In an interview with acclaimed film critic Baradwaj Rangan, the director of ‘Meiyyazhagan’ film C. Prem Kumar (who had also made the film 96), justified showing portraits of EV Ramasamy Naicker (hailed as ‘Periyar’ by his followers) and Hindu God Murugan in the same frame saying that Tamil people celebrate EVR as much as Murugan.
“Tamil people are like that. As much as we go to a Murugan Temple we celebrate Periyar too. He is literally like a clan deity for us. Because if he had not fought, I’m not sure if we would’ve got this much rights. A few were there before and after but the impact that he gave, is almost in our genes. Even to this generation he’s relevant as youngsters proudly wear t-shirts that say ‘I’m Periyar’s grandson’. We should venerate him.“, the Dravidianist director said.
He then went on to expose the typical separatist undercurrent present in the mind of a Dravidianist saying “Because we’re so educated today, we’ve a fighting spirit in us, we boldly talk back, all over India we’ve our own separate identity as Tamil Nadu. Other state people fear us. That fear comes from him.”
He further went on to peddle half-truths about how EVR was not against any religion and how he is hailed as a ‘Vaikkom Veerar’.
However, here’s where the film director has exposed his ignorance and has peddled the usual Dravidianist rhetoric on EVR.
What EVR Said About Hindu God Murugan
This is how EVR disgustingly described the birth of Hindu God Murugan as per the book Thoughts of Periyar EVR and was originally cited from “Kadavul Oru Karpanaye – 1971″:
“The birth of Kandhan (another name for Murugan’s) has been explained in Ramayanam, Kanchi Puranam and (S)Kandha Puranam. Apparently Devas asked Siva “Oh Lord Siva! The atrocities of demons has increased. We’re not able to bear it. You’ve to give birth to a son who is valiant to slay them” and prayed to him. Accordingly, Lord Siva married Parvathi and started having sex with her to get a child. Sivan and Parvathi kept having sex for a thousand years. The Devas after seeing that the child has not been born despite having sex for a thousand years, feared that ‘If a child is born now, the world can’t handle. It will be that strong. It might destroy the world’, and went to Siva and prayed to him to stop having sex. Siva responded to them saying “As per your wish, I don’t have a problem in stopping. But what do I do with the sperm that comes out?”. Immediately the Devas cupped their hands and asked him to release the sperm in there. Accordingly Siva released his sperms in their hands and asked them to drink it. Devas drank it. Siva released the remaining sperms in the Ganga. Ganga couldn’t bear it and started boiling. The Devas who drank it got pregnant. They went to Siva, prayed and asked him for a remedy for this pregnancy problem. Siva apparently told them if they took a bath in Suragareeswarar Pond in Kancheepuram their pregnancy would get resolved. Devas accordingly took a dip in the pond and relieved themselves of the pregnancy. The sperms of Siva which was flowing in the earth got split into 6 branches and became 6 babies. Those 6 babies were fed milk by 6 ladies. Since it was difficult to give milk to 6 babies they made the 6 babies into 1. Because of this the body became 1 and heads became 6. That’s the story of ‘Arumugam’ (another name for Lord Murugan). Since he emerged from a ‘Skalam’ hence the name ‘Skandha’. Brahma made his daughter as his wife. Lakshmi had sex with horse. These are the qualities of the Gods we have!”
Busting The ‘Vaikom Veerar’ Myth
The Vaikom Satyagraha, a historic nonviolent agitation that began in March 1924, sought to secure the right of lower caste members to walk on the roads leading to the Vaikom Temple in Travancore. Led by Indian National Congress leaders, particularly George Joseph (Rosappu Dorai), and inspired by Hindu reformer Shree Narayana Guru, the movement aimed to abolish untouchability and allow Dalits entry into temples.
Although EV Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) had minimal involvement—attending only one event during the year-long protest—he is credited in Tamil Nadu as a central figure. School textbooks refer to him as the “Vaikom Warrior,” despite historical evidence showing that he was not the leader. Meanwhile, Rosappu Dorai remains largely unrecognized, and the Dravidar Kazhagam has promoted Periyar as the hero of the struggle, despite his limited role.
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