That Chief Minister Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi’s visit to New Delhi recently was most productive and benefiting, he was courteously received by President Tmt. Pratibha Patil, who agreed to inaugurate the first World Classical Tamil Conference at Coimbatore in June next, that Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Tmt. Sonia Gandhi received him with great regard and respect and agreed to fulfill his demands, that he asked for Rs.2,600 crore more than last year for the State’s Annual plan and got it from the Planning Commission of India - are all not at all surprising. Kalaignar is used to them. But the most significant and memorable function in which, Kalaignar participate in the Capital was the opening of Periyar Centre.
In his address, DK President Thiru K.Veeramani made a significant remark. He said that it was most befitting that Kalaignar was opening the Periyar Centre because it is he (Kalaignar) who is realizing the ideals and views of Thanthai Periyar and implementing them. All through his life Periyar strove for rationalism, self-respect, gender equality and women’s emancipation and social reforms and tirelessly fought against orthodoxy, superstitions and casteism. Although his immediate objective was to liberate Tamil race, the underlying spirit of all his speeches and writings was humanism and universal brotherhood. He never allowed his vision to be blurred by any narrow perspective. He had immense faith in the potential of mankind and was a great optimist. In his scientific temperament, most of what he foresaw in 1942 in a speech on “World in 2000 AD” have come true. So Periyar does not belong to just Tamil Nadu or India but to the entire world and universal mankind. Periyar and his preachings will be relevant to international community for centuries to come.
One of the crucial tasks that Periyar undertook was popularizing self-respect marriages. Periyar stated that self-respect wedding is based on rationalism. Rationalism is based on the individual’s courage. Self-respect marriages carried a three-fold significance: a) replacing the Purohit b)inter-caste equality c)man-woman equality. Periyar performed self-respect marriages unofficially since 1925 and officially since 1928. Periyar asked why can’t the government pass an Act that legalized weddings which avoid superstitious practices.
On assuming power in the State in 1967, Arignar Anna dedicated the DMK government to his mentor Periyar and in one of the first acts he passed a legislation legalizing self-respect marriages. Now using his clout at the Centre, Kalaignar is urging the UPA government to legalise self-respect marriages at the national level.
Periyar had been advocating widow-remarriages. He was agitated over the treatment meted out to widows alone. If a girl loses her husband, even before knowing anything of wordly pleasures, she is compelled to close her eyes to everything in the world and die broken-hearted. The tendency is to consider women as slaves, subservient to men and that they must be kept under control. Periyar said if slavery has to be abolished in society, the male arrogance and wickedness which lead to the enslavement of women must be abolished first. Only when this is achieved, the tender sprouts of freedom and equality will register growth. Kalaignar introduced Widow Remarriage Scheme in 1970s by which financial assistance is provided to those getting re-married. Moreover monthly financial assistance of Rs.400 is provided to widows.
Periyar was insistent on women’s education. In a 1960 issue of ‘Viduthalai’, Periyar stated that “There should be drastic revolution in the desires and ideals of Indian women. They should equip themselves to do all types of work that men are doing. There should be a welcome change in the minds of our women. The administration also must pay special attention to the advancement of women.”
Periyar was insistent on women’s education. In a 1960 issue of ‘Viduthalai’, Periyar stated that “There should be drastic revolution in the desires and ideals of Indian women. They should equip themselves to do all types of work that men are doing. There should be a welcome change in the minds of our women. The administration also must pay special attention to the advancement of women.”
The DMK government is paying special attention for the education of women and gives free education to them upto postgraduate courses like MA, MSc in government arts and science colleges. Expanding the scope for their employment opportunities, Kalaignar reserved 100 percent of primary school teacher jobs for them; but after court verdict it was brought down to 75 percent. 33 percent of jobs in government and local bodies are also reserved for women. In a significant step for economic employment of women, 1,11,728 new women self help groups comprising of 17.12 lakh women have been started over the last four years. A sum of Rs.229 crores had been disbursed to 2.29 lakh of self help groups as revolving fund. As a result of tremendous efforts taken by this government, self-help groups in Tamil Nadu were able to receive Rs.5,990 crore as bank loans. In total, there are 4.24 lakh women self help groups comprising of more than 65 lakh women functioning most effectively.
Fulfilling another dream of Periyar, 50 percent of seats in local bodies is being reserved for women, politically empowering them. Kalaignar had been a staunch advocate of 33 percent reservation for women in Parliament and State legislatures. When the Act was recently passed in the Rajya Sabha, Tmt. Sonia Gandhi wrote to Kalaignar stating that but for his support it would not have been possible.
With regard to property rights for women, Periyar stated that there was no difference between men and women. He went on to say that like men, women should have the right to own property and enjoy its benefits. The women’s conference that Periyar convened in 1920s, in which he was conferred the title ‘Periyar’, adopted a resolution for equal inheritance right of family properties. Kalaignar realized this demand in 1989, when the DMK government, for the first time in the country, passed a legislation conferring equal property rights for women.
With regard to property rights for women, Periyar stated that there was no difference between men and women. He went on to say that like men, women should have the right to own property and enjoy its benefits. The women’s conference that Periyar convened in 1920s, in which he was conferred the title ‘Periyar’, adopted a resolution for equal inheritance right of family properties. Kalaignar realized this demand in 1989, when the DMK government, for the first time in the country, passed a legislation conferring equal property rights for women.
In order to perpetuate the memory of Thanthai Periyar, and in an attempt to give effect to his ideal of casteless society, Kalaignar announced a scheme of establishing 95 Periyar Samathuvapurams (marking 95 years of his life) where people of all castes and communities live together in harmony.
It was most befitting that a memorial in the form of Periyar Centre was found and inaugurated in the national capital endowing him to the nation. It was much more befitting that Kalaignar opened the centre.
Periyar’s ideals and views were considered ahead of his time. By accomplishing Periyar’s lofty ideals during his rules, Kalaignar will be considered far ahead of his time by a grateful posterity!
It was most befitting that a memorial in the form of Periyar Centre was found and inaugurated in the national capital endowing him to the nation. It was much more befitting that Kalaignar opened the centre.
Periyar’s ideals and views were considered ahead of his time. By accomplishing Periyar’s lofty ideals during his rules, Kalaignar will be considered far ahead of his time by a grateful posterity!
(09-05-10)
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