Social reformer Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, whom the UNESCO lauded as the ‘Socrates of South East Asia’ for his mission towards creating an egalitarian society, was a socialist by habit even while he was a boy. Though he was born in an orthodox family in Erode in the then Coimbatore district, he enjoyed the freedom of being sociable with people cutting across castes and religions. It is interesting to know that Periyar, as a boy, enjoyed eating in the homes of Muslims and Kuravars.
Social reformer Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, whom the UNESCO lauded as the ‘Socrates of South East Asia’ for his mission towards creating an egalitarian society, was a socialist by habit even while he was a boy. Though he was born in an orthodox family in Erode in the then Coimbatore district, he enjoyed the freedom of being sociable with people cutting across castes and religions. It is interesting to know that Periyar, as a boy, enjoyed eating in the homes of Muslims and Kuravars.
In the book Vanoliyil Thanthai Periyar (Periyar in Radio), the rationalist leader recalls thus in a radio interview:
“For a brief stint in my childhood, my parents left me to be looked after by one of my paternal grandmothers, since my parents had wanted to take special care of my elder brother, who was born after many years from their marriage. As my grandmother led a solitary life at her home, I wandered as I thought and ate in the houses of Muslims and Kuravas”
Being a talkative boy, Ramasamy also used to question the people irrespective of age, whenever they came to meet his parents at home. On the origins of his rational ideas, Periyar reminisces in the radio interview:
“Our home used to be haunted by a great number of pulavars (Tamil scholars), sanyasis (Ascetics) and paradhesis (Pilgrims) to seek monetary help from my father. And whenever they were involved in conversations on God, religion and caste, I used to pose sharp questions on their follies and superstitions. Though they used to commend me as an ‘intelligent boy’ for my being inquisitive, none had given me the appropriate answers to my questions on God, religion, and caste”
The rationalist leader was of the opinion that persons submitting themselves to social work should learn to bear the insults and humiliations in their mission.
In another radio interview published in the book, Periyar recalls:
“I once went to campaign against superstition and caste discrimination in the village Chinnaalapatti near Dindigul, where most people belonged to the Congress party. Provoked by my address, the people even thrashed me, saying that I am an atheist, non-believer in caste and religion and the one, who advises caste Hindus to eat at the homes of lower castes''
As read from another book ‘Eerodu Thamizhar Uyirodu’ (Still lives the Tamilian of Erode) penned by the famed Tamil writer Prapanchan, a recipient of Sahitya Akademi award, Periyar lived his life as how he suggested others to live.
“Following his address in a public meeting once at Yercaud , Periyar enjoyed a feast in a Dalit comrade’s home. But the ‘dining room’ was just his cowshed, which emanated the pool smell of cow dung and dozen other things. Sitting cross-legged on the wet, mud floor, the leader was enjoying his food. But his wife Maniammmai didn’t like the meal. Having noticed her discomfort in the dirty environment, Periyar employed a trick and asked a woman, who was serving the food, to bring him some water. While the image of the servant pouring water hid other comrades engaged in the feast, Periyar slapped Maniammai and told her to finish eating the food without wasting a bit” writes Prapanchan in his book Eerodu Thamizhar Uyirodu.