Pongal - A celebration that is Rational & Secular

The festivals celebrated in India are countless. Being the land of diversity, the calendar in India is packed with festivals from various religions and cultures. In addition to the ceremonies, the visit to the places of worship, prayers and offerings to Gods in certain cases, festivals are occasions when families get together and spend quality time. It is a time when cousins from different parts of the city get together. It is a time when people from metropolitan cities travel back to their hometown to celebrate the occasion in their traditional way. But, how is Pongal any different from other festivals? Pongal celebrates “labour”. 

The grand festival of Tamil Nadu “Pongal” is a celebration of the harvest which is a result of the relentless efforts of farmers in the fields. This is celebrated as Sankranti outside Tamil Nadu and in other parts of India. The celebration of this festival usually includes worship of the sun, decorating the cattle by painting of the cow’s horns and garlanding the cows and cooking “Pongal” - a dish made out of the freshly harvested rice, jaggery and milk. There are customised versions of this festival that might differ from region to region in Tamil Nadu. But, on the whole, the festival is a celebration of anything and everything that relates to agriculture. A festival that celebrates “labour” and the driving factors for a successful harvest on the harvest day - can a festival be more rational? 

The grand bull taming event “Jallikattu” also coincides with the Pongal festival which is a spectacular sporting event in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. “Vaadivaasal”, a Tamil novel written by C.S. Chellappa captures intricate details of this sporting event in the background of social structure prevalent in the villages. “Jallikattu” has gained popularity over the years and channels have started live streaming of this event in the recent years with sponsors from popular brands in Tamil Nadu.

Since, the festival relates to labour, naturally it should have been a secular one. But, people being used to the act of practising rituals and conducting ceremonies during festivals might have made Pongal closer to one religion than the other. We have seen instances in Tamil Nadu where Pongal is celebrated by Hindus, Muslims and Christians. There is also an event “Samathuva Pongal” (means Secular Pongal) conducted in the presence of representatives from different religions. Each religion might have its own way of celebrating Pongal, but the majoritarian belief should not distance the solidarity this festival shows towards secularism. If every religion respects the other and its way of celebrating the festival, the festival would be an unanimous display of harmony. If there are individuals or groups who think the other way, their views should also be respected.

“Pongal” will build an inclusive and harmonious environment to celebrate “labour” which keeps this world running! 

Wishing everyone a happy Pongal!

“Periyar - A Study in Political Atheism” by Karthick Ram Manoharan

This book is a study of the work and ideas of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy, the renowned social reformer of Tamilnadu. This is not a biographical text on the life of Periyar, but is an extensive study that analyses his revolutionary criticism of religion and presents the idea of “political atheism”. The book is split into thematic sections which provide insightful perspective on the impact of Periyar’s ideologies in the political spectrum in Tamilnadu. 

The book points out Periyar’s fallout with congress after demanding proportional representation of non-brahmins in the party. His demand and he voicing out against caste inequalities were viewed “too radical” by the leaders. This conflict and Periyar’s realisation of social elitism that existed in congress led to the emergence of Self Respect Movement. 

When Indian leaders took an approach of Indian / Hindu nationalism to tackle the colonial structure and demand freedom from British, the “Dravidians” who were considered native to this land resorted to tackle the brahminical hegemony with the Aryan - Dravidian differentiation. Though there were forerunners to Periyar on this front like Iyothidasar, Karthik Ram Manoharan explains how the medium and message put across by Periyar with its simplicity gained him the popularity that he enjoys even today. 

This book also discusses in detail how Periyar drew inspiration from socialism that was gaining prominence during his times and at the same time points out his skepticism on the role of communism in India. This criticism from Periyar on communists in India was largely owing to their priority over class antagonisms over caste antagonisms and again the brahminical dominance in the communist party at that time. Periyar’s arguments also included that communism in India would be yet another tool in the hands of priestly class to cement their dominance. Periyar was also against the concept of state. However, as per my reading of Lenin’s “The State and Revolution”, it argues how complete communism can be achieved only in stages with gradual withering away of the state and how the stage of complete communism will be devoid of any form of antagonism not only the class antagonism, so this view is debatable.

The research of Karthik Ram Manoharan provides an interesting insight on how Periyar’s retelling of Ramayana was a significant strategy towards resisting and demystifying Aryan dominance. Periyar’s projection of Ravana as anti-caste hero was a strategy to counterpose the image of the Aryan icon Rama who upheld the  “Varna” system. Karthik draws parallel of this approach of Periyar with anarchists like Balkunin. 

The book also points out the inconsistencies in Periyar’s writings over a period of time which is currently levelled against Periyar in television debates. However, this book also stands to clarify these inconsistencies as individual statements that were reactionary and his true standpoint needs to be viewed from the coherence derived from the arguments that find a repetition in his thoughts and writings. 

Karthick Ram Manoharan

In the final chapter, the book brings out how Periyar’s ideology is relevant even today. This work by Karthik Ram Manoharan is a brilliant research that puts forth detailed analysis on how Periyar’s ideas to separate religion and politics changed the course of politics in Tamilnadu as an alternate to the Hindu nationalism.

V.I. Lenin - The Story Of His Life by Maria Prilezhayeva

Maria Prilezhayeva's "V.I. Lenin - The Story of His Life" is a biography of Vladimir Lenin, the communist icon of Soviet Russia. I read this book in Tamil as I was able to get hold of a translated copy in Kindle. The book is a written account on the life of Lenin covering the events and happenings in chronological order. 

The biography dwells deep into the plight of peasants and factory workers at the hands of landlords and capitalists. The impact of the first world war on the working class and contrastingly the gains of capitalists with their imperialist agenda are explained here. The anti-war propaganda by Lenin during such times was followed by a call for a revolution to fight against the Tsar rule in Russia which organized the workers and peasants in masses. This led to the November revolution which also overthrew the provisional government in Russia thus establishing the founding stone for communism in the country. 

The war-hit Soviet Union countries faced famines, inclement weather conditions and pandemics which piled up the misery of the people. But, Lenin's vision of communist Russia and planning during tough times to act on a war time basis bailed out the people of Soviet Union countries to an extent. 

His speeches and writings that inspired millions of people to stage the revolution against the mighty Tsar rule and imperialist countries are covered in detail. Lenin followed the view of Marx and Engels’ to resolve class antagonisms in the society. The biography details Lenin’s vision for upbringing of the lives of working class and his relentless efforts towards the same despite the difficulties he faced during his imprisonment and exile. The book also touches upon the betrayal that revolutionists suffered at the hands of Trotsky briefly and how Lenin tried mending the adverse impact. 

The translation had less impact with the revolutionary songs quoted as the voice of the workers. Though the following Lenin had during and post the revolution is undeniable, this book or most probably the translation at times goes overboard with praise for even the trivial and thoughts and mundane actions of Lenin.

The resurrection of Soviet nations from the effects of war, famine and pandemic under the able leadership of Lenin and the bloom of communism as a result is a process that was staged with the destruction of the state machine. The book points out Lenin’s revolutionary role in this until his death. 

An insightful biography that introduces Lenin, despite the overdose of praise at certain places. 

My Year In Books - 2023

31 Books… Book review links below…

1.  “The Stranger” by Albert Camus
2. “The Mist” by Stephen King
3. The Housemaid by Freida McFadden
4. சி.சு. செல்லப்பாவின் "வாடிவாசல்”
5. வண்ணநிலவனின் "கம்பா நதி"
6. “1st Case” by James Patterson & Chris Tebbetts
7. தமிழ்ப்பிரபாவின் "பேட்டை"
8. பெருமாள் முருகனின் "பூக்குழி"
9. The Maidens by Alex Michaelides
10. Sidney Sheldon's "The Sands of Time"
11. ஜி. நாகராஜனின் "குறத்தி முடுக்கு"
12. திரு. கணேஷ் அவர்களின் "ஓம்... க்ரீம்... ஐஸ்கிரீம்..."
13. அசோகமித்திரனின் "மானசரோவர்"
14. Vladimir Lenin's "The State and Revolution"
15. "The Maid" by Nita Prose
16. ராஜேஷ்குமாரின் "வெல்வெட் குற்றங்கள்"
17. "The Housemaid's Secret" by Freida McFadden
18. கபிலன் வைரமுத்துவின் "ஆகோள்"
19. The Perfect Marriage by Jeneva Rose
20. The Trial by Franz Kafka
21. Agatha Christie’s “The Murder on the Links”
22. Carrie by Stephen King
23. “Fifty-Fifty” by Steve Cavanagh
24. அசோகமித்திரனின் "ஒற்றன்"
25. கி.ராஜநாராயணனின் "கிடை"
26. Lucy Foley’s “The Paris Apartment”
27. சுந்தர ராமசாமியின் "திரைகள் ஆயிரம்"
28. யுகபாரதியின் "முனியாண்டி விலாஸ்"
29. “The Girl on the Train” by Paula Hawkins
30. “Becoming Babasaheb” by Aakash Singh Rathore
31. வண்ணநிலவனின் "கடல்புரத்தில்" 

What happened to Buddha will not happen to Periyar!

There are theories and historical texts that point to the conversion of Buddhist signs and symbols into brahminical signs and symbols. The mythological story that links a white elephant with the birth of Gautama Buddha in later stages was used a symbol of Buddha by Buddhist monks who led a nomadic life to propagate the Buddhist principles and they installed those statues under Bodhi trees and mountain caves. 

Buddhism that does not acknowledge the existence of supreme god or deity focuses on achieving enlightenment instead. The Dravidian people who were used to idol worship started worshipping these symbols installed by Buddhist monks. People were attracted to the Buddhist principles which employ a radical approach in pointing out that they can overcome their sorrows by changes to their lifestyle and actions, instead of branding one’s sufferings as the consequence of one’s deeds in previous births. 

There are arguments that the Buddhist symbol - elephant under the Bodhi tree or on the shores of a riverbank was later used to create Vinayakar, a Hindu god in an attempt to rob its popularity and slowly convert Buddha as a harmless icon to their own ideology.

A week back, there was a picture circulated in social media by right wing extremists which depicted Periyar as a pig carrying urine bag in its hand - a futile attempt to mock him and his ideology. As a personality who was open to criticism and who takes ridicule and mockery head on, this would have been welcomed by him had he been here. The response to the same would have been at his satirical best. 

Who knows, they might continue on this path to convert Periyar into customised versions of the boar avatar “Varaha”. But, what happened to Buddha will never happen to Periyar!

His preachings to the general public were uncompromisingly forthright and were formed on the basis of rationalism, empiricism and at the same time were in simple terms. He stood against brahminical supremacy, caste hierarchies, racial inequality, gender inequality and acknowledged economic disparities in his criticism. So, they can never rob his revolutionary theory of its substance and make it their own. He can never be converted into a harmless icon - he will stand tall as a symbol against any form of oppression.

Even if they manage to achieve it, theirs would be the first group to celebrate an atheist as a godly figure. 

Even after his death, his principles are being received with most savage malice and most furious hatred from the right wing; he continues to stand tall no matter how many stones they pelt at him. Remembering our Periyar on his death anniversary!!

வண்ணநிலவனின் "கடல்புரத்தில்"

வண்ணநிலவனின் "கடல்புரத்தில்" கடலோர கிராமங்களில் வாழும் மனிதர்களின் வாழ்வை மையமாக கொண்டு பயணிக்கிறது. இந்நாவலில் வரும் கதைமாந்தர்களின் வழி அம்மனிதர்களின் தனிமனித உறவுகளையும், அந்த உறவுகளினால் ஏற்படும் உளவியல் ரீதியான சிக்கலையும் விவரிக்கிறார் வண்ணநிலவன். உறவுகளில் வரும் சண்டைகளையும், குற்ற உணர்வுகளையும், துரோகங்களையும் மீறி நிலைத்திருக்கும் அன்பை பேசும் நாவல் இது.

வல்லத்தில் மீன் பிடிக்கும் மீனவர்களுக்கும், லாஞ்சியில் மீன் பிடிக்கும் மீனவர்களுக்கும் நடக்கும் தொழில் போட்டியின் தொடர்ச்சியாய் வரும் சச்சரவுகளையும், அதன் விளைவுகளின் எல்லைகளையும் பேசுகிறது இந்நாவல்.

தலைமுறை தலைமுறையாய் மீன்பிடி தொழிலில் ஈடுபட்டு வரும் குரூஸ் மிக்கேலுக்கும், குலத்தொழிலை விட்டுவிட்டு வாத்தியாக அண்டை ஊருக்குச் சென்ற அவரது மகன் செபஸ்த்திக்கும் நடக்கும் உரையாடலில் துவங்குகிறது நாவல். வல்லத்தையும் குலத்தொழிலையும் உயிரென பாவிக்கும் தந்தைக்கும், வறுமையிலிருந்து விடுபட நினைக்கும் மகனுக்குமான தலைமுறை இடைவெளியை இதில் காட்சிப்படுத்துகிறார் வண்ணநிலவன். 

நாவலின் பிரதான கதாப்பாத்திரமாக வரும் பிலோமி தான் சந்திக்கும் எல்லோரிடமும் அன்பை காண்கிறாள் - அந்த உறவு தனக்கு எவ்வளவு துன்பம் தந்தாலும். சமூக பார்வையில் பிலோமியின் தாய் - வாத்தியார் உறவு சிக்கலான உறவாக இருந்தும், அதற்கு முரணான காமத்தை தாண்டிய ஆண்-பெண் உறவை பிலோமி-வாத்தியார் இடையே இந்நாவலில் காண முடிகிறது. நாவலில் ஆங்காங்கே வந்தாலும் பிலோமி - ரஞ்சி உறவு எதையும் எதிர்பாராத நட்புறவாய் மிளிர்கிறது. 

இந்நாவலில் வரும் மனிதர்களின் வாழ்வில் "கடல்" ஒரு அங்கமாய் இருக்கிறது. பல இடங்களில் தங்கள் துயரங்களை கடலிடமே புலம்புகின்றனர். நலிந்து வரும் வியாபாரத்தால் படும் நட்டங்களை கடலிடமே முறையிடுகின்றனர். அவர்களுக்கு பல நேரங்களில் கடவுளாகவும், கண்ணிர் துடைக்கும் கரமாகவும் கடலே இருக்கிறது. 

வண்ணநிலவனின் எழுத்தில் மற்றுமொரு உயிரோட்டமான நாவல்.

"Becoming Babasaheb" by Aakash Singh Rathore

"Becoming Babasaheb" is an ambitious biography of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar that presents the life and times of Ambedkar in the chronological order of events from his birth in 1891 until the Mahad Satyagraha in 1929 - probably the first volume of the biography to be followed by another. The biography clears up many misconceptions prevalent surrounding the actions and decisions of Ambedkar. With exhaustive research and list of references evident from the bibliography and notes at the end of the book, a lot of fact checking has gone into the writing of this book. 

This book also debates the anamolies and discrepancies put forward by other biographies of Ambedkar. Though the book articulates in detail the key events that made Ambedkar "Babasaheb" among the untouchables and marginalized, it sometimes attempts too much correcting the chronology and justification behind Ambedkar's actions that are put forth by other biographers. 

Nevertheless, this book delves deep into the political stance Ambedkar took in various occasions and how it brought about a shift in mindset of the Savarna Hindus, untouchables and the British government. The articles published by Ambedkar after the historic Mahad conference are such samples which are discussed in detail here. Ambedkar's choice of words in these articles not only urged untouchables for gaining self-respect and their readiness to fight against the inveterate beliefs, but also served as a warning to the caste Hindus and the British government on the impending battle against the denial of fundamental rights, education and basic amenities to the untouchables and the social reform acts that were not put into action.

This book is an earnest attempt that not only showers acclaims on the reforms which Ambedkar was instrumental in implementing, but also criticizes some of the decisions made by Ambedkar. The distressing events of caste inequalities that unfolded in Ambedkar's life and his painful recollection of the same are also touched upon here. 

A personality who should have been celebrated as the leader of entire country is sadly being restricted as the leader of a particular community. More such works like this might serve the purpose of portraying Dr.Ambedkar as the leader of the masses. 

Remembering Dr. B.R. Ambedkar on his death anniversary!