CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Thursday said his government will celebrate the centenary year of the Vaikom Satyagraha (Vaikom struggle) to honour the memory of social reformist Periyar, who fought across the borders for the people and succeeded in making such revolutions in history, and to propagate the principles of social justice.
Making a suo motu statement under Rule 110, the chief minister said the state government would commence the centenary year celebrations on March 30. Various initiatives will be taken up for the public and students to know the history, purpose and victory of the struggle.
“I am participating as a special invitee along with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Kerala government’s centenary year celebrations on April 1. We will pay respects to the commemorative pillar installed by the Tamil Nadu government,” Stalin said.
The Malayalam translation of writer Pazha Adhiyaman’s popular ‘Vaikom Struggle’ book would be released. It is the joint initiative of Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation (TNTESC) and a Kerala publishing house. It will also be released in Telugu, Kannada and English.
A special programme will be organised by the Tamil Nadu government on November 29, in which chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and several dignitaries will participate. Annual ‘Vaikom Award’ will be presented to individuals or organisations who work for the welfare of the oppressed in other states and make a significant difference.
The state government will allocate Rs 8.14 crore to renovate Periyar memorial in Vaikom and build a new memorial in Aruvikutti, where the reformist was imprisoned initially. A special commemorative stamp will also be released. Programmes relating to Vaikom struggle will be held at educational institutions, besides competitions for students. A 64-page book and audio in Tamil and English will be released for students, while Tamilarasu, the state entity, will release a souvenir.
The chief minister said the Vaikom struggle of 1924-25 had been holding an important place in the history of social reform in India. “It is the pioneer of all the temple entry protests in India. It is no exaggeration to say that it was the first step for the oppressed to get equal rights,” the chief minister said.
Vaikom struggle was to establish the rights of the oppressed classes to walk on the roads to the Shree Mahadeva Temple in Vaikom in Kottayam district. Kerala leader T K Madhavan launched the protest on March 30, 1924. Within a few days, the senior Congress leaders from the region were arrested. Periyar, the then President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, was invited to lead the protest. Periyar led the struggle for 67 days and was imprisoned twice for 74 days.
Mahatma Gandhi took Periyar to hold talks between the agitators and the rulers. B R Ambedkar, who started the Mahar struggle in 1929, said the Vaikom struggle had inspired him, Stalin said. The Vaikom struggle — that lasted for more than one and a half years — came to an end on November 23, 1925. A victory ceremony was held at Vaikom under the leadership of Periyar on November 29, 1925.
The chief minister said it was fitting that Vaikom centenary takes place when his Dravidian model governance is in place. “It was a struggle that got an ordinary Ramasamy become Thanthai Periyar. We must keep reminding ourselves of such histories to get the young generation to have an objective of social reforms,” Stalin said, adding that the state government would continue to work on the path of such self-respect and equality.
Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, AIADMK, BJP, PMK and the DMK allies welcomes the slew of initiatives announced by the chief minister.
Making a suo motu statement under Rule 110, the chief minister said the state government would commence the centenary year celebrations on March 30. Various initiatives will be taken up for the public and students to know the history, purpose and victory of the struggle.
“I am participating as a special invitee along with chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the Kerala government’s centenary year celebrations on April 1. We will pay respects to the commemorative pillar installed by the Tamil Nadu government,” Stalin said.
The Malayalam translation of writer Pazha Adhiyaman’s popular ‘Vaikom Struggle’ book would be released. It is the joint initiative of Tamil Nadu Textbook and Educational Services Corporation (TNTESC) and a Kerala publishing house. It will also be released in Telugu, Kannada and English.
A special programme will be organised by the Tamil Nadu government on November 29, in which chief ministers of Tamil Nadu and Kerala and several dignitaries will participate. Annual ‘Vaikom Award’ will be presented to individuals or organisations who work for the welfare of the oppressed in other states and make a significant difference.
The state government will allocate Rs 8.14 crore to renovate Periyar memorial in Vaikom and build a new memorial in Aruvikutti, where the reformist was imprisoned initially. A special commemorative stamp will also be released. Programmes relating to Vaikom struggle will be held at educational institutions, besides competitions for students. A 64-page book and audio in Tamil and English will be released for students, while Tamilarasu, the state entity, will release a souvenir.
The chief minister said the Vaikom struggle of 1924-25 had been holding an important place in the history of social reform in India. “It is the pioneer of all the temple entry protests in India. It is no exaggeration to say that it was the first step for the oppressed to get equal rights,” the chief minister said.
Vaikom struggle was to establish the rights of the oppressed classes to walk on the roads to the Shree Mahadeva Temple in Vaikom in Kottayam district. Kerala leader T K Madhavan launched the protest on March 30, 1924. Within a few days, the senior Congress leaders from the region were arrested. Periyar, the then President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee, was invited to lead the protest. Periyar led the struggle for 67 days and was imprisoned twice for 74 days.
Mahatma Gandhi took Periyar to hold talks between the agitators and the rulers. B R Ambedkar, who started the Mahar struggle in 1929, said the Vaikom struggle had inspired him, Stalin said. The Vaikom struggle — that lasted for more than one and a half years — came to an end on November 23, 1925. A victory ceremony was held at Vaikom under the leadership of Periyar on November 29, 1925.
The chief minister said it was fitting that Vaikom centenary takes place when his Dravidian model governance is in place. “It was a struggle that got an ordinary Ramasamy become Thanthai Periyar. We must keep reminding ourselves of such histories to get the young generation to have an objective of social reforms,” Stalin said, adding that the state government would continue to work on the path of such self-respect and equality.
Former chief minister O Panneerselvam, AIADMK, BJP, PMK and the DMK allies welcomes the slew of initiatives announced by the chief minister.
