“Justice party prevented exile of Thiru.Vi.Ka, but Congress govt. detained in house arrest”

While the Justice party successfully prevented Tamil scholar Thiru.Vi.Ka from being exiled by the British regime, the government of the Congress party, for which he worked, detained him in house arrest, recalled DMK General Secretary Prof K.Anbazhagan.
Inaugurating ‘Muthamizh Vizha’ conducted by Manavalagar Mandram on Aug 21, Perasiriyar recounted the services rendered by Thiru Vi Ka for Tamil language, society and his simple way of life.
Tracing Thiru.Vi,Ka’s contributions for the rights and welfare of the working class, Perasiriyar  said he used to walk from Royapettah to B&C Mills on Perambur Barracks Road for participating and leading the strike of mill workers. In those days Anna also used walk from George Town to Thandayarpet for participating in meetings. Thiru Vi Ka used to address many meetings without amplifiers and dais. As he was fighting for the rights of workers, the then British regime decided to exile him to Andaman islands. When the news reached Justice Party leader Sir Pitti Thyagarayar, he sent a message to the Governor. As the Justice Party was cooperating with the British government, Thayagarayar stated told the regime that if their decision to exile Thiru Vi Ka was not stopped they would all tender resignation and the Justice party would not cooperated with the government, which forced the Governor to withdraw the exile order.
But after 20 years, during the rule of the Congress party he was detained under house arrest when Thiru Vi Ka in vexation said that even the British regime gave up the idea of exiling him, but the Congress party, with which he fought for Independence, on coming to power had detained him in house arrest.
Thiru Vi Ka was a close friend of Thanthai Periyar despite their ideological differences. Whenever Thiru Vi Ka visited Erode he used to stay in Periyar’s house when Periyar used to offer him ‘holy ash’ (vibudhi) after he took bath. Thiru Vi Ka said “As close friends there were no subjects that we did not debate but Periyar was firm in certain principles but I could not be so firm. But when the Self-Respect movement was found we shared our view and hence it Periyar is the father of the movement, I am the mother. If the child is groomed by him it is the child which went with the father”.
Thiru Vi Ka attended DK conference in Cuddalore and unveiled the portrait of Dravida Nadu. He declared that “if the government to rule India was to make Hindi as official language we would be made second class citizens. Hence if Dravida Nadu was seceded and our rights safeguarded I would welcome it and accept secession of Dravida Nadu”.
Later a meeting of the DK executive committee participated by Periyar, Anna and about 50-60 persons was held to discuss about an agitation when they were all taken into custody. A meeting to condemn the arrests was held at Chindadripet in which Thiru Vi Ka (he was told that he would also be arrested) declared that he was not bothered about being arrested and condemned the anti-democratic action of the government.
Perasiriyar narrated his encounter with Tamil scholar A.S.Ganasambandam on theism and atheism for which Thiru Vi Ka in his final address said this debate existed for ages and to come to a clear decision depended upon the mentality of each person. Thiru Vi Ka was a trade union leader, developed Tamil language, opposed Hindi imposition and spread Tamil consciousness in the national movement, he said.