New Delhi: Carnatic vocalist and activist T.M. Krishna on Thursday released a song honouring E.V. Ramaswamy “Periyar” to commemorate the centenary year of Vaikom Satyagraha, an anti-caste movement that had its roots in early 19th-century Kerala.
The song has been written by eminent Tamil writer Perumal Murugan and the first few lines of the composition has been penned by research scholar and author Pazha. Athiyaman.
The singer tweeted: “Honouring Periyar with this special song along with Perumal Murugan and Pazha. Athiyaman – Commemorating the Centenary of the Vaikom Satyagraha.”
Honouring Periyar with this special song along with Perumal Murugan and Pazha. Athiyaman – Commemorating the Centenary of the Vaikom Satyagraha. @perumal_murugan
Watch the full video here: https://t.co/tL7aLUFTbt#tmkrishna #musician #perumalmurugan #periyar #vaikomsatyagraha
— T M Krishna (@tmkrishna) March 30, 2023
Krishna also posted the song, Sindikka Chonnavar Periyar: Song on Periyar, on his YouTube channel.
The lyrics begin with the lines: “He was the one who told us to think/Our Elder Periyar, Our Elder Periyar/To use one’s own intellect to think”
In tune with the centenary year of Vaikom Satyagrah, the lyrics go on to say: “Question caste discriminations/Question scriptural regulations/Question oppressive actions and/Question injustice and untouchability”.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin retweeted Krishna’s post.
👌👏 #Vaikom100 https://t.co/whzpXlMkDn
— M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) March 31, 2023
On Thursday, Stalin announced that the Tamil Nadu government would organise year long events to commemorate the Vaikom struggle and disseminate the legendary movement’s history, objective and its victory.
South Chennai MP Thamizhachi Thangapandian also shared the tweet saying, “Absolutely perfect tribute to our Iconoclast Periyar on the Centennial commemoration of the Revolutionary Vaikaom Protest by our internationally acclaimed Musician.”
Absolutely perfect tribute to our Iconoclast Periyar on the Centennial commemoration of the Revolutionary Vaikaom Protest by our internationally acclaimed Musician our @tmkrishna with the
1/2https://t.co/gzVVzEofcd
— தமிழச்சி (@ThamizhachiTh) March 30, 2023
Another user wrote: “Never thought I would get to hear a proper carnatic composition on Periyar.”
Never thought I would get to hear a proper carnatic composition on Periyar. What an amazing work! Wonderful lyrics! Brilliant tuning! ♥️it This man is smthng else @tmkrishna Can't wait to hear this song in live concerts from TMK & others too ! Thank you♥️https://t.co/1iVPGq3l0N
— Adi (@Vioadithya) March 31, 2023
Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, revered as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, – was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is also known as the ‘Father of the Dravidian movement’.
The Vaikom Satyagraha, which lasted 20 months from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925, is an important chapter in the social history of Kerala in particular and South India in general. A leading social reform movement, it challenged the authority of the caste system in the region, seeking equal rights for oppressed Hindus and serving as a testing ground for the Gandhian way of struggle.
It drew in the who’s who of social and political leaders from across the princely states of Travancore and Cochin and British Malabar as well as national figures from MK Gandhi and C Rajagopalachari to “Periyar”.
Also read: Celebrate 100 yrs of Vaikom. But now focus on entry in boardrooms, judiciary, media, teaching