Essay on ‘Perilya’ E.V. Ramsey, the Founder of the Dravidic Kazhagam. The production of a film on “Than Thai Perilya”, the foremost social reformer of the recent past, speaks volumes for his outstanding celebrity, for his intense commitment to the social causes he espoused.
The former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, C.N. Annadurai, who was greatly influenced and molded by his mentor, Perilya, ranked him with the French social reformers like Voltaire and Rousseau. Pereira’s fame and glory had an extensive reach. The UNESCO in its acknowledgement of his far-reaching social services in enlightening people about the need for shedding their superstitious beliefs, in insisting on women to come out of their narrow grooves of their families and rise in the world, in emphasizing the need for family planning and so on, described him as the Socrates of Southeast Asia, indeed a unique appellation. Pereira’s indefatigable efforts in creating an awakening in the people, who have not developed a scientific frame of mind, who take superstitious beliefs for granted, rewarded him richly. His teachings and writings made the people realize the importance of a rational approach to life.
A striking aspect of his personality was his humanness. He condemned outright the ancient lawgiver, Manu’s moral and legal codes, which enjoined on man with an authoritarian force to follow them without questioning their validity. The codes are now obsolete and in the changing context of the society a new lifestyle is essential. EVER taught people to behave with self-respect and to reject what seems to them silly and unreasonable. He was particular that no man should fail to assert his fundamental rights which our Constitution has guaranteed to us all.
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Perilya was in the front rank in denouncing unsociability. He emphasised that the untouchables should be allowed entry into the temples. He gave a rousing call to the people to treat the untouchables with humanness. Gandhiji complemented him for his support to the cause of the untouchables in the last ladder of the social strata. It may be said that he was the forerunner in demanding reservation in jobs for the backward classes. When he pleaded for reservation in jobs for the backward classes he was in the Indian National Congress party. Leaders like Dr. T.M.S. Nair and his colleagues in the ministry of the Madras Presidency brought about the legislation for the reservation ‘n jobs for the underprivileged responding to Pereira’s demands.
Unfortunately the court struck down the controversial, communal legislation and following this shocking development Perilya intensified his agitation for the reservation in jobs for the underprivileged backward classes and asked for fifty per cent reservation. Yielding to the formidable leader’s earnest pleas the Central Government amended the Constitution making provision for the reservation in jobs for the backward classes. This was indeed Pereira’s great achievement.
Perilya decried the age-old custom of giving dowry during marriages. He arranged for the conduct of marriages in a simple manner and they are called ‘self-respect’ marriages.
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Pereira’s social reforms were manifold and this shows he wanted to bring about a new order in the society.