When Dravidianism and Hindutva met (The legacy of Periyar and present-day DMK)

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When Dravidianism and Hindutva met (The legacy of Periyar and present-day DMK)

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• The politics of 1940s: The meeting between Periyar E V Ramasamy (leader of non-Brahmin movement) and Hindu Mahasabha chief B.S. Moonje in 1944 was an interesting development. Both were polar opposites.

• Periyar’s basic philosophy  and actions:   (in the 1930s, 40s, 50s and 60s)

1. Articulating non-Brahmin interests within the nationalist movement
2. Launched the Self Respect Movement against Hindu caste systems
3. Against the Hindu religion and Gods
4. Hindu community should mean all Indians, and not be defined solely by religion
5. Prohibit religious conversions, but weld all people of India into one non-religious community
6. Brahminism should be rooted out completely
7. Prevalent Hindu rites and traditions should be rooted out
8. Wanted Dravidistan to truly protect the interests of the southern people

• Moonje’s basic philosophy and actions: (in the 1920s, 30s, and 40s)

1. He was a doctor, and a key person responsible for the revival of Hindu Mahasabha after Khilafat Movement
2. Represented Hindu interests in the Round Table Conference at London 1930
3. Met Benito Mussolini of Italy (Fascist leader) to learn how to organise Hindus
4. Gave way to VD Savarkar in 1938 as head of Hindu Mahasabha

• The 1944 meeting: These two polar opposites met in Trichy, and agreed on certain aspects. But what Periyar’s publication reported, was different from what others reported. Periyar again realised that interests of non-Brahmins would never take centre-stage.
• The author’s message: As M K Stalin now runs the DMK, he must not forget that “transient considerations should not overshadow the great legacy he is carrying”. Electoral politics should not end the tradition of Periyar.
• Summary : The historical facts about Periyar and Moonje are apparent all over again in the dynamics between DMK and BJP of today.

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