People who eke out their living by foul means should always be protested against by loud and clear voice of contempt, ignoring the toxic forces that rush to stifle it. This is possible only when we wake up from the slumber of ignorance. Our awareness alone can reform the erring coteries. Those who refuse to give up their vices are condemned to perish with the passing of time, as evident through historical records. Longing for a luxurious life without labour for it, is unpardonable. Such lethargic morons who love to be shirkers, rather than to be workers, are detrimental to communal harmony and peace. People who never sweat for their survival are harmful pests to human society. The world has begun identifying such gluttons and has also started eradicating them.
Our endless resistance
Religions and traditional customs related to them are the prominent shields protecting these human worms. There are many other fences safeguarding these venomous shrubs. Dismantling these fences is indeed an arduous task for us. These fanatics resist every step of reform. They can never tolerate any change in their outdated views and beliefs. How are we to tame them without annihilating religions and castes? Even the countries in the west sympathise with our helplessness. In the east. our existence is certainly pitiable. Religions, born from idiocy has been flourishing with the passing of time. It transfuses animal instinct in people and makes them wild brutes. When we endure their torture and retaliate we are being accused as anti-religions, anti-social and anti- brahminists.
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Insensitive victims
People who reap a harvest of benefits from religions, caste system and brahminism would naturally frown at us. But I am shocked to find some of our own victimized people remaining insensitive to their sufferings and turning against us. They think they can enjoy a larger percentage of privileges by compromising with the rivals. This makes them oppose us, forgetting the truth that we have been actually struggling for their welfare, development and rehabilitation, upliftment and redemption.
A group of our own people have fallen a prey to the exploiting forces. They seem to enjoy their own degradation and slavery. They are being used by the vested interest coteries. The Chief Minister Omandur Ramasamy Reddy in the present Congress headed ministry is a profound theist and spiritualist soaked in religious, affinity. But he himself recently passed a Bill ordering investigation of maladministration and corruption in hundreds of temples and monasteries in the state. Some of our Dravidian comrades are found raising hue and cry against the Bill concerned.
Maladministration of temples
Overflow of funds in hundreds of temples and mutts is an unsolved mystery. Probing into this issue is the right of the state rulers. Monopoly of human bandicoots, cannot go unchecked. The source of funds and the financial management must be examined to curb further corruption. Hence, the Bill Presented by the Chief Minister is a welcome move. But Brahmins have begun screaming that the Bill is detrimental to religion. Some of our own people have joined them in the cry.
The Bill concerned is not aimed at all the temples but only at those temples that have become dens of corruption. Wealth is generated by labour. How could all the corrupt temples and monasteries amass so much wealth when no act of labour and harwork takes place under their roof? Should it not be found out and exposed? This Bill asserts the right of the Government to intervene in the temple affairs and its authority is unquestionable.
Most of these temples are found to be dark chambers of obnoxious activities too. Obese temple priests have been indulging in carnal pleasures under the guise of religion, god and worship. Gullible people and their fear are being taken advantage of. Ignorant people have been pouring their hard earned money into the coffers of these unabashed temple administrators. A government of the people, existing for the people, has the right to excavate the facts. To protest against it, is in fact social injustice.
Embezzlements punishable
Temples are accountable to the common public. The wealth accumulated should be reasonably spent. Embezzlement and misuse of temple wealth is certainly a criminal offence. Renowned temples are in no way superior to small temples at street corners and pavements. Justice is equal to both. A government adhering to secularism cannot be a silent spectator to the temples that hoodwink society.
Street corner temples spend paltry sums to conserve divinity, whereas reputable temples spend lavishly under the pretext of conventional rituals and divine celebrations. This disparity is to be curbed by the state governments. Every economic offence is punishable. The government expects temples to manage such things themselves. There is nothing undesirable about it. Our Dravidian nationalists should realize this. In fact, besides welcoming this Bill, we also wish it is enacted as a law at the earliest.
Gandhi had also criticized South Indian temples on many occasions. He had pointed out the maladministration in most of them. But the corrupt Brahmin temple priests have not reformed. Gandhi is no more. But there is no change so far in the condition of South Indian temples. Most of the activities in them are inexplicably nauseating. Let this conference be a “wake-up call” to all our people. Join hands and fight for reformation in this particular issue.
As an outcome of this Bill of the government, if the temple revenue is used atleast to some extent for public welfare, I would be really glad. I urge all our cadres to stay away from misguiding forces and tread on the right path from this day. Ignore religious fanatics.
A leading newspaper published by a Brahmin management has frankly admitted that there is corruption and maladministration in most of the temples and mutts. But, the paper concerned wants senior Hindu religious leaders to undertake the task of reformation. I disagree with them. The government ruling the state has the right to take steps and annilhilate the maladministration of temples. I hope, all our Dravidian Cadres and friends would wake up by my call for awareness.
(‘Kudi Arasu’ Editorial, 29.01.1949)
Translated by: M.R.Manohar
