custom-ads

The progressive state with regressive realities: Thanthai Periyar is still unheard in Kerala

According to social activists, even though Kerala is often seen as a progressive state with strong social equality, particularly due to its social reforms, education, and health advancements, a deeper, persistent casteist reality still exists.

Sreelakshmi Soman

Published Sep 17, 2024 | 8:22 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 18, 2024 | 8:23 AM

Thanthai Periyar memorial in Vaikom. (Supplied)

Thanthai Periyar memorial in Vaikom. (Supplied)

On Tuesday, 17 September, the occasion of the 146th Birth Anniversary of EV Ramasamy, fondly called Thanthai Periyar, Kottayam District Collector John V Samuel paid floral tributes at his memorial located in Vaikom of Kerala.

Vaikom Tahsildar Deepa KP, Coimbatore District Press and Public Relations Officer A Senthil Anna, Vaikom Municipality President Preetha Rajesh, Municipal Member Rajasekaran, and Vaikom Village Officer Gopakumar were also present along with some volunteers.

When South First contacted Senthil Anna, he was en route from Thanjavur to Vaikom.

“Since I took charge, I’ve worked tirelessly for the prosperity of the Thanthai Periyar Memorial in Vaikom. Honouring Thanthai Periyar on his 146th birth anniversary, we have planned a tribute on 17 September by garlanding his statue in Vaikom. The Kottayam District Collector, the Vaikom Municipality chairman, and other officials will attend the function,” he told South First then.

Periyar had devoted his life to ending discrimination and the marginalisation of people belonging to the castes that are branded “lower castes”.

A “progressive” state with a high literacy rate, Kerala hosted one of the earliest temple entry protests — the Vaikom Satyagraha — led by TK Madhavan, K Kelappan and KP Kesava Menon with the participation of leaders like Periyar and Mahatma Gandhi in 1924. A century later, is Kerala truly free of caste-based discrimination?

Also Read: Here’s the untold story of the ‘anti-Satyagraha’ movement at Vaikom.

Discrimination in Kerala

According to social activists, even though Kerala is often seen as a progressive state with strong social equality, particularly due to its social reforms, education, and health advancements, a deeper, persistent casteist reality still exists.

They say that caste-based discrimination and inequality, though less visible on the surface, continue to influence society in subtle and overlooked ways.

It also implies that the social revolution led by Periyar did not fully eradicate casteism in Kerala. Despite Kerala’s image of being more egalitarian, entrenched caste hierarchies and practices may still be present. However, they are not always recognised or discussed as much as in other parts of India.

Does Periyar’s legacy belong solely to a political ideology like the DMK? Why is Periyar often left out of Kerala’s revered list of social reformers, alongside figures like Ayyankali and Sree Narayana Guru?

According to activists, Periyar’s ideals remain largely unheard in Kerala, overshadowed by caste-based politics. There is a growing belief that Kerala needs to revive and embrace Periyar’s values.

From a giant to a shadow

Aneesh Jasy ST, a prominent figure in Tamil atheist circles and a keen observer of Kerala’s political and social landscape, criticised how Kerala could claim to be an “enlightened society” when marginalised communities continued the struggle to have their voices heard.

He further pointed out that while Kerala had led many significant movements, including the milestones contributed by Thanthai Periyar at Vaikom, the state’s political and social landscape often purposefully neglects to acknowledge his impact.

Instead, Kerala predominantly highlights only figures like Ayyankali and Sree Narayana Guru.  Jasy emphasised that Periyar should be mentioned alongside these leaders in Kerala’s narrative of social reform.

“I am not criticising, but the reality in Kerala and Tamil Nadu is the same regarding Thanthai Periyar. Kerala seems to view Thanthai Periyar as just a Tamil reformer, which is unfair. He does not belong to any one political party either. If you travel through Tamil Nadu, you can see posters of Periyar alongside leaders like Stalin and Karunanidhi. However, the size of Periyar’s photo has been shrinking over the years, and in a few more years, it might vanish altogether,” Jasy told South First.

In Kerala, people like me can speak about social reforms and against caste without fear. But in Tamil Nadu, the land of Periyar, we struggle to exist.

“Even though I am active on social media, I hide my identity I feel a threat to my family,” he said.

“The Periyar memorial in Vaikom is still managed by officials from Tamil Nadu. Why? Can’t Vaikom and Kerala take charge of that initiative? Caste is more visible in Tamil Nadu but it exists in Kerala too. It’s high time to revive Periyar’s values because caste and social justice cannot coexist,” the social activist said.

Forgotten corners of Kerala

Advocate Rajagopal Vakathanam, Editor of Yukthi Rekha and vice president of Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham — a rationalist organisation —told South First that the neglect towards Periyar wasn’t a new thing since it began during the Vaikom Satyagraha era itself.

“Periyar always took a rigid stand against caste, which is based on atheistic values. He often publicly stated that the Shivalinga at the Vaikom temple should be used as a laundry stone,” Vakathanam said.

Many social reformers, including Mahatma Gandhi, found it difficult to accept his strong atheist values. Periyar, George Mathan, and activists from Punjab were forced to leave the protest by Gandhi himself, who framed temple entry and discrimination as a problem for Hindus alone. While we celebrate Gandhi, we forget the importance of Periyar,” he added.

Vakathanam said another reason for Periyar’s neglect was his staunch opposition to Brahmanical hegemony.

Periyar was intentionally marginalised within Kerala’s social fabric, and this continues to this day, he said.

“Interestingly, the Tamil Nadu government maintains a memorial in Vaikom. Why? The answer is simple, even Kerala’s communist movement couldn’t accept Periyar’s harsh and uncompromising views on the caste system. While communists celebrate Ayyankali, they deliberately downplay his fight against caste,” he added.

“Not only Periyar, but Kerala also continues to neglect many important figures like VK Pavithran. They are not included in the list of reformers by the so-called progressive party, the CPI(M). Socialists like Sahodaran Ayyappan, K Kelappan and Periyar have been sidelined,” he said.

Vakathanam said that when Kerala’s communist leaders met Lenin, he advised them to understand India before spreading Communist ideology.  “Yet, our communist leaders purposefully neglect to address the root cause — caste. Even now, they don’t fully appreciate Ambedkar,” he said.

He also highlighted the further marginalisation of already marginalised communities in Kerala.

“In Kerala, there are 26,000 Dalit and 1,400 Scheduled Caste colonies. These were built by communist governments in the name of progress and development, and they named these colonies after Ambedkar or Ayyankali. In doing so, communists created a narrative that these communities should be separated from Kerala’s social setup — they are excluded,” he said.

In the recent Wayanad landslide, many tribal people were affected, but does our government have data on the affected tribes or their homes? In remote villages of Palakkad, caste issues are still severe. Even now, people are killed by labelling them as ‘Odiyan’ and in the name of black magic, which is believed to be associated with certain castes,” he claimed.

Also Read: Vaikom Satyagraha: Thanthai Periyar’s role and his many differences with Gandhi.

‘Brahmin boys’ ready to address class, but not caste

Mrudula Devi S, a lyricist in the Malayalam movie industry and editor of Patabhedam magazine, told South First that political parties and Kerala society neglected Periyr purposefully since all points raised by him were valuable and valid.

Devi usually voices out opinions on social injustice and caste issues in Kerala,

“Our political parties, both past and present, are eager to address many issues like gender, education, and progress but they exclude caste. Periyar is the most important figure who strongly addressed caste politics in India through both his words and protests. India’s contribution to the world is graded inequality. People like me still try to amplify voices against this inequality,” she said.

“No one wants Periyar because no one has the courage to present and voice these issues in a caste-centric society, as it could threaten their chances of winning elections. However, I still have hope because Periyar’s values are being heard in different parts of the world, such as New York, California, and Switzerland. The ones spreading this message are not just political parties or leaders, but marginalised people who have been oppressed in the name of caste,” she added.

Devi questioned why the political parties, especially the communist ones, did not highlight Periyar.

“Ambedkar had the answer decades ago when he called them ‘Brahmin boys’ instead of secular boys. They talk about equality and justice while clinging to caste privilege. How can that be possible? There is no inclusive democracy in Kerala either. Political parties even select candidates based on the caste majority in each constituency. Even now, we see praise for the Travancore royal family,” she said.

“Caste determines who I invite to my home, to my dining table, and whose weddings or funerals I attend. Our leaders are ready to address class, but not caste. It is high time we follow and focus on Periyar’s ideologies in Kerala as well,” she added.

(Edited by Muhammed Fazil)

Follow us