Periyar a global leader, inspires movements across world: Stalin

CHENNAI: Dravidian pioneer and Dravidar Kazhagam founder ‘Thanthai’ Periyar is a global leader whose thoughts inspired progressive movements and feminists across the world, said Chief Minister MK Stalin on Saturday.

Virtually laying the foundation stone for the construction of Periyar Ulagam in Tiruchy at a function held at Dravidar Kazhagam headquarters, Periyar Thidal, on Saturday, Stalin recalled his announcement that Periyar’s thoughts would be translated and published in many world languages. “Reform movements, rationalist movements and feminists across the world are searching and reading Periyar’s thoughts because the world has accepted him as a global leader.

“Periyar does not belong only to India, but the whole world. Hence, [DK leader] Veeramani has launched the Periyar Ulagam initiative,” Stalin said, commending the organisation for being engaged in the task of making Tamil society a knowledge-based one. “The DMK regime will discharge the duty of providing constructive opportunities and growth of Tamil society. This is the oath we all should take on Periyar’s 144th birth anniversary,” the CM added.

Describing his visit to the DK headquarters as homecoming, he said, “There is nothing surprising about a son visiting his mother’s home. We are refreshed and excited by a visit to Periyar Thidal. We renew ourselves. We do not come to Thidal because it is September 17, Periyar’s birth anniversary. Don’t consider us as guests because we visit regularly. We belong here, too. We have visited with that feeling,” Stalin added

Periyar Thidal is the headquarters of not just Dravidar Kazhagam, but the entire Tamil race, he said. “Such is the functioning of Periyar Thidal that it is fair to call it the headquarters of social justice, equality, rationalism, uprising of Tamil race and women rights. Thidal is the headquarters of social justice of the entire country,” Stalin said, calling it his pride to declare September 17 as Social Justice Day and administer an oath to all.

Social Justice oath administered in TN

People across the State observed EVR Periyar’s birth anniversary as Social Justice Day, with leaders paying floral respects and Collectors of all districts administering oath, on Saturday. At Tiruchy, members of various political parties, including DMK and AIADMK, gathered at the central bus stand and garlanded the statue of Periyar, while the DK members garlanded the statue and also took social justice oath. Tiruchy Collector M Pradeep Kumar paid floral tribute to the portrait of Periyar at the collectorate and administered the oath, while Mayor Mu Anbalagan administered the oath at Corporation headquarters after paying floral tribute to the portrait of Periyar. In order to prevent any untoward incidents, a large posse of police personnel were deputed around the central bus stand and traffic was diverted to avoid crowding near the Periyar statue. Similar functions were conducted in all the districts across the State.