but it is...

Comrades,

I am glad to be present here. It is said that I came here some ten years ago. I too remember. But I do not exactly remember the year when I came here last. Yet, I am happy that an opportunity is given to me to be here now. Here, many learned persons spoke. They spoke to you many thought–provoking ideas. I too desire to say a few more words. Before I could say anything, I request you all not to believe straight away what I say. Don’t hurriedly plunge yourselves to carry out what I say. What all I desire is that you should think about what all I say. Think over whether what I say is right or not. If you find anything right in what I say take it. If you wish to do what is right, then carry on.

You shouldn’t accept anything just because I said or we said, here. Why should anyone think?

I will tell you why?

We are for rationalist propaganda. We want people to live as rational beings. We do not propagate anything unbelievable. We don’t talk anything based on god, children of gods, incarnations, religion, shastras, customs, and so on. We talk of things acceptable to your reason in all matters we talk about. If our society had made use of the rationalist outlook and the sense of reasoning, there would be no worry. But our people were prevented from doing so. “You must hear what we say. All the things we talk about are the very words of god. I am an incarnation of god. So you should all act as what I say”. Such talks and preaching were necessary to impose their own ideas, with the result that the people were forbidden to think of their own. This practice is not of recent origin. Men were endowed with rationalism from the early days. Yet after 2000, 3000 years we have got to appeal to them once again to think of their own. What a pity!

Today we have inaugurated a Rationalists Association here. It is evident that it is the organisation of rational human beings. We are discussing about the right ways of living.

Those who refuse to think or behave irrationally are merely animals. Why do I say so? Among living beings, animals have no rational outlook and reasoning capacity. Man is not like that. Human beings are rational. They exhibit many senses. The shrubs and small plants are said to possess only one sense. They know not the other senses. Worms and germs are said to have two senses. Their behaviour changes little by little. Swimming beings like fish and whale have three senses. Flying beings like birds have four senses. Walking beings like a cow, horse etc., have five senses. But rationalism the power to reason – the talent to think independently is considered as the sixth sense. That is seen only in the case of human beings.

There are living beings, which exhibit peculiar qualities. There are living beings, which are capable of doing things, which cannot be done by man. Take the case of an ant. It has a better sense of smell than human beings. Take the case of a bird. It can fly high and go a long distance quickly. Man cannot. Take the case of a monkey. It can jump high from one place to another. A lion can kill an elephant. Like these, there are many things which are done by other living beings. What man is incapable of performing, other living beings are capable of doing to a large extent. But in human beings, the sense of reasoning and thinking according to one’s mental development and experience leads to a happy life. No other living being is rational in its behaviour.

Such a rational man has fortified his intelligence. Such a rational man has failed to make use of his rationalism. On account of this, man has not advanced himself in many ways. When we look at our people, we find them devoid of Self-Respect, and they are not at all worried about. Our people are not able to progress in spite of their knowing many things happening in other countries. We see great advancement there. We read many things about people in other countries.

We are “Shudras”

We are called “Shudras”. “Shudra” means the son of a prostitute. When we ask how, they say Sastras say so, or someone said so, and god said so long ago. By quietly believing all these, we have lost our sense of respect and honour. We are worried only about food. Our advancement was hindered. We are worried only about the means to eke out a living. That is the quality of animals. We are also living as animals.

No one came forward to speak about rationalism to this day, in our country. If at all anyone talked of rationalism; it was 2000; 3000 ago and it was acceptable to people of those days only. Even that is not respected nowadays. No one has the guts to think about all these. Why did it so happen? Those things are not acceptable to our reasoning faculty. They brought in god. They talk of created things. They say that god alone is so powerful. They say that the sons of gods said certain things. They say that god’s messengers said certain other things. Because of all these impositions on our society, there was no necessity for man to think himself. Such evil thoughts eroded the mind of man. His duty was only to believe everything blindly in the name of god and do things believing that they were ordained by god. This made him static. That is why we see no advancement. You may ask how all these thwarted our betterment. Look at other countries and the advancement there. There, man is able to land on the moon, which is 2,30,000 miles away from the earth. He is able to fly at a speed of 5000, 6000 miles an hour. His powers of thinking, reasoning and rationality made him to advance to that extent. Are we able to do anything like that?

We are supposed to have plenty of well-wishers, guides, philosophers and prophets. We have thousands of leaders, rishies, mullas, bishops, religious leaders and pandara sannathis. We have many religions also. What is it we have gained? We are not able to do anything. Why? How many years would have rolled on since the first man came to this world? We are unable to say when the first man was born. Some research workers said one lakh years ago. 

There are others who say that man came into being in the world some 18 lakhs years ago. There are people who say that man came into being even earlier. What have we achieved all these years? Ordinarily, we see many changes in a hundred years. What is the advancement you find in our country? How much should we have gained with this long period of existence? Why do you feel disappointed? What is the use of our so many gods and holy leaders?

We had countless Mahans. Anyone easily becomes a saint or Mahatma or Bakthan or spiritual leader of our people. Yet we are not able to gain anything.

All those comforts and facilities we are enjoying today are the inventions of scientists living in other countries. Our gods are said to be very powerful. What have they done? The stories about the incarnation of gods say wonderful things. It is said some gods are able to play with mountains as mere play balls. Many fantastic qualities are attributed to our gods. But have we performed any miracle in any way to the outside world? Nothing so far!

Even the matchstick would not have come to us if Europeans had not come here ((India). We would be sitting in darkness only. Our life would be stagnant. We are using the bullock cart for travelling. Now you find aeroplanes. How did they come? Is it by prayer? Is it by chanting slokas? Is it by Pooja? No! Not at all! You cannot get anything with the help of god.

That is why we ask people to behave like rational human beings. Our people are today unable to gain anything to live happily. We are not able to achieve anything because of our traditional blind belief in god, religion, shastras, Vedas, dharma, and Mahans. Because we pay heed to spiritual leaders and their teachings, we are downtrodden.

Some of the speakers here referred to our ignorance. Do not worry as to what the shastras say. We must change. We must think. You find people going back and sitting for a while when a cat goes across him. You ask him why. He replies that it is a bad omen. He says that he should sit down for some time and proceed some time later. When the crow caws, he hesitates to proceed. He believes that the crow is cawing to warn him. He says that he gets polluted when the refuse of a bird falls on him. He refuses to touch others. He takes a bath with his dress worn. Yet we are to call him a man! He believes that a particular time alone is auspicious. Is there any meaning in all these absurd notions? Who condemns all these idiotic practices? Who advises the people to make use of their intelligence? How many things could we gain by our knowledge and experience? We don’t use them. That is why we are living in a barbaric land. I can only say this much.

It is a good thing foreigners have come to our place. They introduced a few reforms boldly. They were accused of interfering with our religion and shastras. If the Britishers had not come here, we would still continue to be very backward. The vested interests indulged in a series of conjectures against the foreigners. After their exit, no one took up the cause to educate the people. We the Self-Respectors (Rationalists) only volunteered to play a noble part to spread rationalism. Looking at the fraud going on in the name of god and religion and taking into consideration the atrocities played by the religionists and politicians, we have taken the risk to spread the message of rationalism. We find rationalist propaganda as the only solution to liquidate blind beliefs.

Our attempt is towards the welfare of society. Our work is to make the man a thinking being. We started the Self-Respect (Rationalist) Movement. It is to infuse self-respect in the minds of all. The moment we started the movement, many opposed us. Even a responsible minister took snuff into his nose and asked me “What do you mean by self-respect now? The very name of your movement is provoking. Anyone would laugh”. I calmly explained to him. I said, “we are also feeling sorry. But please tell me who you are? He asked me why I asked him like that. I asked him to tell me where he stands in society? I asked him to tell me the rank he holds under the caste hierarchy? He told me his status in life is that of a minister. He replied that he is a Reddiar by caste. Stating the caste as Reddy, Gounder, Naidu, Naicker are all names we have created. But according to shastras, religion and tradition, we are all “Shudras” the fourth caste. This continues to exist for a long time. We have started the movement to crusade against this long-lasting disgraceful status. After that, I asked him what is meant by “Shudra”. I myself explained to him that “shudra” means the son of a prostitute.

Then I continued to speak to him. I said, “You have a high degree of education. You have passed B.A., B.L., You were a minister for three years. Again you are a now a minister. You are still a “Shudra” the son of a prostitute. You are not ashamed of your low social status. A fellow who begs at you, a fellow who is willing to prostitute his womenfolk for you, calls himself as a high born. You accept him as superior in caste. You prostrate at his feet”. I finally put the question, “ Now you tell me whether you want the Self-Respect Movement or not?” He simply replied that all these are existing from a very long period.

You will also realise that the work of our movement is great and yet not so easy. We have to work hard. If the wound is of recent origin, it can be cured easily. But if it is an abscess or tumour that is there for so long, there is no other go than to operate and remove the things not needed. As our social evils are deep-rooted, we have taken up the role of surgeons.

Self-Respect (Rationalist) Movement

What is the doctrine of the Self-Respect (Rationalist) Movement? It is to seek the real causes, which have made us all degraded. It is to find out the factors which have made us disgraceful. Since we find the creation of god as one of the reasons we want to destroy a god. We find the Congress party also as one of the factors which are responsible for our degradation. So we want to destroy Congress. We find Mr. M.K.Gandhi working against our interests. So we want to be rid of his influence. Similarly, we find the Brahmin also as a vital force that has brought in our ruination. So we are against them. We find religion as evil to society. So we want to destroy religion. The Self- Respect Movement is against all these five evil forces. In short, the Self- Respect Movement shoulders the responsibility to crusade against god, religion, Congress, Gandhi and Brahmins. It is these five forces, which propagated pernicious ideas and made our people victims. Our people are made slaves. Unless we destroy these five forces, we cannot make our people better their deteriorating conditions in social life. We are for redeeming the self-respect of the people. 

By this, I do not mean that we should plunge into politics. Self-Respect Movement is not a political organisation. It is purely a social reform movement. But when these forces stand in the way of our progress, we will have no other go than to oppose them. You just think over what the policy of the Congress party is. Congress is wedded to the policy of safeguarding Gandhi, religion, caste and the status of Brahmins. The Brahmins sought Gandhi’s help for their selfish interest. Because Gandhi talked of reactionary ideas, they made him “Mahatma”. Gandhi responded to the call of Brahmins.

Like a drunken mad man, he always talked about god, Shastras, Varnashrama Dharma, Hindu religion and Rama. His propaganda gained some importance. Today all the journals are under the Brahmin monopoly. We don’t have any powerful magazine. Our people are lured by their propaganda. The moment you mention the name of a Brahmin, our people pay respect. That is why we are pledged to expunge Brahminism out of society. God and religion should be ousted from society. Gandhi who upholds Varuna Dharma must be opposed. The government which is strongly supporting them with laws must be removed. The Brahmin who is the backbone for the intolerable atrocities perpetrated must be taught a bitter lesson. Things are going on in this shameful manner.

You, please think over whether what I say is right or not. Do not blindly believe what I say. I don’t base my views on any shastra or Veda. I simply say what strikes to my mind. You too have the sense of reasoning. Think over. If you find that there is any truth in what I say, take it. Otherwise, you can leave it. I do not compel anyone to blindly believe me. I do not want to impose my thoughts on the unwilling people. I do not have any intention to hoodwink anyone. I only remind you that you are also capable of reasoning. You have the powers to analyse matters and assess the good and bad. I would like to stress the fact that you have all become unthinking slaves because of the disastrous machinations of the Brahmins. That is why I stress the importance of reforming society. Many leaders have chosen some other better walks of life. They are selfish. I stand stubborn in this respect.

Rationalism 

Our society needs revolutionary policies. Rationalism propaganda should be geared up. With that noble object, we start Rationalist Forums and Associations. There may be people who would condemn such rationalist associations springing up. They would raise the false cry that our movement is against something or someone. I tell you very plainly, whether we are really against such things or not. We are never against justice or opposed to reason. We call our organisation as Rationalist Association. It is for you to think over yourself. That is what we expect, and that alone would be the right thing to do. See what other persons are doing. They join with others and behave like brutes. They start Varnashrama Dharma Associations. It is to protect castes. They form Sanatanist Associations to protect the old order. They talk high of what Ram did, or Krishna preached and such other nonsense. For all these, they claim rights. They don’t allow you to think independently. You have no right to think about what all is said about god, religion, spiritual heads and other things. They mistake that our propaganda is against their god, religion and shastras. They raise the cry that our propaganda hurts their feelings. What does it matter to us? Let them go to dogs!

How long can we tolerate the disgrace of our being called as Sudras? I am worried about my people. How long are we to submit to all sorts of insults and humiliations? How long are we to blindly believe what all Brahmins say? What is the use of our brains? We see people fly in the air. Are we to be contented by washing the feet of the Brahmins and drinking the same? Why should we care at all, when they say that they feel hurt by our propaganda? Their heart is not greater than ours. We do our duty. We know that we will have to face dangers and difficulties. We are ready to risk even our lives. Any day death is going to come! We will no longer remain silent. Because we continued to be meek and submissive in the past, there was no progress. The educated Dravidian people were also lethargic, with the result the hirelings and rowdy elements safeguarded religions. Otherwise, there would have been a great advancement. When we say one thing, the Christians come to attack us. When we say something else, the Muslims protest. When we leave them and talk about our religion, it is only the Brahmins who protest. But they don’t directly come to the picture. Persons who still agree to be called as sons of concubines and others, who adorn their foreheads with ashes and ‘Namams’ chanting ‘Siva-Siva’ and ‘Rama-Rama’, come to quarrel with us.

I do not want to say anything about the case against me in the Court. No Brahmin went to the court when I shoed the picture of god Rama at Salem. It is only our people who filed a case against me. They complain that my action wounded their hearts. I received the summons from the court. You might have read about it in newspapers. Unless we treat this as a deadly disease and perform a major operation, I do not think we can solve the problem. The disease has become a chronic one. That is why I go to the root of the problem. Mere talks will not yield fruits. We have started this Rationalist Association to propagate certain revolutionary thoughts. If we accept ourselves as low, inferior and degraded and if we accept the term Hindu, we must accept the Shastras, rituals, god and orthodox prescription, and act accordingly.

Should we not ask as to who called us, as Shudras meaning sons of prostitutes? Is it your god Krishna? If so, where did he say? If it is in Gita, should we not take our sandals and beat Krishna and Gita? If you are afraid, then you live as a Shudra. What if, we beat Rama with sandals? He says that we are Shudras. He killed Shudras. As Sambukan was a Shudra, he was beaten and murdered. His limbs were cut into pieces because he worshipped god instead of the Brahmin. Shudras have no right to pray to god. They must worship the Brahmins. That is what Rama says. It was cunningly concocted that a Brahmin died because a Shudra prayed to god, and the dead body of the Brahmin was laid before Rama.

I ask you how a Brahmin could die like this? He has to go to Heaven only! What if a Brahmin is dead?

In the story, it is said that the Brahmin died because all sorts of unjust things (Adharma) took place under Rama’s rule. Rama asked where the injustice was done. What wrong was going on, Rama asked. The Brahmins did not give a convincing reply. They asked Rama to go out and find out himself. Accordingly, he went out. He found Sambuka doing penance. “What are you doing?” asked Rama. He replied, “I am worshipping God!” - Rama became angry. He shouted ‘You Shudra fellow! You should worship only Brahmins. Instead of doing that, how dare you worship god? This is ‘adharma’. You must be cut into pieces”. Like a butcher Rama killed Sambuka.

Imagine what these Brahmins would do if we are not here. Don’t you think that the Brahmins would go on killing even all those who worship god? Won’t they accuse our people? They would cry that Shudras are defamed by us. Already they are accusing the rulers for not strictly implementing the Varnashrama Dharma (Caste system).

Geetha 

The Brahmins say that Krishna created the castes. It is said that Krishna allocated for each caste specific functions. Krishna is said to have created the Shudra caste. Shudras were born only from the feet because it is a place of dishonour. Shudras are the fourth caste people. They must be as slaves and work for the Brahmins. Otherwise, they were to be punished. It is said Krishna would confine the Shudras to suffer in the hell.

This is the message of Geetha. Because of the prestigious status given to the Brahmins, all the Brahmins are paying high respects to Geetha. What will be our future, if we do not take the footwear and beat that Krishna. When we say that he must be beaten with chappals, people get angry. But they do not get angry when he says that we are born to prostitutes. Are we to agree that our mothers are all prostitutes? The Brahmins have ruined us by telling that no one should defy god, religion and shastras. They forbid us to say anything against Hinduism. When we say the truth, they say that we hurt them. They threaten that something bad would happen. Under this setup, they have made our people reactionaries. We the Dravidian Tamils, are degraded. This is what is still going on in the country. What a tragedy! This is the life led by even educated people. What will a foreigner say on seeing all these?

Supposing a foreigner meets our Hindu religious man, and asks, “Where are you going”. He would reply, “I am going to the temple to worship god”.

“What god?” He would ask. 

“There is an idol” would be the answer.

“What a fool you are! How can a stone or clay become a god? Who told you that it is god?”

A foreigner would put these questions. Bur, our people, hesitate to ask. Even Muslims do not come forward to question whether there is a god in a stone piece. Why? He is afraid of the Hindu majority. Even Christians are like that.

Who comes forward to prove that there is god in a stone? But one should silently believe that god is there in the stone. I ask whether anyone has seen heaven or hell? Let us not be blamed tomorrow by the world. Who is there to take up this cause and work out ways to emancipate our people? If everyone wants to become a great bhakta by falling at the feet of Brahmins, who is going to save us? That is why I emphasise the need to strengthen the Rationalist Association. It must be done at any cost. Then only man can live as a man. To make everyone behave as a human being, our propaganda is essential. We must be bold. We must be prepared to face any ordeal. You know how the Muslims safeguarded their religion. Did they not sacrifice? Even Christians suffered a lot to save their religion. I see hopeful signs in our path. The tide is in our favour. So let us make use of the golden opportunity to spread wisdom.

How was Buddhism destroyed by the Brahmins? They pursued violent methods. Buddhists were massacred. Their houses were set on fire. Their mutts were captured.

How was the ‘Samana’ (Jain) religion destroyed? Were not the followers of Samana religion brutally killed by piercing sharp rods into their bodies? 8000 Samanas met with this end. Today festivals are celebrated for this brutal massacre. They later recorded in their scriptures like Thevaram and Prabandams, as they please about this inhuman act.

Today the Brahmins complain that what we preach is harsh and unbearable. See what is stated in the Prabandam. Does it not preach violence? Does it not say that all the other religions and faiths should be smashed violently.

Don’t you find Hindu devotees praying to god to bless them in their acts of raping women, torturing other religionists and killing the followers of other religions? The so-called sacred Prabandams empower the Hindu to kill, murder and torture other religionists. What does the Bible say? It says that one who does not believe in god is a fool. It is the same thing found in all religions.

In that case, why should we keep quiet? What is wrong in our telling the fact that he who spreads religion and he who worships god is a fool. Instead of attacking individuals, we say that,

There is no god! There is no god at all

He who created god is a fool.

He who propagates god is a rogue. He who worships god is a barbarian.

I will explain further why we say so. He who created the soul, heaven, hell, an abode for the diseased is a rogue. He who believes all these is the worst rogue. They tell us that we have no wisdom. They tell us that we have no brain. They call us fools and barbarians.

We are not ashamed of their false propaganda and insinuating remarks. Is there anyone who could explain what “next birth” means? Do you think that there is any place where the dead parents are alive? It is the Brahmins who preach all these. Our own fools give rice, dholl etc. to Brahmins and prostrate. The Brahmins say that he takes all these to the deceased parents. You ask the Brahmin, as to where he has seen the dead parents in heaven or hell or in their next birth in this world. You don’t get a convincing reply. The Brahmin plays hoax and swindles our people. Yet, no person, who believes him and offers him all things for his diseased parents, takes the pain to question the Brahmin. He simply says, “I do not know anything about all that. I simply fall at the feet of a Brahmin with my wife and children”. What are we to think of these idiotic acts? What is wrong in our calling them as fools?

God 

Who can say that there is god? No one is able to say that so and so showed god. They simply blink. They say somebody said so! The spiritual leaders say that god was not created by anybody. He came into being of his own accord. In that case, why should they pick up a quarrel with me? I only accuse the creator of god. They say that he was not at all created. Then I go a step further and ask as to how the Brahmins came to know of gods coming into being when others knew not anything about his coming into being on his own accord. They say that god is very powerful. How did they come to know of it? How is it others were not able to know of it? Are all others fools? Why is it that the matters related to god are said to be known only to the Brahmins? Why did god not make others know him? Because we have intelligence, we probe into these matters.

Origin of God 

There was absolutely no such thing as god in the early days. God was familiarised only during the past 3000 years. Before that, there was no talk about god. No one knew anything about god. When the man heard the thunder, he conceived out of fear that there was one powerful being controlling winds. When darkness came, he thought similarly. When the light flashed, he thought like that only.

It is this sort of thinking that led to believe in Devas (Divine persons) and gods. Generally, the people came to know of various Devas and gods controlling various happenings this way. Later on, Indran was created as the king of Devas. Then more gods were created, one to look after birth, one to protect the born and one to destroy the living. They were Brahma, Vishnu and Siva, respectively. For anything that was not understandable, a man began to think there was one to control. Yet he did not consider him as god. He respected him as we now respect a minister. We have many ministers in the cabinet. Just like that man conceived one powerful controlling power behind everything. The Veda says that there is a Deva for looking after one particular thing. The Christian began to believe in god only 2000 years ago. Muslims also began to believe in god only some 1500 years ago. Islam had a change some 1500 years ago. But Brahmins created gods some 3000 years ago. It was only after the Vedas were made. There was no god during the Vedic age. It is only after the advent of Vedas that Hindu gods were created.

What did the Brahmins say about the gods then? They said that there is god. When asked where he is the Brahmin said, he cannot be seen. When you raise the doubt whether a Brahmin at least is able to see god and if so, how he looks like, he replied that he could not be touched. He said that god has no shape. When you ask how to believe them, he said that god is not perceivable.

If things are so bad, then how to say that the Brahmins are not fools. How are we to call them wise? If no one is able to see or touch or feel god, how is it possible for the Brahmins alone to know about god? How did they come to know the existence of god? Our people blindly believe what the Brahmins preach. Is it not idiocy? Let anyone substantiate with fresh proofs at least, to prove the existence of god.

Does the Brahmin stop with that? He says that god is all-powerful. He says that everything goes on in the world because of god. He attributes very high qualities to god. He says that the god is pure, kind, honest and unbiased. When you ask him how to believe all these, he simply wants the people to believe everything. If it is true that god has super-natural powers, why is he not able to make me believe him? When he is not able to do this, how am I to respect him? Where are his great powers? His powers could not make the people know about him. What is the world going to lose by denying the existence of such a god? The total population of the world is estimated to be 450 crores (in 1971). Out of this population, 200 crores of people are atheists. No god is able to convert the non-believer as a believer of god. 

Does the Brahmin keep quiet after creating god? He further wants to propagate god. That is why I say he is a scoundrel. He says that god is powerful. Then why should he go on propagating about god? You see what the Brahmin does. He builds a temple. He gives shape to god. Saying that god has no shape, he gives different shapes to god. Where from does he learn the form of god? Whoever talks about god, describes his shape as a human being. All other religions say that there is no shape for the god. But the Brahmin alone asserts that Hindu gods have shape. What does he mean by it? The shape remains permanent. Has he got any sense in creating many gods with many shapes? One god has one head only. Another god has two heads. There are other gods who have four heads, five heads and six heads. Does he stop with that? Ravana who opposed god Rama had ten heads. You know, why? His motive is to enhance the greatness of Rama. He did the same regarding hands. Some gods have two hands. Some gods have six hands. Some gods have many hands. All these are done with the motive of deceiving the people. To dupe the people, he concocted fantastic stories. How could a sensible man with average intelligence accept all these absurdities? What are we going to lose if we do not believe these grandma stories?

Should not a rational man think about all these? How long are we to go on hearing these cock and bull stories, silently nodding our heads and continue to live as a low born Shudra? If we have any self-respect, should we not destroy all these non-sense? There is not a single god with good traits.

You take the case of Shiva. He had five heads. Another God Brahma also had five heads. It is said that Shiva’s wife Parvathi got confused. She was not able to distinguish her husband as both had five heads. She complained to her husband about her difficulty. Shiva was perturbed. He decided to take immediate action. You know what he did. He picked off one of the heads of Brahma to enable Parvathi to recognise him without difficulty. What do you think about this story of god? Do you think that Shiva behaved well?

Let me ask the Brahmins why four or five heads are needed for gods. Is it necessary to have so many heads to eat food? They say that the four heads face four directions and the fifth head on the top of the head is to look at the sky! Where are authentic proofs for all these? These persons of Hinduism simply go on spinning fictitious stories.

The creator of god said that there was no shape for god. He did not say that gods had so many heads. He said that god was only a philosophy. God is said to be beyond all senses. The Alwars, Nayanmars, and Mahans, did not say that god had a definite shape. Then how did the present gods get the definite shapes? How is it right to keep the idols in temples calling them as gods? Is not the creator of the god a scoundrel? Is he not a fool, who gave a definite shape to god? If it is true that god cannot be seen or touched, is there any meaning in offering food for him and that too six times a day? Because there are fools to spend money on all these, these scoundrels go on swindling. Who sees god eating? Does god need food six times to exist? Which person places a morsel of food into the mouth of god? Does god digest the food? Did anyone see the god going to the latrine at least once a day? Who has seen him pass urine? He does not move. Then where does he attend to nature-calls? Those who do not think and ask are considered as great. They are deemed as theists.

If it is true that god does not want anything, why should these Brahmins make the gods marry? What for a wife, children and so on?

One god has two wives. Some have thousands. Why do gods need thousands of wives? They do not think about the answer. They don’t leave the matter as it is. They celebrate the marriage not once but regularly every year. Our people who devotedly attend the marriage of gods do not ask them as to what happened to the marriage performed the previous year. Did the wife elope with somebody? Or did she die of any disease? Or is there any law that the marriages of gods are valid only for one year? Who cares to question all these? What a fool one must be to simply go on attending the marriage of gods every year. You see how we are made fools. If it is true that god is the embodiment of virtues, how could we see the gods having relations with prostitutes?

Gods Subramania, Shiva, Vishnu, Krishna all are having concubines as per the Epics! Does anyone ask why they need concubines apart from so many wives! 

These fellows who created gods do not leave with that. They have written many stories about their conduct and character. How horrible it is for their gods to behave as immoral wretches.

Some gods are said to have forced the wives of others to have intercourse with them. In some cases, they were exposed. Some gods had to eat the humble pie. Some received severe punishments also. All these are created in the name of gods. You can still see such things celebrated as a festival in Hindu temples. The god at Srirangam comes to Uraiyur in search of a prostitute. These Brahmins carry the god on their shoulders. They wait for the whole night. Again in the morning, they carry the stone idol back to Srirangam. This is celebrated as a festival every year. Just like this during festivals, you find the gods going to the houses of prostitutes. No god could be considered as having any respect for morality. The character and conduct of Shiva, as well as Vishnu, is pictured very badly. Do you think people could raise their standards by using these gods? Is there any possibility of having a society with high moral standards? Should there be a wife and a prostitute for gods? How could a sensible man agree to all these morass of lie and deceit in Hinduism.

Is the God Kind 

They say that god is the embodiment of love and kindness. You go and see the gods. Gods have knives, swords, spears, bows and arrows, hammers, sharp weapons and all sorts of fearful instruments in their hands. Are the Hindu gods deceits, robbers, plunderers and murderers? How are we to agree with the statement that the gods are kind? If it is true that Shiva is the embodiment of love, why should he have a spear in his hand? (Laughter). I am not telling these for mere fun. You, the Dravidians, must all think of these things very seriously. You must know to what extent we are made fools. We live as men with all these gods. What for these gods? Why these incarnations of gods? Why is a god born to Shiva? What for a Vishnu as a god? What have they done?

It is said that they killed many people. It is described that they killed the Asuras, Rakshasas and crores of people; even as a butcher kills innumerable goats. Are the gods butchers and murderers? They call themselves as gods. In the epic Ramayana, it is said that Rama killed crores of people. He is said to have lessened the burden of the earth (Booma Devi). What work is mainly allotted to gods in Hinduism? They are merely to kill, murder and massacre. If you begin to think, you will realise many absurdities about these gods, temples and religion.

It is only the fools who would hesitate to think as though these matters are not concerned with them.

You see how we, the Tamilian people, were duped all these years. How many have become fools? You should all think over at least now, as to what benefit we derive by these Hindu shastras and scriptures dealing about the temples and gods.

These Brahmins could have created a single purana (Mythology) for Hinduism. There are innumerable puranas. They talk of Ramayana. Suddenly they talk about Kandapurana, Vinayaga purana and so on. What are all these Puranas? You take any purana. It is a collection of obscene, vulgar and unbelievable things.

They talk high of Hindu gods. But no god is found to be free from obscenity, immorality and brutal behaviours. Should there be not some amount of decency and truth, at least in the matter of gods? It does not matter if Brahmin had created deceitful things in the name of god; it does not matter much if they had succeeded in hoodwinking the ignorant people in the past. But I feel very much about the caricature of all gods as rogues, immoral wretches and murderers. Is there one god that a man could willingly accept?

In our society, we have so many courts, police forces and jails. Are all these to the credit of the so many Hindu gods?

So I wish to rightly say that it is because of all these Hindu gods our people have become fools. It is these Hindu gods who are responsible for the increasing immorality and horrible crimes. Our people are today bold enough to do anything, whether just or unjust, whether good or bad. 

If we all attempt to bring in a change by making everyone a rationalist, we will definitely have a better society. Once a man becomes a rationalist, he will not think of harming others. A rationalist will feel for others. He would think his neighbour as a human being, like himself. What is it we find today? Those who exploited others are still having more and more opportunities to exploit. They go on with their anti-social activities. So I request you to think over the real cause for the ruination of our lives. What is the reason for our inhuman life? What led to the stagnation of progress and advancement of so many millions of our Tamilian people.

Is it not the creation of god, religion, shastras, customs, Vedas and spiritual heads of Hinduism, that are responsible for our degradation and backwardness? Don’t mistake me for blaming. If you yourself think of all these independently, you will agree with me.

When did the Brahmins create all these things? It would be more or less, 3000 years ago that gods were created. It is only after that, stories were written about gods. I think Ramayana was written some 2000 years ago. The advent of Christianity could be traced correctly as far back as 2000 years only. Islam had its birth only 1500 years ago.

Primitive Man 

What kind of person was the primitive man? Do you know how man was living some 5000 years ago? Did he wear any dress? He used leaves to cover his body. He was roaming in forests. He ate green vegetables and raw fruits. He ate the fish without cooking. He ate the raw flesh of the animals. He did things according to his knowledge and experience. He did not have advanced education as we have now. When it is so, intelligent people make use of our ignorance and concoct hopelessly unbelievable things. All things beyond human comprehension and belief are found in every religion. Religion is made out of falsehoods and lies. You take Ramayana, Bharatham, Hindu religion, Saivism, Vaishnavism, Christianity and Islam. There is no religion which fully adumbrates truths because the period of the birth of all those changed, there is some difference in the quality and nature of lies. Supposing anyone ventures to create a new religion now, he will do so only according to the existing circumstances. He will base the new religion on more facts, reasons and advanced knowledge. The creators of religions in the past based them on ignorance.

In the past a god was a ‘must’ for any religion and that god must have supernatural powers. Hinduism started like that. From Hinduism other religions copied. That is all. Tomorrow the Brahmins would say that a great spiritual man is able to make the cow dung as sandal paste. No one would think about how it is possible. Why does he say so and dupe us? He would even blabber that one is capable of making the dead man come back to life. Just like these, they go on bluffing. They talk of miracles by godmen. They attribute abnormal qualities to ‘mahans’. Their point is to stress the greatness of divinity, spiritual leaders, and mahans. On the whole, all these fellows are liars.

Epics 

You consider what Ramayana or Bharatham is. Without bluffs, they cannot exist. They say that Rama was born to Dasaratha. It is said that Dasaratha lived for 60,000 years and that he had 40,000 wives. Where is he now? Won’t we ask? How could a man live for 60,000 years? Why should a man live 60,000 years? Just to bluff, he wrote that he lived for 60,000 years. Why should a man marry 40,000 wives? What is a necessity? Is it ever possible? Supposing he sees a wife a day, it will take 300 years more to see her again. What will she do for 300 years? Do you think she will remain a virtuous wife? What sort of story is this? How to believe such things? How could one manage with 40,000 wives? Is he a machine? Should there be no limit for uttering blatant lies?

With all these absurdities, how could one take Rama as a god? Should there be no decency in creating gods? Should they not give some respect to gods at least? What has Rama done? He performs the Aswametha Yagam. Did he do that at least as a decent human being? Is it decent to part with the wife for nothing and make her bring forth children in an immoral way that ‘Yagas’ are to be performed? I am not telling anything of my own. That is what is said about the ‘Yaga’ in the Ramayana itself. 

It is clearly stated that married women were entrusted to Brahmins for a physical relationship. The women took in the semen of Brahmins and gave birth to children. Even for this, Brahmins were to be offered a lot of money. This is how Dasaratha got children. How to say that Rama was born to him? It is written that he got children by the Brahmin’s bodily relationship with his wives.

Rama is said to be the incarnation (Avatar) of god. His birth is stated in detail. The Brahmins made Rama’s mother Kausalya naked. She was asked to lie on the ground. A horse was brought. Its penis was inserted into the vagina of Kausalya. This is how the Aswametha (Horse) Yagam was performed. You need not believe my words. You yourself read the Ramayana. You will find all these. Why do I talk of all these in detail? You should know how ignorant people were in those days. The Brahmins created gods intelligently exploiting the ignorance of the Dravidian people. Are we now still as ignorant as those people. So I like to categorically state, without hesitation, that gods were the creations out of the imagination of the Brahmins.

We can at least accept Ramayana if it is said as an imaginary story. Even granting that Rama’s birth is not so bad, should not the Brahmins make Rama, a decent and virtuous man? What have they done? They say that he killed this fellow-that fellow Ratchasas-Asuras- (Dravidians) Vali and many others whom he met. You know why? You should all hear me carefully. Please note whom he killed, and why he did so. Rama himself says, “Do you know me! I took birth to massacre all the enemies of Brahmins!” Gentlemen, you can read this in the Ramayana.

If it is so, what should we understand? Is it not that Ramayana was written by Brahmins to put us to shame and disgrace? Why should we be called Shudras which means sons of prostitutes? Why should Rama kill the Shudras? In that case, why should we call ourselves as Hindus? Why should we worship Rama as our God?

You see now what these Brahmins have done to safeguard themselves. He was able to succeed because we, the Dravidians, were fools. 

Ramayana was written to ridicule the Shudras! But had the Brahmins succeeded in making Rama, as a respectful god? What happened to his wife? She eloped with somebody. She lived with him and became pregnant. With that, she came back. There is a different Version about this. In another, it is stated that Rama’s wife was kidnapped. If it is true that Rama was a god, how could he be unaware of this? He ought to have known that someone would come and knock away his wife by force. How could he go away, leaving her without proper protection? What precautionary steps had he taken to safeguard his wife? Nothing! Was Rama real god with great powers? How could he leave his wife, all alone and that too in the forest? As anticipated, things happened. As though Sita had arranged earlier that person Ravana met her. He asked her to accompany him. She quietly went with him. She did not come back. She was four months pregnant when she came back.

Gentlemen, is this the way to write stories about gods? That is why we don’t accept Ramayana. You see these Brahmins made Sita a deity to be worshipped. Rama’s character, you all know! He was made a god. The Brahmins did not leave with that. They made his wife also a goddess.

What will a foreigner think of us? Would he hesitate to say our gods are scoundrels? Are our goddesses prostitutes?

Should we not have some sense to think over? If we have any respect for ourselves, how could we tolerate all these? Why these absurd stories and disgraceful gods?

Look at other gods as Krishna, Kandan, Murugan, Vinayaka, Siva, Vishnu! Who are they? How were they born?

Birth of Krishna 

You should know how Krishna was born. The Brahmins describe fantastically about it. It seems Mahavishnu picked out two of his hairs. One hair became Krishna, and the other became his brother. One of the hairs was white and other was black. Think over whether it is right, decent and proper for the god to be born out of hairs. If you don’t believe me you yourself read the Puranas (Mythologies). Is this the way to create gods? How absurd it looks!

Vinayaka Puranam 

Now I will tell you how another god was created. The Brahmins created Vinayaga as one of the Hindu gods. You will be interested to know how he was born.

It seems Paramasivam and Parvathi went to the forest. There, they saw a male elephant and a female elephant enjoying. On seeing this, Parvathi wanted to have intercourse with her husband as an elephant. He consented. Both of them became elephants. They had intercourse, and a male child was born to them as an elephant cub. Do you agree with all these? Is this the civilized way to create a god? This horrible god Vinayaka is seen everywhere in Tamil Nadu. This god is more popular here. This god is of very recent origin.

It is said that General of Narasimha Pallava went to Vaathaapi. From there, he imported this god to our place. You know Mr. T.P. Meenakshisundaram. He is a learned scholar and a Vice-Chancellor. He has conducted research and found out certain truths. Beyond any doubt, he has said authentically that Vinayaga was brought as a god from Vaathaapi in the North. The business of importing a new god took place some 1200, 1300 years ago. Today it has become a big god for the Hindu world.

Subramania – God 

What about Subramaniam? It is a Hindu god created some 2000 years ago. There are two different versions given by Brahmins about the birth of this god. One is found in the Ramayana itself. I have the book here (The book is handed over to the President of the meeting by Periyar, and he reads the concerned passage)

Gentlemen! See our people were not only fools then but also were devoid of any self-respect. 

It is said the Devas went to Kailas, the abode of Lord Siva and prayed for a commander (Senathipathi). It seems Siva agreed to fulfil the desires of the Devas. The Devas went away. Siva met his wife Parvathi and said that they should give a commander (Senathipathi). Both of them agreed. They both started to have intercourse.

Is this the way to give a Senathipathi (General of Army)? Why should they join together and enjoy for this sake? I am speaking with facts. All right, what happened next. They prolonged their intercourse, not for hours or days or weeks or months. They were in the act of producing a Senathipathi for one thousand years at a stretch. Even then, they could not get a child. The poor Devas were puzzled. They got terrified. At last, they approached the couple and expressed their reluctance. On seeing the Devas, the couple asked for the reason. The Devas feared if a child was born after 1000 years of intercourse, it might even destroy them. Paramasivan and Parvathi put a sudden stop to their act of intercourse. This sudden break in the act of intercourse resulted in secreting semen as if a river is in floods. The stream of their semen passed through the rivers and reached the sea. As it floated on to the sea, it seems that the semen clot had six heads.

What is this calculation? Why should it have only six heads? Who is going to explain?

The six-headed – semen stream reached the River Ganges. There a woman held it in her hands and embraced the river. It transformed into a peculiar human being with six heads. The woman somehow gave her milk to this god of six heads and named the child as Arumugam. This is the interpretation given by Vaishnavites. It is found in Valmiki Ramayana.

The Saivites give a different interpretation. In that, the Devas after waiting for 1000 years met Sivan and Parvathi. The Devas prostrated and asked them to stop, the intercourse. Siva refused. He said that if he stops, the semen will rush out with great force. He advised the Devas to get up and hold their hands. They did accordingly. He stopped. The semen came out. All the Devas received the semen in their hands. They asked what to do? Siva asked them to drink. The Devas drank, and they instantly became pregnant. Again they became worried and appealed to Siva. He showed a way out to abort. He asked them to go and have a bath in a particular tank. They anxiously went to the tank and had their bath. Abortion took place.

Gentlemen, all these are vividly described in the Mythologies (Puranas).

After the abortion, a few drops of Siva’s semen trickled down, and they became the god Subramania. He is also called as Kandan. In Sanskrit, Kandan means semen. In Tamil, we call ‘Kandan’. In the Sanskrit, it is called ‘skandan’, and it means excretion, that which is ejected. This Arumugam or Murugan to Tamils is Subramanian to Brahmins.

See, what respect the Brahmins give to the gods. The Brahmins created gods in these repugnant ways.

Brahma 

Look at the behavior of another god Brahma. It is stated that he married his own daughter called Saraswathi. It is so said in the Mythologies (Puranas).

Brahma created a girl. She was beautiful. So he got passionated and forced his daughter to fulfil his desire. She refused and took to her heels. Brahma became a stag, and his daughter too became a stag. They both ran to god Siva. She complained to Siva about the behavior of her father. Siva scolded Brahma. Brahma expressed that he got the desire to see her beauty and that no one could control when love became lust. How could there be no sense to distinguish between mothers, sisters or daughters? Siva repeated the same to Brahma’s daughter. She realized that Siva too loved his own daughter.

Gentlemen! Why should such stories be written? What for? Who gains by these stories? It is enough if you understand that such stories were written in those days when people were uneducated. They could not think of anything deeply. Today people have all facilities to gain knowledge. They are able to think and reason out. 

I hope it is now clear to you that these Puranas are not true. They are to be condemned as obscene, vulgar and detrimental to the progress of man.

Self-Respect (Rationalist) propaganda is not for diverting the attention of the people. The motto of rationalism is to call a spade a spade. There are people as Sankarachari, Madhvachari and others to divert the people from progress. Sitting in a high place, these “spiritual” heads command respect. People are made to believe them. That is why we form a separate organisation to enlighten the people. Without our propaganda, man cannot become intelligent.

In one of my meetings, I had to come in contact with Kunrakkudi Adigalar. In his presence, I spoke about the gods and Puranas. I denied the existence of god and expressed that only a fool would believe in god. While he addressed, he said that he believed in god. He blamed me for spreading atheism; but finally, he threw the blame on those who created gods in those ways. He was not able to meet me with his arguments. He slipped away, cleverly.

How could anyone denounce the rationalist, when all the puranic stories are written so badly? The matter of dispute now is why such stories were written some 2000 years back. The people in those days were fools. But even now they build temples. They create gods. They spread religion. All these they do, thinking that people are even today fools. Why should they be envious of our rationalist movement? We are doing selfless service.

To this day, we don’t have our government without Brahmin domination. The kings who ruled in the past gave their full support to the Brahmins. They behaved like slaves. What were our Chera, Chola, Pandiya kings doing? They highly respected the Brahmins.

It is only in this century things are changing. Even when I was a child, the ladies believed that the very sight of a Brahmin was a blessing. There was a feeling that the presence of Brahmins was to make them reach heaven. You may not be aware of all these now. I am telling of the past. When touching the cow dung is considered as sacred, even now, there is no wonder in considering the Brahmin as sacred then.

Atheists 

How many changes do we see in the world? It is estimated that the population of the world is about 400 to 450 crores (in 1971). Of them, nearly 125 crores of people say that they do not believe in god. About 100 crores of people take pride in calling themselves as rationalists. In Soviet Russia 35 crores of people are atheists. They have demolished churches. They put the Bible into the fire. They murdered religious priests. What is the result? You must know this. There is no poor man or a rich man. All are equals. All are happy. In China, out of 85 crores of people, 75 crores of people are Buddhists. In Burma, two crores of people are Buddhists. In Ceylon two-third of the population, are Buddhists. In Siam three fourth of the population are Buddhists. All these people deny the existence of god. They are non-believers in god. They are atheists.

There are a number of Rationalist Associations in Europe. In Germany, Spain, Greece, it has become a sign of civilisation to have Rationalist Associations, Research Centres, Truth seekers Association, Thinkers Association, Atheists Association and so on. At every place, there are many lakhs of people as members of these organisations. I had been to all these places. At Paris, I stayed in the atheists association. They had published a magazine. You find a cross being cut with a sword. It is to represent that the cross is only a fanciful doll. God is being killed. It is only the Islam that has limited itself in uttering things in the name of religion. They care more for social unity.

Festivals 

We have plenty of temples in India. For every mile, you have at least 5 or 6 temples. In every village you have temples. There are even 20,30, 100 gods in every temple. Everyday pooja is performed 3,5,6 times to all these gods.

Apart from this, every year you have festivals 3 or 4 times. Youths long eagerly to see the girls in the festival times. The girls dress up well and come to temples and festivals to woo the lads. It is their meeting that is called festivals. A few years ago to attract crowds, the prostitutes were invited to the temples. In a big temple festival, even 100 prostitutes were invited. Every prostitute used to go to the temple festival in her place. It was an old custom. Nowadays, this custom is gradually fading out. We don’t allow our women folk to go out freely. They have the freedom to go to the temples and attend the festivals. What could they do? The males keep quiet when the ladies go to the temples only. They have no other chance to meet youths. So it is natural that temple festivals afford good opportunities for young boys and girls. Moreover, all things needed to attract large crowds are arranged. Why so much of publicity for god? Why so much pomp and show? Why these festivals at all?

We, the Rationalists, are against these temples, gods, and festivals. We are for making a better change. How is it possible? We believe that propaganda is the only way. We convince the people by arguments. We enlighten them with facts. Without this, there is no scope for emancipation. So we awaken the people. Some people feel sorry because we attack the gods. They don’t realize that it is not possible to bring in the needed change without touching the evils of god, temple and religion. Look at the fastly changing world. Many changes are taking place rapidly. We are in the last rung of the ladder of progress. We were educationally very backwards. Before 2000 years ago, only one out of a thousand was educated. Even that fellow was a Brahmin. He too, did not get a proper education. He only learnt by hearing and memorization. He knew not writing or reading.

What do you think of Sanskrit? Brahmins talk proudly of their languages. Is there a popular script? They talk high of Vedas. That too has no script. It is all mere sounds. They are improving only recently.

Population 

When Jesus was born, the world population was 20 crores only. In 1460 A.D. it was 47 crores. It took nearly 1500 years for the population to double. In 1800 A.D. it rose to 74 crores. The population increased because of medical facilities. In 1914 the world population was 165 crores. After this, the population of the world began to increase quickly. Every fifteen years, the population increased two times. In 1955 it rose to 360 crores in 1964 it rose to 380 crores. In 1970 the world population is estimated to be 400 crores. During the last century, the world population increased rapidly, because of the advancement in science and medicine. In Tamilnadu, it has risen from 4 crores to 5 crores. Now only the human population is safe and increasing because of the fall in the death rate.

Today the average life of man here is estimated as 45 years. In Western countries, it is 70 years. It is found out that we will be able to live for 75 years at least in the next 30 years. A European will be able to live for more than 100 years. These are figures calculated on an average basis. Many people do not know the reason for this increase.

In the olden days, if cholera broke out in any village, it would result in the death of all the people in the village. Now it is reported that in a big town, 8 people died of cholera. The medical authorities are taken to task. They will be questioned as to why they did not take precautionary measures. It is all due to the advancement in science that care is taken about the people and their health. It was not so in the past. Remember one occurrence in my place allied Thathambatti. It is my mother’s native place. When cholera broke out about 50 houses were deserted. Almost all died. Even today you find only 3 or 4 houses there.

In those days, when cholera broke out in Salem nearly 2000 to 3000 people died in one year. When I was the Chairman of Erode in one year, 400 people died of cholera. Now such deaths are rare. Why? The health authorities take precautionary steps. Canals are dug. The water is filtered and purified before supplying to the public. Chemicals are also diluted in the water. Injections are compulsorily given to the people. As a result of all these, no one dies contagious diseases. In those days, if anyone had an attack of T.B., he would have to die. Today, it is not so. Many cases are treated. There was no cure for many diseases in those days. So the deaths were more. Today almost all diseases are cured by doctors in the hospitals. 

Gentlemen! Don’t you read news about the great developments in the field of science and medicines? Nowadays, Doctors are able to replace the kidney and heart also. They are not false. You will find more wonders in the future. In the year 2000, you will find people living up to the age of 100 years. In due course, a man will live for 150 years also. Man is going to gain many things out of rationalism.

You see I am alive even after 92 years. Many people advised me to take rest. I became angry. Who needs rest? The rich people need rest. Those who want to parade themselves as big people need rest. Why should I take rest? I think idleness itself is a disease. So far as I am concerned, I do not have adequate facilities. Wherever I go, I eat whatever is available. I spend many nights on the train. I am alive till 92 years. If you begin to think of the old blind ways, I must have been dead long ago. I am one who boldly beats the god with chappals. How could such a person be alive? By this time, I must have lost my eyes. I must be suffering from many diseases. What do you see? I am still hale and hearty. There are remedial measures nowadays for all kinds of diseases.

I had urine trouble once. The doctors cured it by the operation. I knew not anything about it. The doctors asked me whether I like to be operated. I said to them that they could do anything if they had full confidence. I was in my bed. I was asleep. They took me to the operation theatre. They struggled for two and a half hours and then brought me back and laid me on the bed. After one or two hours, I became conscious. I knew not that I was operated. I enquired about it. They told me that everything was over. I came to know about everything, only the next day. How did all these happen? They mentioned some medicine. It was injected. I became unconscious. Everything was over. Just like this medicine, many medicines are discovered every day.

But what about us? We are still worshipping the grinding stone, the idol of lingam as a god. We perform marriage to it. We take the idol to the prostitute house. We pull the chariot of that God. What are we going to discover with all these foolish things?

Lakhs of Rupees are spent for that. The chariot weights 150 tons. Nearly 5000 people are needed to pull it. They are paid two rupees each by wages. In this year of 1971, the government also supports it. See how foolish we are. Where is salvation for us?

So, my dear comrades, we must also try to become civilized human beings. For that we must get rid of religion, god, shastras and blind customs. The Puranas should be torn to pieces and put in the dust bins. We must realize that there is no power greater than man. There is nothing that is real in god.

Gentlemen, I have spoken for a long time. Yet I have not covered many things. You don’t have stories like these anywhere else. You have the Brahmins and Shudras only here - in Tamil Nadu, India.

Even the Sankarachari accepts now that all these stories are not for the educated people. They are for the uneducated people only. It is to make them believe in God that such stories are written.

If we remain silent and believe things blindly, you will have no progress. The Brahmins would reap the harvest. That is why we educate the people through Self-Respect Propaganda. We appeal to the people to shed their blind beliefs. We want to make people of our Rationalist country to live with dignity and comfort as others in the world. Lastly, I tell you not to believe what I say. You apply your mind. Think for yourself. If you feel that what I say is right, accept it and turn a new leaf in your life from tomorrow. If you like to become a member of our association, don’t go to the temples. Don’t wear caste marks. Don’t pay a pie to the Brahmins. Put an end to their monopoly and exploitation. With these words, I conclude my speech.

(Speech delivered by Thanthai Periyar E.V. Ramasami on 22.6.1971 at Mettupalayam while inaugurating the Rationalist Association)

(From 'Collected Works of Periyar E.V.R.', compiled by Dr. K. Veeramani, published by 'The Periyar Self-Respect Propaganda Institution')

---

 You can send your articles to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

---

Add comment

Name (required)

E-mail (required, but will not display)

Notify me of follow-up comments

Send

Cancel