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Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin emphasised the need to continue Periyar’s legacy by fighting caste and gender inequalities during the inauguration of the renovated Thanthai Periyar Memorial and Periyar Library at Vaikom, Kottayam, in Kerala.
The memorial and library, established in honour of social activist and politician E V Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, was inaugurated as part of the 100-year anniversary of Vaikom Satyagraha.
Periyar was a key figure in the pivotal non-violent movement in Travancore between 1924 and 1925. His contribution to the Vaikom Satyagraha earned him the title “Vaikom Veerar” (Hero of Vaikom). The movement challenged caste-based restrictions that barred lower castes from accessing roads surrounding the Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple in Kerala.
Addressing the public event held to mark the valedictory function of the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha, a movement that saw the active participation of Periyar EV Ramasamy, Stalin said people of Kerala and Tamil Nadu were celebrating “Periyar in a place where yagam was conducted against oppression 100 years ago.”
“This is the victory of Dravidam. I’m a little sad as Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) is not with us to see this,” Stalin said.
Recalling how last year was 200 years since the Thol Seelai protest occurred in Nagercoil, Stalin said he wanted his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan to celebrate 100 years of Vaikom Satyagraha “in a big way”.
He also praised Kerala’s natural beauty and said the state has progressed so much in education and politics. He urged everyone who visited Kerala to visit Vaikom and see what oppressed people faced 100 years ago.
“The list of those who participated in Vaikom Satyagraha is very long. But two women should be mentioned in the Satyagraha. Periyar’s wife Nagamma and his sister Kannama. Vaikom protest was initiated in 1924 against casteism and untouchability and in the past hundred years, we have progressed in economy and social justice but this is not enough,” Stalin said, adding: “We still have to go forward and protest against caste and gender differences.”
Stalin also talked about conferring the Vaikom Award for Social Justice 2024 to Kannada writer and Dalit social activist Devanura Mahadeva, who was also present at the occasion. “Devanura Mahadeva is conferred with the first Vaikom award to celebrate his work in Karnataka for the oppressed,” Stalin said.
Mentioning how the Dravidian movement also brought social justice in Tamil Nadu, Stalin said: “It was taboo to touch, see or walk in a street. This has been changed and now anyone can become a priest in Tamil Nadu.”
He later posted on X about the inauguration and invited all visitors to Kerala to visit the memorial and library.
He stated it was an iconic site “where Thanthai Periyar’s revolutionary ideals ignited societal transformation, enabling the oppressed to reclaim dignity and self-respect by breaking centuries-old barriers.”
