Periyar Declares War On Brahminism
Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen, This meeting is convened to explain the resolutions passed at the recent conference for the eradication of social degradation. I think I am addressing this place after a long time. The people of this place are hearing me after ten years. As such they might not have had the opportunity of hearing me in the recent past. Before commencing the meeting Com. K. Veeramani recited the prologue denying the existence of God. You heard him say:
There is no God
There is no God
There is no God at all
He who created God was a fool
He who propagates God is a scoundrel
He who worships God is a barbarian.
I will explain what he uttered word by word Later on.
BRAHMINS NOT NATIVES OF INDIA
Brahmins are not the natives of this land. As a wandering tribe they came to India. Yet they have debased us. They call us low and degraded by caste. We do not have the right to step into the “sanctum sanctorum” of the Hindu temples. They say that God gets polluted by our touch. They assert that the shudras have no right to marriage.
They proudly proclaim that our country has attained freedom. But ‘even after the dawn of independence they term us as shudras. which means that we are born of prostitutes. Are we to accept that our mothers are all prostitutes? Are we to accept that we are born of Brahmins. All the Hindu shastras classify us as shudras only. It is not only the Hindu religion that calls us shudras. Even the Constitution of India imposes the title shudra on all of us. According to the present Constitution we are all shudras. It is not known as to who wrote these shastras. No one is able to say when these shastras were written. Is there anything more dishonest and deceitful than this anywhere in the world?
Some people simply say that some. rishis wrote the shastras at the early age of human history. Some
The text of the historic last speech delivered by Periyar E.V. Ramaswami on 19-12-1973 at a meeting held at Theagaraya Nagar, Madras, before his death.
People say that a person called Vasistar is the author of these shastras. Controversy has risen about this. There are others who say that it is Narada who created the shastras. Even this is disputed by others, who say it is Yagnavalkya who wrote the shastras. All that we are able to understand is that the shastras were created by someone not known to the people. That is why they are unable to say clearly as to who is the real author of these shastras. All that we learn is that some Tom, Dick and Harry created the shastras.
What is said more about the longevity of these people? Narada is said to have lived for over five crore years. When was he born and where was he living for so long? They say that he lived some two to three Kalpas before this Kaliyuga. A kalpa is equal to five crores of years.
Where is the historical proof for their statement? Is it possible for anyone to believe that a person could live for so many years? Do you think it right to accept these baseless statements?
Comrades, you know the judgments given in courts today are based on these so-called Puranas. Is it a right and just thing? Is this practice not absurd? That is why | say that the rulers are irresponsible. They are a shameless lot. In what other way can | describe them?
You heard Com. Veeramani referring to the Hindu law. Who is a Hindu? What is meant by the term Hindu? When did this word come into being? You find different versions stated in the Hindu literature.
The Brahmin-literature comprises the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, Vishnu Purana, Kanda Purana and $o on. Our Tamil pundits also have Pancha Kaviyam, Aiyinthu llakkanam and so on, as their literature. Is there any reference to the term Hindu in any of these books?
CONFUSION ON THE TERM HINDU
Let us now consider as to how this term Hindu came into use. It is said that the term Hindu has its origin in Sindhu. Those who were dwelling in the area, where the river Sindhu flowed, came to be called Hindus in course of time. Now let me put this question. Is there any relationship between the river Sindhu and the Dravidians?
It is only after the advent of the Aryans that we came to know of the river Sindhu.
NO ONE TO THINK
Hinduism comprises two communities. One is the Brahmin community, and the other is the shudra community. The Brahmins belong to the upper caste and the shudras belong to the lower caste.
Any Shudra’s wife is a prostitute or a concubine of the Brahmin.
All these are stated in the shastras. They are adumbrated in our law books. Is this not a fact? When are we going to be liberated from this dismal and disgraceful status? As an individual one pounces with his daggers drawn, if a man casts aspersions on one’s mother’s character. But no one is worried when the entire community is branded as the progeny of prostitutes. What do we judge from this about our community?
If we do really have any sense of self-respect, how could we allow the Brahmins brand us as the sons of prostitutes eternally? If we rise to redeem our honour could you find a Brahmin move about in front of us with his poonul (the sacred thread across the chest). What is the significance of wearing the poonul? Is it not to establish that we are all his concubine’s sons? How angry our women get when they are accused of having relation with another man. Should we not get enraged when we are called shudras? Unfortunately, there is no one to take notice of this insult. Everyone is careless about this.
POLITICIANS CRITICISED
The power-mongering politicians give anything to catch votes. They are not worried about anything except their victory in the election. Even the DMK party thinks it is essential to renovate the Hindu temples. For them the yotes are the most important factor in life.
In the course of time, it will not be a surprise even if wives are given away for catching votes. Why do | say so? Power and position are the only concerns of the politicians.
PROGRESSING WORLD
Look at the progress of the Whites in the world. They were once barbarians. Today they are able to travel into space and land on the moon. What about us? Ours is a big society. We should have made staggering progress. But we are living only a helpless, neglected and barbarous life.
We see scientists performing wonders. They produce artificial babies. Getting the semen of an American male and the egg (ovum) of a Chinese woman, the scientific research scholars fuse them together to cause artificial fertilization. A day or two ago a news item appeared. It reveals that it is quite possible to collect and preserve the male semen and female ovum in containers for over 10 years. They say that it could be used for impregnation anytime.
We are today speaking on telephone from here to a person far away in America.
WASTE OF MONEY ON GODS
While we see so many striking. achievements in those foreign countries, what do we see here? Nothing. In that case what is the use of our having hundreds of gods? Many of our people waste their hard-earned money in the name of these numerous gods. What a staggering amount is spent for the marriage of gods and goddesses. Don’t we squander money in the name of festivals and in the name of gods? Offerings in the form of food is served to these stone gods at regular intervals. There are people who cry hoarse ‘r’ about taxes levied by the government. But do you see anyone raising objections to the criminal waste of money in the name of gods?
Religious people go on pilgrimages. They have a dip in the tanks and the rivers. After having all these purifications, when they enter the temple, they are stopped at a particular point. They cannot take one step forward towards the sanctum sanctorum. When you ask why they stand outside they say that as they are shudras they cannot go inside. What a sordid sight in 1973. We are not ashamed to call this country our motherland. We do not feel sorry for our society. Who comes forward to uplift our society? It is only the few self-respecters like us who are worried about society.
FAKE INDIAN COMMUNISTS
See the Russian communists. They demolished the temples. They murdered the religious heads. See what the Indian communists are doing. They do not say anything as we boldly express. They are engaged in other profitable fields. No one daringly speak about man. We have conducted a number of conferences. You are aware of our activities. The communists have not even lent their support to our noble ventures. They are afraid of losing their votes. The communists are mad after power and position only. They are not concerned with | the problems of society.
Comrades, that is the reason why I am deeply concerned about our social degradation.
| am very much worried about the degraded, lower status of our people. | consider this the most important problem to be solved at the outset.
Every man can live up to a maximum of 500 years. Now the longevity of our people is calculated to be 52 years. Even this span of life is due to the foreigners. Before the advent of the British rule the average life span of man was very low. It is the Britishers who evinced deep interests in providing people with better medical and hygienic facilities. It is because of them that we are able to live for many years. The scientists hope to make man live for 500 years. Today in Russia we find the Russians live beyond 100 years. Today the problem is not to live long. The real problem is how to die.
We will also be able to live up to 75 years at least in the next 10 years. In course we may have to live for 500 years. That will not be a difficult thing. Such is the astonishing development taking place in the field of science.
SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENT
The only stumbling block in the path of our advancement is our being dubbed as shudras, the sons of prostitutes, the illegitimate sons. If the self-respect movement was not started, we would all be uneducated. I don’t think even ten per cent of our people would be literate. Because of the launching of the Self-respect Movement there was an awakening. People began to read and think. They gained some knowledge.
Do you know the principles of the Self-Respect Movement? I will tell you; there are five:
1.God must be abolished
2. Religion must be abolished
3.Congress (party) must be abolished
4.Gandhism must be abolished
5.Brahminism must be abolished.
From the day of the launching of the movement to this day these are our aims.
WHY BRAHMINS KILLED GANDHI?
In his last days Gandhi preached what we were preaching all these days. He moved towards our movement. He declared openly that the Congress had nothing to do with God. Immediately the Brahmins reacted, and it resulted in the death of M.K. Gandhi within 30 days of his declaration. What was the reason for his being shot dead? The best part of this great crime knew well that M.K. Gandhi was a great leader. They realised that it would be dangerous for them to allow M.K. Gandhi as he became another E.V. Ramasami. They killed him.
Our next target is the Congress. It must be wiped out. It has already one foot in the grave. There is no hope that it will survive long. Now it has split into two groups. They have allowed ugly things to take place. What is going to happen if unity is restored once again? Is there any laudable policy with the Congress today? Who would go toward to support it excepting those who are devoid of honour and self-respect.
BRAHMINS CREATED CASTE SYSTEM
Could it be possible now for Kamaraj to open his mouth and say boldly that castes should be abolished. The only duty of the present-day Congress is to safeguard the caste system. This caste system was created by the Brahmins for feathering their own nests. To remain in the Congress means to accept and submit to the dictates of the Brahmins. For some time Kamaraj was with us. That is why he was able to do something useful.
Do you think that Bakthavatchalam will come forward to decry the caste system? Take Subramaniam. Do you expect that he will censure the caste system. We know what will happen if they dare to say a word against castes. They will have a jolt in the Congress. They could no longer be in Congress. The Brahmins already chalked out the ways to safeguard castes secretly. Do you think Congress would be able to deliver the goods to the people with such a reactionary policy? The principles of the Congress are old, obsolete and out- moded. There is no possibility of the Congress surviving. Even if the DMK is liquidated there are people in the DMK camp who are wedded to the policies of the Self-Respect Movement. They would join us and strengthen the movement. But so far as M.K. Gandhi and the Congress are concerned they are both dead.
CONGRESS, PARTY OF BRAHMINS
God has become a laughingstock. People have begun to give up their faith in God. Com. Veeramani has told you about the gods today. They have been beaten with chappals. What calamity has taken place?
Many including Kamaraj said that people would not cast their votes in favour of those who beat the god with slippers. Do you know what happened? The DMK bagged 184 seats in the Assembly, whenever Kamaraj, Congress and God together managed to secure only 20 seats. We were accused of pursuing a blasphemous policy. We were exposed as accusers of God. Yet out of 235 seats in the Assembly, 200 seats were gained by those who beat the gods openly with chappals.
POLITICAL PARTIES CRITICISED
So, people cannot be easily misled these days. They are able to think independently. That is the reason we talk of many things about God and religion. Many are not aware of the things we speak about. Our desire is that people should progress. We are today with the downtrodden. We must rise gradually in all walks of life. We are the lowest as far as our caste is concerned. We are Untouchables. We are considered sons of prostitutes. This must change first. After this change we must come up in life. I say so because there cannot be any change in our society unless we shed our shudra status.
We are doing our best in this direction. As things stand, we find no one else devoted to this cause. We do not find any political party keen on ending the shudra status. They apprehend that they will be losing of votes. That is the reason we strain hard. We held a separate conference for the eradication of the caste system.
The rulers enacted laws simply to declare that untouchability is a crime in the Indian society. Some of them proudly proclaim that there is no untouchability in our society. But what is reality? What does the so-called law uphold? It has exempted the operation of untouchability law in the field of religion. The law does not empower us to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. This lacuna in the Constitution prompts us to demand suitable amendment in the Constitution. We demand that this miserable lot must be changed but this evil is protected by law as well as by the scriptures.
If we are to root out the evil from the statute books, we will have to do away with the law itself. If we are to do away with the law, it is impossible to do so with a government that upholds such laws. So, we must do away with the government and for which we must equip ourselves suitably. The government has already strengthened itself in many ways.
LINGUISTIC STATES A MISTAKE
They have divided the people into various states lest the people revolt against the government at one time or another unitedly. States are separated. People are divided. Intimate relationships between the people of the various states are curtailed. We don’t have any connection with the people of other states. People speaking Malayalam, Hindi, Bengali etc. is caste into separate linguistic states.
The population of Tamilnadu is four and a half crores. Excluding Muslims and Christians, three crores of people in Tamil Nadu are shudras. The work is a laudable one to bring them all together. But it is a very difficult task. It requires tremendous effort.
For the government to function there must be a constitution. I don’t deny it. But I do not understand why a Brahmin-shudra status is needed for running the government. Is it necessary to have some citizens as Brahmins and the rest of the vast multitude of citizens as shudras for the purpose of running the government? It is men that we need, neither Brahmins nor shudras. You see many governments in the world. But you don’t find any division made amongst the people as Brahmins and shudras in foreign countries.
Our government is a party to the Brahmins to stand in the way of unity of the people. They want all others to be slaves to the Brahmins. It is their arrangement. It must be fought out tooth and nail.
SHUDRAS DISGRACED
Brahminism must put an end to lock stock and barrel.
We conducted the conference with this noble objective. No political party came forward to participate in the deliberations of the conference. No one extended a helping hand to us. The CID sleuths’ men were keenly watching to find out whether any other political party partook in our conference. The political parties trembled in their shoes to come out boldly. What did we hold the conference? Is it not a conference for all these shudras disgraced, degraded and dishonoured in society? Those who are victims of this worst social evil ought to have attended the conference. Everyone ought to have willingly cooperated with us. Even our ministers are shudras. That is their status in society. The issue is of vital importance to the entire shudra community. We must take risks to eradicate evil. Otherwise, we must face a noble death. One moment of splendid life is more valuable than leading a long life without a name or frame. People want to eke out living by hook or crook. They are contented if their bellies are filled to the brim. They are not worried about other things. They lead an ignominious life.
Think for a while whether we can know what is meant by God, religion or shastra. You ask the lay man what he knows about Manudharma. He knows not the head or tail of it. He would simply ask you where it is sold and how many measures are given for a rupee. That is why our people are in slavery.
Similarly, you ask even a religious minded orthodox man to explain the meaning of the term Hindu. You ask him whether he knows when Hinduism was born? You ask him who is the spearhead of the Hindu religion. You ask him to explain the ideology of Hinduism. You enquire whether he knows the shastras.
HINDUISM HAS NO FOUNDER
You ask a Christian. He will reply promptly. He will say that Jesus is the Messiah of Christianity. He will say that it started 2000 years back. He will mention Bible as the sacred book.
Similarly, you ask a Muslim. He will say Mohammed is the prophet of Islam. The age of Islam is 1300 years. Their sacred book is the Quran.
Is there anything like that in Hinduism? They catch hold of a useless man and make him a Mohan or a rishi. Who is the spiritual leader for the Hindus? Some say Vasistar, some Naradar and some others say Viswamitrar. Utter confusion prevails. When you enquire about the age of these spiritual leaders, they simply bluff. They say that they lived some 4 to 5 crores years ago. When you ask him when the shastras were written, they say that no man wrote it. They say that it is God who wrote the shastras. What remains to the credit of Hindus? Is there at least one thing to be proud of?
That is why we say that one who believes in God is a fool. The Hindus do not know who created their gods. No god is found to be the embodiment of so many attributes. They say that God cannot be seen. They say that he has no shape. Yet they have created different gods with different shapes. They say God is not in need of anything. They say that he is the giver of all things. Yet they offer cooked food varieties. Gods have wives, concubines, marriage and other ceremonies.
What is the difference between man and God?
Do we have one single god that exists free from moral depravity. Your gods are born to tuskers, horses, and donkeys. There is not a god that has a decent parentage. God Siva is said to have been performed intercourse for a lakh of years with is consort.
IMMORAL HINDU GODS
Why should a god have a wife? A man may enjoy with his wife for an hour or two. Even for this many need drugs and medicines to whip up their potentialities. But our Puranas say that our god had intercourse continuously for thousands of years. The devas were witnessing this scene.
They became afraid. They prayed to the god to stop. The god expressed his inability to stop. At last, with great difficulty, he stopped the intercourse. His semen gushed forth like a canal. The devas are said to have drunk Siva’s semen. Is it not so written in the Puranas? Is this the way to create a god? If the Brahmins had any respect for us and considered all of us as human beings, would they dare to record such absurd things in the Puranas? Are we devoid of common sense? No. He has the boldness to compel us to believe everything he has written in the Puranas.
God is described as the embodiment of love. But you find dreadful weapons in the hands of gods. Are gods murderers? Is there a single god that has not killed anyone? The Puranas are replete with umpteen instances to prove that gods killed so many. Are our gods butchers? How are we to be convinced of the statement that gods are kind?
With all these baseless, senseless and idiotic puranas they have succeeded in making our society static, reactionary and dumb. People have lost their sense of thinking.
WHAT IS GOD?
Hence no sensible man endowed with reason would consider it necessary to worship such gods or touch the feet of any Brahmin with veneration.
Let me not be misunderstood. We are not asking you not to worship God. That is not our motive. Please keep this in your mind that we do not ask you not to worship God. What all we ask is to tell us what god is. We demand them to explain in unequivocal terms what they mean by God. We are not asking you to keep away from the worship of God. What is the meaning of calling anything and everything as God. If God is a lizard, a snake, a tree or anything will it be wise? No, it will be sheer foolishness. How much of our time is wasted? How much of our money we are recognised as shudras only.
There is no need to justify our cause. Just ten days have elapsed since we conducted the conference. Many thousands attended our conference. About 30 reporters attended the conference. Our resolutions were published in the newspapers. It spread all over India the very next day.
I would like to ask whether anyone came forward to oppose the resolution passed in the conference. Is there any news about it in any newspaper? No one is able to criticise our motives, why? Our work is genuine, and our objective is noble. Who will accept that he is the illegal son of a prostitute? We know that we cannot reach our goal by simply passing a resolution. No right could be secured as a gift. We will demonstrate our strength and ask for an early solution.
CHILDREN OF PROSTITUTES
When we begin to agitate, we know they will repress us. They will be arrested in thousands. We must be prepared for all. We know the price we have to pay for our struggle. We must demonstrate that we could no longer remain the sons of prostitutes. We must demand the government amend the Constitution suitably. If the government is not prepared to do so we will ask what relationship we have with the government. In whose government are we citizens? The next stage is to force the government to quit. Our rulers are thousands of miles away. We cannot understand their language. They cannot understand what we say. Their manners are different. Their civilisation is different. Their culture is different. (At this stage Periyar wailing with Amma, Amma. Bearing with the terrible pain he continued the speech).
Why should you be our rulers? What do we lose if you quit? We have our natural resources — mountains, rivers, seas, forests and all wealth. What are you helping us with? We want you to amend the Constitution. If not quit. In what way is our demand unreasonable? We are not against the government. It is wrong to accuse us as traitors to the government.
We are going to launch an agitation on the 25th of this month. | appeal to you all to take part in large numbers. Elders and women must come forward to agitate. We are going to burn the Constitution. Our demonstration must be peaceful and disciplined. We will have to do many things in a planned way. We- should not give room for any violence. We must face repression, the police may lathi-charge. We must bear with it. Where is the need for us to use violence. Whom are we fighting against? We just make it clear that the government should come forward to amend the Constitution if we are to remain as citizens under this government. We say that we cannot remain as sons of prostitutes any longer under this government. It is for that we want to burn the Constitution. | have already burnt the Constitution. So let us all rise to the occasion and burn the Constitution again. Get yourselves well equipped or participate in the agitation.
POLITICAL POWER USELESS
| am not making any atheist propaganda here. | have not come here to say that there-is no god. We will have other occasions for that.
Our work is to eradicate evils. We cannot do it if we have the desire to become a member of the assembly. We cannot do it if we covet ministership.
We cannot do it if we are greedy for office and power. That is why we keep away from such desires. Our cardinal aspiration is to reform society.
So please think it over seriously. We must succeed in our attempt. Come forward in large numbers. Make the agitation a great Success.
We may be thrown behind bars. Let us take the matter seriously. Fill up the prison cells. In case you are not able to go to prison, you must try to send someone else. Induce your relatives, friends and neighbours to court imprisonment. Everyone should feel that he played his part well. It will be no wonder if this agitation results in our redeeming our own motherland. It may result in the separation of our homeland.
TYRANNY & SUFFERING UNDER HINDUISM
It is our mistake to have given room to aliens. We gave place for the Congressmen and other bad elements. They are Brahmins. Some of the non-Brahmins joined them with selfish motives. They are swindlers. To their own advantage they have accepted their status as the shudras. Even amongst them things are not rosy nowadays. Yet they cannot openly come up with their grievances. It is impossible for them to protest the Brahmins.
You know our country is divided into many states now. Our state is one amongst them. Our party Dravidar Kazhagam is after all one » amongst the many parties in this state. So, it is not really possible to achieve things easily. Today there are many people in other states who do not understand the social tyranny we are suffering. They innocently ask “what if we are called shudras? Are we not shudras?” They venerate Rama as God and Maharaj. We cannot blame them for their ignorance. They are not enlightened properly.
The pains we are going to take in the coming agitation and the sacrifices we are going to make for the eradication of the shudra status will make people realize the truth and they will come forward to strengthen our ranks. If we court imprisonment in thousands, won’t they inquire about our struggle? They will realise that we agitate to do away with the stigma attached to us by birth as shudras. They well realise that they are also deemed to be the sons of prostitutes. They will understand that we are not agitating for any power or pleasure. They will naturally sympathise with us in our cause. They will understand that the agitation is forced on us.
They wili naturally be induced to think of their own social status. It is certain. Even if the people in the Northern states are lethargic, at least the people in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Kerala are sure to bestow their thoughts on this vital social problem.
NAIRS BORN TO PROSECUTES
You know the Nair Malayalees are the sons of prostitutes, born to Brahmins. They themselves accept it openly. They even take pride in saying so. They declare that they are not the Nairs. They say that they are born to Namboodiri Brahmins. They even offer money to the Brahmins.
But we see them change nowadays. They are craving to redeem their self-respect and honour. You will be glad to know that Malayalees have written letters to me expressing their willingness to participate in our struggle. As our bone of contention is primarily everybody’s honour and respect, our agitation would be a success in the long run.
TAMIL NADU MUST BECOME INDEPENDENT
Similarly, the people of Andhra, Karnataka and other states would certainly come forward to uphold our cause. They are today ignorant. Our movement will awaken them. They will read the news and hear many things about the struggle here. There will be a change definitely. But it will not come all of a sudden. They would respond to our call gradually.
If Tamil Nadu becomes free and independent the longevity of our people would increase to one hundred years in a short span of 10 years. We will be able to progress in all fields.
We will be able to fly in the air. Today an airship carries 300 to 400 passengers. The average life of a man now is 52 years. This will be increased by 20 years. By 2000 AD it may go up to 75 years. People in the West are able to live up to 100 years. To that extent the medical sciences have improved. We are now in a well-developed world. Medical treatment is available for almost all diseases. You find the semen bank now. Even as chicken is produced from eggs, human babies could be produced from test tubes. I am not joking. You can find news with real photographs. Man can fly at a speed of even ten thousand miles an hour. Man can land on the moon and come back. No one would refute all these as blatant lies.
1 LAKH MUST GO TO JAIL
We are now fighting to redeem our self-respect. This spirit must pervade all. We must be prepared to face arrest. What is prison life? Prisoners are not allowed to starve. We will look after them kill they are arrested. Generous people have already donated rice bags to feed the volunteers. They are piled up in large numbers. Many have contributed cash as donations. Soon we will have Rs. 50,000 as a donation to meet the expenses. Many have given assurance to donate more and more. Our cause is unimpeachable. So, donations pour in. We hope to send nearly a Takh of people to prison. We have already made arrangements for this. We are sure of setting an example to the world. We will carve out a new world. We will have the strength and energy to lead the whole of shudras. It is true there are many other evils in our society. We will attend to them later on. Everything depends upon the amount of zeal with which the public play their role with us. Even our womenfolk would play their part if they were enlightened. You must explain to them. “Madam this agitation is for you. The Brahmins blaspheme you all as prostitutes. You are all considered as their concubines. The present agitation is to eradicate this disgrace. As such you should all realise the importance of this agitation and come forward to do your best in all possible ways”. If you approach them with facts and explain things in earnest they will readily come forward.
GOD RAMA BORN TO BRAHMINS
This struggle is inevitable. There is nothing for us in religion. The very concept of god is erratic. The shastras are a heap of trash 1o be thrown into the gutters. They are mere conjectures of the Brahmins.
Our gods were created when people were innocent and barbarous. Nowadays all speak about the epic Ramayana. Rama is referred to as God. But investigate the parentage of Rama. To whom was Rama born? You may say to Dasaratha. But the story says that the king had no children. Hence, he offered his wives to the Brahmins. Before that, in order to stimulate the queen’s sexual instincts, horses were permitted to copulate with them.
Then the Brahmins joined the queens in unison. This is clearly stated in the Bala Kandam of the epic Ramayana. Look at Rama. How did he treat his wife? She returned from Ravana as a pregnant lady. Neither Rama nor Sita considered it a horrible immoral act. This matter was ignored and taken into account as nothing serious. You take any god and think over deeply. You don’t have any god that is acceptable to us these days.
We have no selfish motive in unfolding all absurdities about gods. We speak facts and figures. We always speak with authority.
It is true that people who lived some two thousand years ago were ignorant. They were not developed. They had no proper education. It was therefore easy for the Brahmins to write as they pleased. As the Brahmin writers had no regard or respect for women they wrote vulgarly and indecently in the epics.
All these came into existence in the barbarian days when people were uneducated and ignorant. The Brahmins created them in those days as their tools. All these stupid thoughts and imaginary ideas took deep roots in those days. It is the ignorance on the people that enabled the clever Brahmins to safeguard their interests.
WOMEN DEGRADED
The Brahmin created unlimited gods. He said that gods required offerings of food four, five, or six times a day. He held festivals and marriages for gods. People believed that it was their duty 1o act accordingly. Man was made to spend uncomplainingly for gods and religion. Under such circumstances it was possible for the Brahmins to create more gods. Our people are being deceived, eternally. Whether one believes in God or not he takes a fancy to go to temples.
Our women who are traditionally bound within the four walls of the house can go out only when festivals take place in the temples. This gave a golden opportunity for the street Romeos to collide on, squeeze, and rub against the ladies. As all women suffer this situation, no one complains to anyone. This is why the crowds are attracted towards temples and gods.
Dear Comrades, the time now is past ten. The point | want to stress is the agitation we are launching. What is the philosophy behind this struggle? What is the need for agitation? | have already explained in clear cut terms. Ali of you should think it over. You must realise your duty. It is not for a single individual that we are launching the agitation. It is to liberate the four and a half crore people.
What we propagate may be embarrassing to some. We are not telling anything indecent, vulgar or false. That is the way of the Brahmins who created God, religion and shastras. We are not telling anything harsh and cruel. That is the way of Brahmins. Our path is rationalism. Our goal is to search for truth. We are speaking truth — nothing but truth only.
The authors of Prabandam have said that those who disbelieve in God should be mercilessly massacred. This they call piety. A psaimist of Thevaram has gone further. He writes one must rape the wife of a non-believer of God. He even prays to God to bless him for doing so. You may want to know his name. He is called Sambandar. How to respect him as a saint or a divine fellow. All these we find in the holy scriptures.
PRAISE FOR BUDHA
The Budha appealed to people to inquire into the concept of God by using their knowledge. “Don’t believe anything blindly. Think and act” was his message. What is wrong in his preachings? You know how the followers of Budha were treated by these divine men. They beheaded them. Piled up their corpses. This butchering is recorded in the scriptures of Hinduism. One Brahmin holding a Budhist leg, one holding the hands and the third cutting is depicted in the sculptured stone.
Behold what the Saivites did. They caught and impaled all those who refused to believe in the existence of God. The Saivites stripped them naked. They were lifted and placed on sharp spears which pierced through their anus and the spearheads came above the head. About 8,000 people were brutally massacred in this manner. A festival is held every year 1o celebrate this cruel and inhuman act even now. This is found not only in the puranas but also in history. | am speaking with facts and figures. Our preaching has not an iota of violence or hatred or cruelty as it used to be with the pious and divine people in those days.
TIT FOR TAT
The irresponsible leaders who were in the lead of Indian politics made us sons of prostitutes, while framing the constitution. What more is needed on this. By law we are the sons of prostitutes.
Amongst the Hindus only three percent are Brahmins. The rest of the people who form 97 per ‘cent of the population are termed_ as shudras.
This is recognised by the law books also. What is the reason for this? We have not raised our voice against all these. We must retort. When we meet a Brahmin, we must greet him come on you bastard. If he asks you why you say so, ask him why he used the term as shudra in the sastras and statute’ books. Tell him bluntly that you used the same term reciprocally. We must make our women aliso protest. Tell them “Madam, take the broom in one hand and the Constitution in the other. Beat the Constitution with the broom”. Tell them that they are also shudras — prostitutes’ concubines by laws and shastras. They will protest and demonstrate against the Brahmins.
It is because we have not so far reacted in any manner that the Brahmins went on gaining impudence. No one came forward — to champion our cause.
Just imagine what the reaction will be tomorrow after this meeting. Our people would talk high of my speech that is all. They will not worry about agitation. But the Brahmins won’t remain silent. They would meet and discuss my speech, threadbare. They would chalk out plans to counteract. They would foresee the danger ahead of them and forewarn their wives, kith and kin.
THE PRIDE OF A WMUSLIM
These Brahmins have the courage to say in this scientific age that by our touch the strong god gets polluted. What will a foreigner think of us if the Brahmins still brand us as shudras. Look at the Muslims. No Muslim is dubbed as a prostitute’s son. They are all equals. They share food together. They move freely. Their fraternity is of a fine variety. The Christians are also like the Muslims. Why do you go so far? Even amongst Brahmins there is equality. They don’t discriminate on account of subdivision amongst them. They are together in calling us shudras.
BEAT HINDU GODS WITH SLIPPERS
As a result of our Self-Respect propaganda there is some awakening. We find changes in gradual stages. If we organise and agitate vociferously the Brahmins would retrace their steps. They will not openly come out calling us shudras. They may do so privately. So, we must build up a strong opposition against the Brahmins. If Brahmins continue to drag in god, shastras or law i support of them we will have to egg on people to beat the gods with slippers openly. Our women should take the brooms against such gods. We have ourselves demonstrated our protest in these ways already.
SUPREME COURT BIAS
Because of our increasing self- respect the Brahmins are silent in many matters. Suppose Congress comes to power tomorrow, the Brahmins would come to power the day after tomorrow and wag their tails. Today all the political parties are anxious to topple the government of Tamil Nadu. Let them try. | don’t bother about it.
Our position is always critical. The foolishness that is glaringly incorporated in the Hindu law and the constitution is the most ignominious thing. Even the foolishness prevailing all through the past 2000 years is tolerable. It will be a Himalayan blunder if we continue to be the citizens of this government, without demanding the constitution to be amended. There are of course people who depend on this government for their livelihood. But they cannot lead an honest and patriotic life. You are all equals amongst yourselves. But when compared with Brahmins they alone are superiors. Why this? How to change it? What other way? Is there except launching an agitation. The DMK Government brought in legislation to amend the HRE Act. the objective was to enable any trained person irrespective of caste to become an archaka (priest) in the temple.
This amendment was challenged in the Brahmins Court (Supreme Court) [laughter]. Don’t laugh. There is no place for Tamilians in the court.
They cannot get justice easily. Even if a Tamilian gets a place in the court, he will have to please his Brahmin companion only. He will have to give judgments based on the Hindu law.
The Supreme Court has passed the judgement that non-Brahmin archakas are not entitled to enter the sanctum sanctorum of the temple. It was clearly stated that such an act would be astrovirus to the Hindu shastras.
What are those Hindu shastras?
BRAHMIN Judges
Who wrote them? When was it written? Let anyone come forward and answer. The judges write the judgement based on the Agamas. The entire court is dominated by the Brahmins. The judges are appointed by a Kashmiri Brahmin woman. They are liable to write so. But it is our foremost duty to wipe it out. if we suffer a little today; it will be for the eternal good in the future.
So, get ready now itself.
Make the agitation a success.
| thank you for the patient hearing. Thank you. om
(Periyar E.V. Ramaswami: Periyar’s declaration of war on Brahminism, Dravidar Kazhagam Publication, 1998. English translation: A.S. Venu)
