asiriyar Veeramani, who has dedicated himself fully for the cause of liberation of suppressed masses by considering himself a humble volunteer to all other volunteers. Periyar had rightly identified and groomed his disciple with the great confidence that his teaching would be continued and made beneficial to the society by his disciple Asiriyar Veeramani.
Periyar’s editorial: “I have handed over”
‘Mr.Veeramani is a post graduate and also holds a degree in law.He is very able and intelligent. Soon after becoming a lawyer, he began to earn Rs.300, Rs.400 per month, that, he found growing upto Rs.500, Rs.1000 per month He is from a poor family. He has come forward to serve the public without expecting any material benefit. I do not find a parallel to this gesture, either in the past or in the present. And such a possibility will be rare in future.
If we do not utilize properly the services of such a person, it would betray our ignorance. It is on such a thought that I have appointed him as the editor of VIDUTHALAI (the Tamil daily), and left it under his sole control, and that is why it has not ceased to be published.
Hereafter Veeramani alone would be the editor and publisher of VIDUTHALAI”.
(Excerpts from the editorial written by Periyar in VIDUTHALAI- 06.06.1964)
Periyar formulated his principles after profound thinking, and thereby made fertile the barren minds of the Tamils. He instilled in them the spirit of Self Respect, pointing out their fallen condition and chiding them often.
Asiriyar Veeramani did the massive task of compiling the pearly thoughts of Periyar into an attractive ornament by putting them into an ideological frame work thereby people outside Tamil Nadu State and the Nation became aware of it. The great contribution of Asiriyar Veeramani’s period is the transformation of Periyar’s Thoughts as Periyarism. The initiative and efforts he undertook for the propaganda of Periyarism through the multi-pronged approach of speaking, writing and doing not found in any other social movement.
The period of Periyar was the beginning of propagation of his thoughts. Periyar fortified the movement with material support as well as with the black shirt brigade. The age difference between Periyar and Asiriyar Veeramani was 55 years. Yes; It is a period encompassing two human generations. Inspite of it, Asiriyar Veeramani led the movement subsequent to Thanthai Periyar and E.V.R. Maniammaiar without even a little bit of deviation from the ideological path. By adopting suitable strategies, he solved out all the problems and set right the situation for the smooth sailing of the Movement founded and led by Periyar.
When the Movement was criticized vehemently for its strategic decisions and actions on political front, Asiriyar Veeramani did not compromise over it. He faced the criticism boldly, led the cadres ideologically.
Periyar brought in revolutionary changes in the social sphere, where formal education was denied to the majority. He had established a few educational institutions. Asiriyar Veeramani increased the number of such educational institutions. ‘If any one wants to learn, how to manage educational institutions very successfully they should learn them from Asiriyar Veeramani’- This is the encomium paid even by the ideological opponents of the movement.
First time in the world, an exclusive institute of engineering education for women was established by him at Vallam, near Thanjavur. The institute later acquired the status of Deemed University.It depicts the committed efforts of Asiriyar Veeramani.
When ideological opponents had dreamt that Periyar’s Movement would get weakened and become insignificant subsequent to the life time of Periyar, Asiriyar Veeramani’s leadership lifted the Periyar Movement to the Himalayan heights.
Asiriyar Veeramani’s prominent role is great in bringing into the fold of the Movement, large number of youth, who had not seen Periyar and in fact many of them were born subsequent to the life time of Periyar.
A multifaceted and inspiring leader
It would be difficult to comprehend the leadership qualities of Asiriyar Veeramani.
l Periodical contacts with the cadres and charting out, with their participation the propaganda programme and advising them how to act on it.
l Meeting the teachers and students of the educational institutions, managed by the Trusts to review their functioning and to take further action.
l Meeting the leaders and cadres of the various political parties and other Movements to serve in an effective way the society.
l Encouraging and conducting Self–Respect Marriages (devoid of religious ceremonies and the rituals performed by the priest) and while on such occasions propagating Periyar’s ideals.
l Meeting the bureaucrats – appreciating them in person for their good work and open appreciation in public meetings of marvelous work and placing before them, the request to carry on the work in an intensive way or an entirely different demand in public interest
l Visiting the elderly black shirt cadres when they fall sick and honouring the elderly cadres in public meetings.
l Visiting foreign countries at the invitation of humanists and rationalists and their organizations and encouraging, co-ordinating their efforts.
l Bringing the persons employed either in public or private services into the fold of The Rationalists’ Forum and offering advice for their effective functioning to propagate Periyar’s thoughts.
l Constantly contacting the rationalist functionaries of other states and helping their co-ordinated efforts.
l Remaining supportive and in case of need to be in the field by conducting demonstrations for the cause of the oppressed persons wherever they face humiliation in their official career.
l Channels the expertise and efforts of former Judges of High Courts and Supreme Court to promote the cause of Social Justice.
l Approaching the judiciary through the Lawyers’ Wing of the movement to associate themselves for the legal remedy in respect of litigations related to public interest.
l Whether it is open propaganda meet or arduous imprisonment – treating alike both the situations thereby proving himself a role model in public life.
l Expressing his ideas for the happy and effective livelihood of mankind and put them as essays titled ‘The Art of Living’ and ‘Lovable Life’ getting the appreciation of the public at large.
l Remaining a role model on ‘Art of Speaking’ and thereby admired by the youngsters.
Asiriyar Veeramani was acknowledged during the earlier days as ‘Gnanasambandar of Dravidian Movement’ by none other than Perarignar Anna, the lieutenant of Thanthai Periyar, and who became the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu later.
Even during the days of strategic differences, Asiriyar Veeramani was commended with ideological love and affection by the elderly living legend of Dravidian Movement
Dr Kalaignar Karunanidhi thus:
“Wherever and in whatever circumstances he is,
My younger brother Veeramani
Ever treads the path of Periyar’s principles”
– Dr Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi
The expertise in the “Art of Speaking” exhibited by Asiriyar Veeramani is appreciated with fervour as follows:
“When Asiriyar moves his tongue
The rivers take notes
How to flow on? –
Classes are opened to the stars,
Every piece of his writings
Emit the light of Erode (the native town of Periyar)
Veeramani’s voice is the sound of the war drum
That proclaims the Principles of Ayya (Periyar)”
– Poet Erode Tamizhanban
“If Asiriyar addresses, it means
The documents speak
If Asiriyar speaks out,it means
Authoritative evidences speak”
– Writer Prabanjan
The oppressed masses of this land had not understood fully the role played and contributions made by Periyar during his lifetime. Now the indigenous people of the land realize the great sacrifices of Periyar. “Periyar, a rare leader identified and not fully utilized by the public.” – This expression is nothing but innermost feeling of the downtrodden masses.
To-day the significance of Asiriyar Veeramani’s service is also not fully known.He does not occupy any position of authority; yet, he is in a vital position of influencing through mobilization of the public opinion as to “Who has to rule the nation and who has to be kept out power”. This role is of bringing together the efforts of the scattered opposing groups by following the strategy of “What unites us is more important than what divides us”. Such a strategic approach of Asiriyar Veeramani, when fully realized, marks the dawn of the deliverance of Dravidians.
Asiriyar Veeramani, is a Statesman in wider sense. By proper utilization of his services the progress of humanity will be ensured.
“What we cannot do, no one else can,
What others cannot do, we can”
This cardinal principle formulated and asserted by Asiriyar Veeramani is the motivating force to the members of the Movement. It is also an inspiration to all the common people.
At a time when violent revolution is necessary to bring about a basic change in social system, Asiriyar Veeramani emphasizes the alternative method of effecting transformation through educating, enlightening and changing the minds of the people, and through uniting all the victims. He spends all the days of his life propagating the sound ideals and ideas of Periyar and agitating in various forms for the advancement of the underprivileged.
Asiriyar Veeramani commences his 91st Birthday, sustaining the spirit of youth and enthusiastic zeal. Long live Asiriyar Veeramani, the ideal disciple of Periyar. By living long he can lead the indigenous masses to better days and he will continue the noble service of making the humanist principles flourish.
