You must have seen the announcement that the inaugural function of the 100th year of the Dravidian movement will be held on 27.2.2012 at 5 pm at Kalaignar Arangam, Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on behalf our Party headquarters, under my presidentship and in the presence of Perasiriyar! In that inaugural function, younger Brother K.Veeramani, Retired Supreme Court judge Justice S.Mohan, Prof. Nannan and Prof. Suba Veerapandian are to deliver addresses. They are to explain the origin and greatness of the Dravidian movement.
Paavendar Bharathidasan said –
“As long as one is – till
The last drop of blood
No setback in struggle
For the rights of Dravidians!”
It was Linguistic scholar (Philologist) Robert Caldwell who wrote the rare book ‘Comparative Grammar of Dravidian languages’ in 1856, and who pointed out that people speaking Dravidian languages belong to one race. There are references that it was he who first used the nomenclature ‘Dravidar’ while writing about South Indian languages and people who speak them. It was during the DMK rule that on 9.2.2010 a government order was issued allocating Rs.18.50 lakh for converting the Idayangudi residence where Caldwell, who served Tamil and gave comparative grammar, lived and passed away, into a memorial. Accordingly that house was renovated, a bust size bronze statue of Caldwell was installed and unveiled by me through video conference on 17.2.2011.
In his lyric in ‘Manonmaniam’ written by Prof. Sundaram Pillai, has referred to ‘Dravida Nalthirunadu’ (Dravidian land), The Authentic English translation of the song is as follows: “Bharat is like the face beauteous of Earth clad in wavy seas; Deccan is her brow crescent-like on which the fragrant ‘Tilak’ is the blessed Dravidian land. Like the fragrance of that ‘Tilak’ plunging the world in joy supreme reigns Mother Tamil with renown spread far and wide. Praise unto You, Mother Tamil, whose majestic youthfulness, inspires awe and ecstasy.” The period of Prof. Sundaram Pillai was from 1855 to 1897.
When the first anniversary of Madras United League, inaugurated in 1912, was held in 1913 in the garden of Dr. Natesan’s hospital, as some said the nomenclature of the association didn’t reflect its aim and hence it should be changed, some opinions were put forward as to how to change it. It was only then Dr. Natesan asked, “Why should we refer to a caste called Brahmins and say we are not of caste? Don’t we have a race for ourselves? Is there no name for it?” and conveyed the decision, “We can change nomenclature as ‘Dravidar Sangam’, because we are all Dravidians.” The decision was unanimously accepted by all.
Those who attracted the attention of Dr. Natesan at that time were ‘Velludai Vendar’ Theagarayar and Dr. T.M.Nair. But hearing that both of them were out of contact differing over an issue in Madras Corporation, Dr. Natesan felt that they should be associated and functioned unitedly.
Sir Pitti Theagarayar had affection for Dravidian race. In the beginning Theagarayar was very much orthodox. He had an idol at his house itself and performing pujas with prohits. Such a person after his contact with Dr.Natesan, dissociated from orthodoxy and started showing intense opposition to Brahmin-domination. Such a person Theagarayar while delivering his speech at the first conference of the Justice Party held in 1917 thundered,
“To imply order (of higher and lower) order by birth is not Dravidian tradition. Dravidian leaders from Tiruvalluvar did not glorify themselves as born from the face of Brahma. It was Aryans who implied higher and lower by birth and established four varnams in this land. Buddha, born 2400 years ago, tried to demolish that varnasrama fortress but could not. Ramanujar also tried by all means to remove prohit atrocities, but met with failure. The hold of Brahmins were getting more and more tightened. Social ills like untouchability, unseeability and unapproachablity, gradually spread and grew. This is the apt time to demolish such a strong casteist fortress!”
A strike in B & C Mills in Madras was on then. Talks were held on then between Theagarayar and the then Governor Lord Wellington in which Theagarayar got angry and came out. On hearing Theagarayar’s walk out Rajah of Panagal who was then holding the post of Premier, immediately met the Governor and said to have told, “If you don’t apologise to our leader, our Ministry will resign”. The Governor also was said to have immediately given apology letter.
Another great man who assisted Dr. Natesan was Dr. T.M.Nair. He was such a speaker that when he began his speech from the arrival of Aryans he would tell puranic and epic stories in between and plunge people into the ocean of emotions. He would start saying,
“Except one or two, in all other posts Brahmins have taken seat. Out of the nine Indians appointed as judges of the Madras High Court, eight are Brahmins and one is Nair. Among 146 Assistant Collectors, 77 are Brahmins, Out of 125 District judges 93 are Brahmins. Brahmins who are 3 percent out 100 in population, have been appointed in so many jobs,” so he would go on giving statistics and roar, “Can such injustice be allowed to continue?”
The speech delivered by Dr. T.M.Nair on 7.10.1917 at a public meeting near Spur Tank Road in Chennai –
and the statement, “Explanation of Non-brahmin principle” released by Sir P Theagarayar on 20.12.1918 on behalf of the Justice Party -
are regarded as the earliest documents of Dravidians.
I want to repeat now what T.M.Nair thundered on that famous speech. “Brave Dravidians! Take myself. They say I am a famous doctor in London and Madras. I am an MD graduate. I get huge income. I am proud to spend all the remaining money of my income after my expenditure, for the growth of Justice Party awakening Dravidian people like you, as my dear leader Thiru Pitti Theagaraya Vallal. Dravidian comrades! All of you tell and explain to all your friends and relatives and colleagues and enroll them as members of the Justice Party! Read party journals! Only if our journals grew our people will get strength. Our opposition party-Brahmin gang will shiver. True people: rule will blossom.”
In the book ‘History of Dravidian movement’ written by Murasoli Maran, besides writing that once a Brahmin was appointed in a higher post immediately he brought his community people and filled up in other posts within the limits of his appointment authority and this is a practice since long, and also points out some instances. When an inspection was carried out by Revenue Board, it came to light that there were 49 persons in that department alone who were relatives and associates of a brahmin called G.Venkataramiah holding a higher post. Vembakkam Iyengar family (like the famous Sir Bashyam Iyengar) of Chengalput and Madras city enjoyed all jobs available under British rule. From 1861 to 1921, of those belonging to that family, five were Assembly members, two were Attorney Generals, three were High Court judges, three were judges of small cause courts, one was Home Minister in the rule that came into being under Montagu-Chelmsford Reforms, and three were deputy secretaries of the Provincial government. Many more were Tahsildars, Public Prosecutors and deputy collectors, noted Murasoli Maran in that book.
It is only to remind those true histories to Dravidians and Tamils, the inaugural function of the 100th year of Dravidian movement is to be held. In that function many scholars are to explain many details to know and to understand about ourselves. Don’t think that you may miss this inaugural function because we are going to celebrate the centenary of Dravidian movement all through the year! Because this is a function for the uprising of our race! Only two days in between! We’ll meet in person on 27th!
With affection,
M.K.
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