Governor R. N. Ravi. File
| Photo Credit: B. Velankanni Raj
Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Monday (January 27, 2025) alleged that atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Tribes were frequently being committed in Tamil Nadu in spite of the teachings of great savants like Swamy A.S. Sahajanandhar Adigalar, who took measures to empower society through its cultural and dharmic roots.
Speaking at the 135th birth anniversary of Adigalar, organised by the Swamy Sahajanandha Spiritual and Cultural Centre at Chidambaram, Mr. Ravi contended that while it has become “a fashion” now to speak about the Vaikom satyagraha in Kerala, one does not hear of cases of discrimination from that State, unlike in the past, and people from downtrodden communities have been elected as Chief Ministers. This was possible not through politics but through social transformation and the teachings of Narayana Guru, Mr. Ravi said.
“Politics is about power. It divides and sub-divides, but it is social transformation that unites society. Kerala could overcome this social revolution with leaders like Narayana Guru. But unfortunately, we try to forget Swamy Sahajanandhar, who was actually on the same line: a spiritual leader and a social transformer,” the Governor said.
Expressing that a member of the Scheduled Castes should become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu one day and that members of the community should become powerful scientists at ISRO, Mr. Ravi said this was why the Swami’s teachings were relevant. “We have to reclaim him and his memory, and they should not be allowed to fade. We have to keep his message alive and remain culturally rooted,” he said.
‘External forces tried to destroy dharma’
Adigalar had appeared at a time when society was in great distress and under extreme threat from two external forces: British missionaries and the movement led by intellectual Karl Marx prior to India’s Independence, who had spoken against the system of worship of gods. Both these forces were trying to destroy our culture, civilisation, and our dharma, he said.
However, after Independence, a third force had come into being and said it would ensure social justice and equality, Mr. Ravi said, without specifying what this third force was.
These forces had caused a “cleavage” among the downtrodden people and as many as 200 sub-castes of Dalits had come into being because of the work done by these forces, he said, adding that vested interests keep them fighting amongst themselves. This problem cannot be solved through politics as politics is competitive power and not about welfare, he added.
“He (Adigalar) opposed both external that forces that tried to destroy us. He took many initiatives, including the establishment of the Nandhanar educational trust to empower society without losing our cultural and dharmic roots,” he said, adding: “We have to develop, keeping our cultural roots (intact)… be educated and must prosper while keeping our identity intact,” he added.
“We have to take control… and there must be initiatives to bring communities together and bridge the gap,” he said.
‘Lies being spread’
Claiming that so much of distortion and lies were being spread, he said researchers should “go to the archives in Chennai.” “I will facilitate your entry into the archives, and those who cannot go to the archives can browse the internet,” Mr. Ravi added.
The Governor also recalled how the plight of SCs continued in Tamil Nadu even after the Kizhvenmani massacre, in which 44 Dalits were burnt to death. The victims were instigated by those who believed they must fight. “The followers of Marx and Mao got them killed,” he claimed. Even 58 years after the massacre was reported, SCs in the village continue to live in miserable conditions, he said.
“I saw their plight during my visit to the village last year. They don’t have one decent house. At the same time, there is a huge memorial in the village on which crores have been spent. If they (authorities) had spent a part of that money on building houses, each one of them (the residents) would have got a decent house to live in. But they will not build it because of the profit of poverty of these people,” he said.
U.Ve. Thirukkoshtiyur Madhavan Swamy and Vanumalai Swamy were among those present at the event.
Published – January 27, 2025 06:35 pm IST
