CATEGORIES

Campaign on Eradication of Superstition

Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (MANS) founded by Dr. Narendra Dabholkar, renowned rationalist and the architect of the Bill on Eradication of Superstition in Maharashtra organised a month long campaign on Eradication of Superstition that commenced on 21st August, 2020.

Teachings of Confucius

Confucius (551-479 BCE) is one of the greatest moral preachers of the world. He lived in China during the fifth century BCE. His teachings are the basis for the Chinese culture. The teachings of Lao-tze and Buddha play an important role in shaping the Chinese culture. Their teachings echo in the entire South-east Asian countries. The teachings of Confucius are simple and sharp. This article outlines his teachings broadly.

The Madras Presidency in 1940s and then Affairs

The non-Brahmins, said Mr. E.V. Ramasamy Naickar, constitute 70 per cent of the population of the Madras Presidency, the Brahmins only three per cent yet six out of ten posts those of ministers, President of the Council and Speaker of the Assembly, were given to Brahmins, Over fifty per cent of the Gazetted posts are held by Brahmins, Sixty per cent of the higher non-Gazetted posts are held by Brahmins. Mr. Naickar quoted chapter and verse to prove that the Brahmins had increased instead of decreasing during the Congress regime.

Periyar during the period of Plague

It is generally believed that Periyar played an active role in politics by the influence of Rajaji and that even before him, Salem Varadarajulu had inspired him. The names of P.V. Manicka Naicker, Marudaiya Pillai and Kaivalya Swamy are also cited as those who refined the thoughts of Periyar in his youth and moulded him as an exceptional thinker and reformist. But the truth that before entering the national movement, Periyar had involved himself in public services, is usually ignored. Like the pandemic COVID-19 of this day, a contagion called Plague had spread during the early part of the 20th century. The invasion of this pestilence and the panic of people brought Periyar into the sphere of social services.

Buddhism - A Scientific Movement

On 14th February 1955, at a public meeting in Srirangam town near Tiruchirapalli, Madras State, Thanthai Periyar delivered a speech explaining the scientific spirit in Buddhism. His speech was published in the ‘Viduthalai’ issue dated 20.02.1955. Excerpts from his inspiring and thought-provoking speech are in nutshell as follows:

September: The Dravidian History

“The human urge to search for pattern amidst the chaos, the nature of humans to weave myths to conserve the unspoken history and lived experiences via metaphors, thereby has led to numerous key days which we remember by heart”

Self Respect - Human's Birth Right

During 1927, Thanthai Periyar set out like a wild storm to spread his ideal and policy of Self-Respect all over Madras Province. His propagandist speeches in Thirunelveli and Palayamkottai etc. were briefly covered by the magazine ‘Kudi Arasu’, in its issue dated Feb 27, 1927. Excerpts from the speeches are as follows, in nutshell:

Reservation Norms - States Can Decide for Their States

Historic Judgments of The Supreme Court

Periyar 142 Revolutionary Visionary

Humanity has progressed both in civilization and other forms of development. The pace of progress since the 19th century on science and technological side was enormous which brought a sea change both in life style and standard of living of people throughout the world. Despite these developments, the social discrimination and inequalities have been prevailing unabated in human societies.

30 Years On: Is It Game Over for Mandal Politics in India?

Christophe Jaffrelot writes that the rise of Hindutva politics and contradictions within OBC spectrum have exhausted the silent political revolution but the unfulfilled promise of job quotas may lead to a revival.

On Adoption of the Constitution

The excerpts from Dr. Ambedkar’s Last Speech in the Constituent Assembly on Adoption of the Constitution on November 25, 1949

My Mission: Abolishing Disgrace and Degradation

Excerpts from Thanthai Periyar’s speech on December 23, 1954 on the occasion of a hospitality cum dinner-meet held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Inheritance of Paternal Ancestral Property Equal Rights for Women

The three-judge Bench of the Supreme Court of India delivered a historic judgment on 11th August 2020 in respect of the amendment (2005) made in the Hindu Succession Act 1956. While arguing in the proceedings related to the case, the solicitor General representing Government of India has pointed out that the Mitakshara Coparcenary law not only contributes gender discrimination but is oppressive and negated the fundamental right to equality guaranteed by the Constitution of India.

Education

The education that man needs is only to make him fit to live his life in freedom. To spread education to the masses is as difficult an effort as spreading communism in our country of India.

Covid-19 Control No Relaxation to Religious festivities!

For the past more than 4 months, not only our country, the various parts of the globe have experienced severe setback in the normal human life, incurred significant human loss and faced deterioration in the respective economy. In India, the deterioration in the economy had started even prior to Corona pandemic that commenced in the mid of March and it has aggravated the pace of downfall in growth and the intensity of the setback.

A Statement for the Information of the Education Commission

The following is the appeal made by Mahatma Jothiba Phule to the Government of British India on 19th October 1882 on the educational needs of the vast majority of the toiling masses of the land. Phule made this appeal as a merchant, a cultivator and as the Municipal Commissioner of Peth Joona Ganja, Maharashtra.

GUARANTEED RESERVATION RIGHTS!

The State has to act as per the directives of the governing law of the country. More than 70 years judicially tested constitutional rights meant for the oppressed cannot be interpreted to sustain their inequality as ‘fait accompli’.

Secularism The Relevance and The Reality

The clear signs of a serious danger to the secular fiber of the Indian Society and Polity could clearly be seen on the horizon.

Changing the Politics in Kashmir

For 70 years, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and its political departments the Jana Sangh (founded in 1951) and its successor the BJP (now in power) clamoured for the “abrogation” of Article 370 of India’s Constitution.

In CAA narrative, finding the judiciary's lost voice

The recent enactment of the amendments to the Citizenship Act have left many, and certainly myself, very disturbed.

Annai E.V.R Maniammai Brave and Forthright Leader of Periyar Movement

When Periyar married Maniammai in 1949, it created much turmoil in the public life of the then Madras State.

Periyar 141st Birthday event at Fremont,California,USA

The function was conducted on 12.10.2019 at 6.45 pm at Los Cerritos Community Centre, Fremont, USA.

GODMEN'S DEVOTION' BUSINESS PROLIFERATES

Devotees search for the places of soothsaying, despite being false.By capitalizing on this sort of trend in the society, many godmen are emerging

Periyar and Anna Birth Anniversary Celebrations at Chicago,Illinois,USA

On 6 th October 2019, Chicago recorded a successful event to raise the torch of rationalism and equality on the occasion of Periyar and Anna’s birth anniversary celebrations.

"Arguments and NOT Answers on Poverty", merits

For the 2019-Nobel Memorial Prize for Economics, Abhijit Banerjee, Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer, the professors of Economics at Massachussetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, have been selected.

Women - Property Rights

In India, there exist several cruelties -unacceptable to humanity, justice and rationalism—which cannot be found anywhere else in the world. There are two major, important cruelties that need to be solved immediately so that people of the world don’t consider Indians as barbarians and instead consider Indians as a humane and civilized society qualified to protect, govern and rule their own nation without the help of foreigners.

I Am No Opponent of Nationalism but...

The text of the address delivered by Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in response to the Civic Address presented to him by the Municipal Corporation of Madras on 22nd September 1944.

This is Not a Drill

This is not a drill. We are looking at the very real possibility—even the likelihood—of the rise of fascism in the United States. We need to take action, and we need to do it now.

Untouchability By Untouchables

The book under review, which bears a rather intriguing title which can be rendered in English as ‘Untouchability within Untouchability’, bares certain hither to not much known bizarre facts which have been practised in this ‘Incredible India’ from time immemorial.

Curse Correction: Legistlation Against Superstitions In Karnataka

Following the line of Maharashtra, Karnataka State cabinet has cleared the Bill to prevent evil, inhuman and superstitions practices, prevalent in the State.