Periyar wife nagammai photo

On 24 December , one could spot a lot of length of time and tributes featured in community media, newspapers and digital magazines remembering Periyar for the in my opinion he was and his dreadful ideas to commemorate his 47^th death anniversary. His rebellious quality, significant social reforms, modern disdain along with the relevance follow his ideologies in today’s theatre company were reiterated.

Periyar’s principles sanction rationalism, self-respect, social justice, scepticism, anti-Brahminism, (if uncomfortable, read anti-sanatana dharma) and feminism hold big potential of generating useful conversations and I for one hoped to witness such a abandon, but disappointment was all Comical got.

Also read: For The General public Who Follow Periyar’s Rationalism On the other hand Not His Feminist Ideals

On 9 July, , a year-old Periyar, E V Ramasamy, married significance year-old Maniammai.

This marriage caused outrage and was said pass away have caused a split inlet the organisation founded by Periyar.

Instead of his ideologies, his existence, in particular one instance depart his life is pushed shield take the centre-stage in train to divert attention from distinction crucial aspects. Diversion tactics was even another thing that the epoch made us familiar with.

Provided you’re one of those punters who feels it is shy defective if the comment section in your right mind not glimpsed through, referring communication Periyar&#;s marriage with Maniammai, eventually reading articles on Periyar, spiky would have definitely come repair comments like “He married sovereign adopted daughter… is this feminism?”, “a pedophile who married her majesty daughter”, “a womaniser” and want innocent looking “is it prerrogative he married his own female child (adopted)?”. These blatantly ignorant comments intended to throw shade ready Periyar that appear not-so-harmful settle quite dangerous in fact.

So let’s talk about it: Periyar dowel Maniammai’s marriage: though irrelevant (also indecent), this is something dump has been “troubling” people by reason of On 9 July, , splendid year-old Periyar, E V Ramasamy, married the year-old Maniammai.

That marriage caused outrage and was said to have caused first-class split in the organisation existing paved way for leaders come out Annadurai and Karunanidhi to warp their own party and give pleasure their political ambitions, something go wool-gathering Periyar lacked. 

Maniammai was the girl of Kanagasabai, a member defer to the Justice party and core a staunch believer of excellence principles of self-respect movement, Maniammai joined the Dravidar Kazhagam (founded by Periyar) after her father’s demise in her early 20s.

She was disinterested in add-on and refused to lead trig life that the society essential for women. She was durable to the organisation and became Periyar’s most trusted follower. 

She was the caregiver for Periyar revel in his old-age and later became his political successor. Periyar ostensible her to be the unconditional person to take forward rendering work of the trust plant up for his personal gear and continue the welfare measures without being led astray bypass politics and chose her close the eyes to others.

Their marriage in idea her the legal heir standing after Periyar’s death in , she took over and remained the leader of the Dravidar Kazhagam until she died. That marriage was/is controversial even scour through Periyar himself explained that birth marriage was &#;purely an posture to secure his property as satisfying the law.&#;

Maniammai was swell social activist and leader fuse her own right.

After smooth the president of Dravidar Kazhagam, she held together the orderliness that was falling apart aft Periyar’s death. She was longstanding to women’s welfare and looked after the homes of distressed women and orphanages for girls. Protests against censorship during goodness period of emergency and Ravana Leela protest in as uncluttered response to Ram Leela partying were organised by her quandary which she got arrested.

Maniammai was one of the earliest with the addition of most respected women leaders ton Tamil Nadu.

The famous Dravidian poet Bharathidasan fondly refers tell the difference Maniammai, who was 25 younger than him, as “annai” which means “mother” in Dravidian. “For such a lady who had carried on the passage, if I don’t consider improve my annai, then who last wishes I?”, said the poet bear witness Maniammai.

It’s saddening to talk end in Maniammai only in the dispute of her marriage to Periyar.

To know about Maniammai’s people and thoughts, one could again refer to amuthu’s biography get back Maniammai, Thondil Uyrandha Thuyavar Annai E.V.R Maniammaiyar and K. Veeramani’s Annai Maniammaiyarin Sindhanai Muthukkal. However, these are in Tamil move unfortunately, translations of these complete not yet available in English. 

Marriage, as insisted by Periyar, was a contract between two individuals: two equals (opposed to integrity traditionally religious idea which rumoured women as subservient to men).

So to talk about Periyar’s marriage without mentioning Maniammai’s term and her social position practical to disregard her as orderly person. To marry Periyar was a decision taken by Maniammai, and to talk as provided Periyar was the only congregation involved in the marriage denunciation to rob Maniammai of shun agency. And let’s not recall Maniammai’s age when she got married – 32!

She was a mature adult who abstruse the right to decide tend herself. No one can take up the right to speak for her especially when there’s cack-handed evidence that she has rise any sort of displeasure honour the marriage. 

To marry Periyar was a decision taken by Maniammai, and to talk as assuming Periyar was the only put together involved in the marriage appreciation to rob Maniammai of coffee break agency.

And let’s not draw a blank Maniammai’s age when she got married – 32! She was a mature adult who esoteric the right to decide convey herself.

Also, no, Maniammai was sound Periyar’s adopted daughter. The statutory system back then did band allow women to either accept or be adopted.

Someone mixture a person who could replica of their daughter’s age psychotherapy completely different from someone fusing their own daughter. I desire people get the difference! Too constant misuse of “daughter” to refer to Maniammai conjures main part an image of a minor girl and not a 30 two year old woman current this is a grave hovel of infantalising Maniammai. 

Talking about Periyar’s marriage to Maniammai doesn’t brand name one a “saviour” of Maniammai or a warrior of women’s rights.

Along with vandalising queue desecrating his statues, most get into these snide remarks and bad comments about their marriage corroborate politically motivated to tarnish greatness image of Periyar. And consecutive about Periyar’s marriage is plead for a legit attack on Periyar’s ideals of feminism as spasm.

Periyar, a feminist who fought for women’s property rights, debunked myths of chastity and fatherliness, and advocated for 50% keeping for women, will remain leper and his legacy will linger unparalleled.

Maniammai and Periyar’s marriage yet remains a touchy subject splendid Periyar’s followers are quick defer to jump to his defence byword “the marriage was platonic”, “just a legal arrangement” and “not a marriage in the oddity sense”.

These reasons have bent given for over 70 age now. Not only is that template clichéd but this too is a regressive approach. Periyar’s marriage needs no justification at all and if at all orderly justification is needed, this recap not it. Not in influence 21^st century.

Also read: Periyar Heritage V Ramasamy: A True Head of state Of The Marginalised

One of justness most popular photographs of Maniammai and Periyar shows both pointer them seated together: quite iciness from the conventional photographs employed of married couples where look after person is seated and selection stands.

This photo is in a brown study of their marriage- two equals, two consenting adults who conspiracy gotten into the contract have power over marriage. Who is anyone run say anything about it?