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Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Battling caste in Tamil Nadu
The idea of social justice has shaped politics in Tamil Nadu for over a century. Political parties that subscribe to E V 'Periyar' Ramasamy's anti-caste ideology have had an uninterrupted run in office since 1967. Yet, caste violence, mostly targeting Dalits and perpetrated by members of castes under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category, continues to roil Tamil Nadu, highlighting not just the administrative failure of successive governments but also the ideological hypocrisy of parties subscribing to the Dravidian Movement that takes pride in its anti-caste roots. The latest incident comes from Tirunelveli in southern Tamil Nadu that boasts 90% literacy, where a 27-year-old Dalit software engineer was killed for allegedly being in a relationship with a woman from the Most Backward Caste community. The woman's parents are police sub-inspectors, and the killer is her younger brother. The district was in the spotlight two years ago when a Dalit school boy and his sister were attacked by their schoolmates. The MK Stalin government had then appointed a retired judge to investigate the matter. The exhaustive Justice Chandru report found shocking evidence of not just deep-rooted caste prejudice in institutions but also a reluctance by heads of institutions to even recognise the malaise, let alone act against it. Anecdotal evidence too suggests large-scale use of caste markers among students in educational institutions, reflecting the polarisation in society. Dalits constitute close to 20% of the state's population and have become politically assertive in the past few decades. Improvement in educational standards and a shift towards service jobs have upset the traditional power relationship, triggering caste violence. Inter-caste marriages, especially when the girl is from a dominant caste, increasingly trigger a violent response, as witnessed in Dharmapuri (2012) and Udumalaipettai (2016). Unfortunately, the administrative apparatus, including the law enforcement system, has often failed to rise above caste associations and enforce the rule of law. Political parties that invoke caste pride covertly and overtly are equally to blame. For the Dravidian majors — the DMK and the AIADMK, primarily — the anti-Dalit violence suggests the failure to transcend their core vote bases, which are OBC communities, and usher in a politics that can enable the annihilation of caste. This task has been left incomplete by parties that now view politics entirely through the prism of economic development and ignore social fault lines that call for intense ideological engagement. Tamil Nadu's crisis is also the result of its economic advancement and improvement in human development indices, and its solution lies in political parties reinventing a paradigm of social justice.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Only by acknowledging diversity can India progress, says D. Raja
Senior CPI leader D. Raja said on Monday in Chennai that communists and followers of Periyar and Ambedkar should come together to oppose the BJP-RSS combine's attempts to undermine Parliament and parliamentary democracy. Addressing a function organised to release the book Kaalamthorum Communists by writer Jeevabharathi, he said India could progress only if its tremendous diversity was acknowledged. 'India is a 'Union of States', not a unitary State. The BJP seeks to do away with parliamentary democracy. Democracy will die if Parliament becomes redundant. It happened in Germany during Hitler's regime,' he said. Mr. Raja said it was the need of the hour for communists to work closely with Periyarists and Ambedkarists to liberate people from exploitation and inequality. CPI(M) State secretary P. Shanmugam said communists, who had fought uncompromisingly for the uplift and rights of the people and spent many years in jail, had also campaigned for prison reforms. 'We still need many reforms. There are no doors on toilets. When I was in jail, I requested officials to fix at least half a door,' he said, urging State Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu to bring the issue to the attention of the government. Mr. Shanmugam called upon members of the communist parties to read both volumes of the book and spread the message of their commitment to the people. Mr. Thennarasu, who participated on behalf of Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, said while times could change, the commitment of communists does not. 'Communists are constantly fighting for the people,' he said. He also read out a message from the Chief Minister. 'Our leader Kalaignar (M. Karunanidhi) had faith in communism as an ideology because it was important for humanity, our people, and our land. His writings and approach were strongly influenced by communism. That was why he said he would have become a communist had he not met Anna (C.N. Annadurai),' the Chief Minister stated. He added the Slum Clearance Board and the abolition of hand-pulled rickshaws were shaped by communist ideology. 'The pioneers of the Dravidian Movement firmly believed that political freedom should be accompanied by freedom from social oppression and class-based inequality,' he said, noting the book would serve as a guide for society. CPI state secretary R. Mutharasan, lyricist Vairamuthu, and NCBH chairman Stalin Gunasekaran also participated.
Yahoo
27-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Global Spotlight on Dravidian Studies After Major Cambridge Donation
CHENNAI, India, June 27, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- In a landmark gesture connecting global academia with Tamil Nadu's legacy of social justice, noted technology entrepreneur and Founder of Populus Empowerment Network Mr. Sabarisan Vedamurthy and his wife Senthamarai Stalin, an educationist, have announced a significant philanthropic gift to the University of Cambridge to support advanced research on the Dravidian movement and its transformative socio-economic legacy in South India. Sabarisan Vedamurthy, Senthamarai Stalin and Family, Seen with Professor Shruti Kapila and others from Cambridge. The gift will endow a permanent PhD studentship and provide ongoing support for postdoctoral research focused on the political thought, public policy, and economic frameworks that emerged from the Dravidian movement — an egalitarian movement that has profoundly shaped the trajectory of modern Tamil Nadu since Indian independence. In honour of M. Karunanidhi, five-time Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and a towering figure in the Dravidian movement, the scholarships will be named the M. Karunanidhi Scholarships. These scholarships will commemorate his commitment to social justice, educational access, and inclusive economic progress, values that remain at the heart of Dravidian growth model. The initiative is housed within Cambridge's School of the Humanities and Social Sciences, and aims to amplify global understanding of Tamil Nadu's distinctive development path. It will promote original scholarship and enable sustained engagement with questions of caste, state capacity, welfare, and grassroots political mobilisation in Tamil Nadu. In a joint statement, Mr. Vedamurthy and Mrs. Senthamarai said: 'At a time when inclusion, equity, and dignity are reshaping global discourse, Tamil Nadu offers an inspiring model of what transformative public policy can achieve. This gift is about recognising the contributions of a movement that empowered millions and ensuring that its story becomes part of global academic and policy conversations. We believe that through research and dialogue, the Dravidian experience can offer valuable lessons not just for India, but for the world.' 'For us, this is personal,' the couple added. 'It is a tribute to a legacy that runs deep in our lives and in the lives of millions who were touched by the ideals of social upliftment and equality. It is also about encouraging the next generation of scholars to explore this powerful history through critical inquiry and rigorous research.' The M. Karunanidhi PhD Studentship will be awarded preferentially to students from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, supporting their research in Dravidian politics, economics and history in Tamil Nadu. Commenting on the announcement, Professor Tim Harper, Head of the School of the Humanities and Social Sciences at Cambridge, said: 'We are delighted that Mr Sabarisan and Mrs Senthamarai have chosen to support the future of these important areas of study, and we look forward to welcoming the first M. Karunanidhi scholar next year' Professor Shruti Kapila, a leading scholar of modern Indian history and political thought, added: 'This donation will have a lasting impact on future generations and help to bring Dravidian studies to a global audience. We are very grateful to the family and pleased to be able to honour M. Karunanidhi here in Cambridge.' The donation represents a growing recognition that South Asia's internal histories, especially those outside the often-highlighted Global North, deserve global scholarly attention. Media Contact: Name: Varsha Email: support@ Disclaimer: This content is provided by Populus Empowerment Network. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the content provider. The information shared in this press release is not a solicitation for investment, nor is it intended as investment, financial, or trading advice. It is strongly recommended that you conduct thorough research and consult with a professional financial advisor before making any investment or trading decisions. Please conduct your own research and invest at your own risk. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at
The Hindu
14-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
T.N.'s success in education is a result of Dravidian policies, says Udhayanidhi
Tamil Nadu had reached a high Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 52% at the higher education level, as a result of the policies of the Dravidian Movement, Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin said on Wednesday. At an event organised to launch the Kalloori Kanavu (College Dream) 2025 scheme as part of the Naan Mudhalvan programme, Mr. Udhayanidhi said the thrust on education by the Dravidian Movement over the years under leaders such as Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, C.N. Annadurai and M. Karunanidhi had led to outcomes such as reservation that helped spread education far and wide in the State. The national-level GER stood at 29%, and it would take about 10-15 years for the rest of the country to catch up with Tamil Nadu, Mr. Udhayanidhi said. The government scheme, he said, was aimed at identifying one lakh students who were victims of circumstances, guiding them through the process and enrolling them in institutions of higher learning. This year, 50 youth came out with flying colours in the UPSC exam, while 58 passed competitive exams conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC), the Railway Recruitment Board (RRB) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS), he said. 'Your success will encourage many more students undergoing training at government coaching centres across the State,' Mr. Udhayanidhi said. The inaugural event was streamed live. Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi said that beyond the high GER, it was important that the candidates receive quality education and find meaningful employment. 'The Naan Mudhalvan scheme ensures that,' he added. Health Minister Ma. Subramanian, Special Programme Implementation Secretary Pradeep Yadav, School Education Secretary B. Chandramohan, Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation Kranti Kumar Pati, and Mission Director of Naan Mudhalvan Competitive Exams Vertical C. Sudhakar were present. The 58 students who cleared the competitive exams were among the 510 youth trained in three residential facilities set up in Chennai, Srivilliputhur and Salem at a cost of ₹4.28 crore. Of them, 37 cleared the banking exam, 19 cleared the SSC exam, and two cleared the RRB exam. The candidates underwent coaching for six months before writing the exams. Two of the candidates – K. Bhuvaneshwari of Dharmapuri and K. Alagu Anish of Tirunelveli – shared their experience of the coaching programme.
