Immanuel Sekaran was active in organising the oppressed people's uprising conference on Ambedkar's birthday, holding a double mug abolition conference, a legal struggle against untouchability, and creating awareness among the oppressed people. Thus, he rose to become the peerless leader of oppressed communities.
Published Sep 12, 2024 | 8:12 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 12, 2024 | 8:14 AM
A stamp released by India Post honouring Immanuel Devendrar alias Immanuel Sekaran.
Different strategies exist for emancipation from caste oppression. While Bhimrao Ambedkar stood for the complete eradication of caste, rejecting Hinduism and converting to Buddhism, some Dalit groups assert with pride their caste identity, staying right within the Hindu fold.
The Devendrakula Velalars of Tamil Nadu are unique for asserting their caste identity and striving to shake off oppression while remaining within the fold. There are even leaders of the community who on occasion say the group should no longer be on the list of Scheduled Castes.
On 11 September, the Devendra Velalars observe a day that is important in their history of emancipation – the murder of freedom fighter and civil rights activist Thyagi Immanuel Devendrar, also known as Immanuel Sekaran; this year marks the 67th anniversary of that murder.
The government of Tamil Nadu declared 11 September a local holiday, and schools and colleges in Ramanathapuram and Sivagangai districts were closed to observe Immanuel Sekaran Memorial Day, Guru Puja.
Sekaran, who took part in the Quit India Movement against British rule in 1942, was sentenced to imprisonment and spent three months in jail as a freedom fighter while only 18 years old.
After Independence, he would fight caste oppression too.
He stood against what is called the two-tumbler system in Tamil Nadu, where tea stall owners keep different tumblers for customers, depending on the caste they belong to. Dalit customers would not be allowed to drink tea from tumblers used by higher caste customers.
In 1957, during by-elections to the state assembly in Mudukulathur in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu, violence broke out between the regionally dominant Thevar caste group and the Devendra Velalars, a Dalit group.
Political rivalry between the Forward Block and the Indian National Congress coalesced along caste lines, and a series of clashes erupted between July and September that year. The district collector called a meeting between rival groups to foster peace on 10 September, 1957.
Sekaran was one of six people representing the Devendrakula Velalar at that meeting. The Forward Block was represented by its president Muthuramalinga Thevar and MLA Sasivarnath Thevar.
In the meeting, there was an argument between Sekaran and Thevar regarding the representation of the people of the Pallar community, named Devendra Kula Velalar.
Sekaran was murdered a day after that meeting, on 11 September, 1957. He was only 32 years old.
Thevar, who was arrested under the Security Act, was charged with the murder of Sekaran. He was later acquitted, and this set off violence and arson between the Devendrakula Velalar Pallar community and the Devar Maravar (or Thevar) community in Muthukulathur.
Immanuel Sekaran was the eldest son of teacher and lawyer Vedanayagam and his wife Gnanasundari. He was born on 9 October, 1924 at Sellur near Paramakkudy in Ramanathapuram district of Tamil Nadu (then Madras presidency).
Sekharan received his early education from his father at Sellur, and later, till class 5, at Paramakudi. He did his higher education at Swartz School in Ramanathapuram. He was also an outstanding football player in school.
In 1945, Sekaran was commissioned as a Havildar in the Indian Army. His time in the Army exposed him to several languages, and he emerged proficient in English, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Telugu and Russian.
On 17 May, 1946, he married Amritham Grace, a teacher from Idambadal village. The couple had four daughters, Mary Vasantharani, Papin Vijaya Rani, Surya Sundari Prabha Rani and Manikavalli Jhansi Rani.
Seeing caste oppression at close quarters while on leave at his hometown in 1950, he chose to resign from the Army and pursue social service. He started the “Liberation Movement of the Oppressed.”
In 1956, when Ambedkar died, Sekaran organised his community in remembering the contributions of the drafter of India’s Constitution.
He worked for the abolition of the double tumbler system in Tamil Nadu, and led a legal struggle against untouchability, spreading awareness among the oppressed. In time, he was seen as a peerless leader of his people.
His work found favour in the eyes of Congress leader and Madras chief minister K Kamaraj, who invited him to join the party.
One century after his birth, Sekaran is honoured across party divides in Tamil Nadu. Youth Welfare Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin paid his respects in person on Wednesday, and on behalf of Opposition AIADMK, former minister RB Udhayakumar paid his respects to Sekaran, along with other political leaders.
The Indian Postal Department, in 2010, released a postage stamp with the photograph of Sekaran to mark his birthday, 9 October.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil and Rosamma Thomas)
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