Remembering Periyar E.V.Ramasamy on his birth anniversary

"Periyar" E.V. Ramasamy, a social reformer from Tamil Nadu is known for his unyielding propaganda against caste inequalities and gender based discrimination. Though some of his speeches and writings are misinterpreted today for misleading the masses and his principles are convieninetly misquoted "anti-hindu" as against "anti-casteist", he still remains as the icon of social justice in Tamil Nadu. Confining Periyar as an atheist has been an ongoing conscious attempt at diluting his ideology which encompasses annihilation of caste, gender equality, women empowerment, questioning of superstitious beliefs, rationalism and self-respect. Periyar, being an extremist, questioned the fallacy of age-old beliefs and enlightened the masses to be rational and believed that reason is the guiding light.

Periyar's voice against untouchability and caste discrimination reverberates till date. His simplistic writings on the injustice of caste-based system that garners attention of any common man makes it difficult for casteists to convert him into a harmless icon, the only other option is to tarnish his image which is what is happening now.

Periyar’s book “Why were women enslaved?” is an insightful perspective into the unfair and unequal treatment women receive in our society. Periyar lists down the aspects and ideologies that curtail the freedom of women and in turn lead to a woman’s life always being dependent on the male counterpart.

The fallacious inveterate beliefs that confine women are dealt with uncompromisingly forthright counter arguments, no matter which religion or ideology preaches them. The book gives a fitting end by stating the enslavement of women can end only when unnecessary pride in the masculinity of the opposite gender withers away or gets abolished.

There are some extreme views put forth in this book, which are debatable, but one cannot ignore  or brush aside the facts emphasized here. Periyar's ideology on women empowerment needs to be spread to the masses. 

Remember that these thoughts were put together in words 100 years back during a time when they would have been received with the most savage malice.

"I do not say you should believe what I have said because it alone is certain. Accept such ideas as can be accepted, with the help of your reason, after a sound inquiry. Reject the rest" - Periyar

Let us read him, understand him and subject his thoughts to inquiry. We can criticise him on the ones which we deem unacceptable and accept only those which feel right in the light of reason!

Remembering Martyr Bhagat Singh on his death anniversary!

With the dream of attaining independence for India, many sacrificed their lives without witnessing their dream getting realised. But, their principles and propaganda kindled the spark among the masses to carry the fight until the dawn of freedom on Aug 15th 1947 even without their physical presence. March 23rd marks the death anniversary of one such freedom fighter.

An individual who stood by his principles even when facing the gallows at an young age of 23. An avid reader who spent most of his short lived life in the midst of books. A revolutionary who stood against imperialism and made the voice of socialism reverberate across the country. An atheist who believed in rationalism and questioned the fallacy of age old beliefs. A freedom fighter who could have been the socialist icon India needed if not for the unjust trial and death sentence.

A personality who should be studied and celebrated more!

“Bhagat Singh”

To get to know Bhagat Singh, I read “Bhagat Singh - The Eternal Rebel”, a book written by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh. It is a biography of Bhagat Singh that captures in detail various events of his life - both personal and political. 

Though he has a cult following in India at present, there is often an image of pistol brandishing angry young man portrayed on him. This book reveals the true nature of Bhagat Singh and how he despite being an “extremist” in the freedom struggle, valued human lives and never believed in bloodshed.

His contrasting tranformation into a communist hailing from a family with Arya Samaj connection shows the independent intellect in him. The biography also puts forth Bhagat Singh as a voracious reader and how some of his favourite reads had an impact on his thinking and the activities he was involved in.

This book details how Bhagat Singh was drawn towards communism - he and his colleagues wanted to organize the peasants, labourers and working class across the nation to raise their voice against the imperialists. This is evident when Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt involved themselves in the assembly bombing incident as a sign of protest against the passing of trade dispute bill which imposed restrictions on workers from organizing and conducting strikes for their demands. 

The sufferings of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues in jail and the unjust treatment they received in the judicial proceedings are touched upon here and the resistance they have shown to make their stand by withstanding the pain is astonishing. 

Some of the articles written by Bhagat Singh in newspapers, books and his jail notebook also find a place in this book. One of the articles on untouchables written by him indicates that Bhagat Singh opposed not just the social hierarchy but also the caste hierarchy. This specific article resonates Dr. Ambedkar's take on the unjust hierarchical structure prevalent in Indian society.

Even while facing the gallows, his courage while anticipating death, his undying thirst for freedom of the country, his determination to stand by his principles and rationalist approach are inspiring. There is no denial that Bhagat Singh can never be ignored in youth politics. 

To quote Bhagat Singh from one of his books “Why I am an atheist?” -

“A God-believing Hindu might be expecting to be reborn as a king, a Muslim or a Christian, might dream of the luxuries to be enjoyed in paradise and the reward he is to get for his sufferings and sacrifices. But what am I to expect? I know the moment the rope is fitted round my neck and rafters removed, from under my feet. That will be the final moment – that will be the last moment. I, or to be more precise, my soul, as interpreted in the metaphysical terminology, shall all be finished there. Nothing further. A short life of struggle with no such magnificent end, shall in itself be the reward if I have the courage to take it in that light. That is all. With no selfish motive, or desire to be awarded here or hereafter, quite disinterestedly have I devoted my life to the cause of independence, because I could not do otherwise. The day we find a great number of men and women with this psychology who cannot devote themselves to anything else than the service of mankind and emancipation of the suffering humanity; that day shall inaugurate the era of liberty.”

Death is inevitable. The acceptance of death as an undeniable reality and leading a meaningful life that is not only restricted to personal upliftment but also extended to the betterment of the society is what Bhagat Singh’s short lived life teaches us. 

Remembering "Bhagat Singh" on his death anniversary (Mar 23rd).

Remembering Bhagat Singh on his death anniversary - 23 March 2022

An individual who stood by his principles even when facing the gallows. An avid reader who spent most of his short lived life in the midst of books. A revolutionary who stood against imperialism and made the voice of socialism reverberate across the country. An atheist who believed in rationalism and questioned the fallacy of age old beliefs. An extremist who valued human life and never believed in bloodshed unlike the pistol brandishing angry young man image portrayed by many. A freedom fighter who could have been the socialist icon India needed if not for the unjust trial and death sentence. 

A personality who should be studied and celebrated more!

Remembering "Bhagat Singh" on his death anniversary.

"Bhagat Singh - The Eternal Rebel" by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh

This book written by Prof. Malvinder Jit Singh is a biography of Bhagat Singh that captures in detail the various events of his life - both personal and political.

Though he has a cult following in India at present, there is often an image of a pistol brandishing angry young man portrayed on him. This book reveals the true nature of Bhagat Singh. It talks about how he valued human lives and never believed in bloodshed, despite being an extremist in the freedom struggle.

His contrasting transformation into a communist hailing from a family with Arya Samaj connection shows the independent intellect in him. The biography also puts forth Bhagat Singh as a voracious reader. It explains how some of his favourite reads had an impact on his thinking and the activities he was involved in.

This book details how Bhagat Singh was drawn towards communism - he and his colleagues wanted to organize the peasants, labourers and working class across the nation to raise voice against the imperialists. This is evident when Bhagat Singh and BK Dutt involved themselves in the assembly bombing incident as a sign of protest against the passing of trade dispute bill which imposed restrictions on workers from organizing and conducting strikes for their demands.

The sufferings of Bhagat Singh and his colleagues in jail, and the unjust treatment they received in the judicial proceedings are touched upon here; the resistance they had shown, by withstanding the pain, in order to make their stand is astonishing.

Some of the articles written by Bhagat Singh in newspapers, books and his jail notebook also find a place in this book. One of the articles on untouchables written by him indicates that Bhagat Singh opposed not just the social hierarchy but also the caste hierarchy. This particular article resonates Dr. Ambedkar's take on the unjust hierarchical structure prevalent in Indian society.

His courage even while facing the gallows and while anticipating death, his undying thirst for the freedom of the country, his determination to stand by his principles and his rationalist approach are inspiring. There is no denial that Bhagat Singh can never be ignored in youth politics.

"Inquilab Zindabad"