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Conversation with SV Rajadurai, Scholar on Periyar, Dravidian movement, Tamil identity

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* 
Sharing here this conversation of mine with Thiru S V Rajadurai, a noted Tamil scholar on Periyar, Dravidian movement and Tamil identity question. Mr Rajadurai has been actively involved in the human rights and left movement in Tamil Nadu. 
Of course, his association with Periyar and his ideology started since his student days when he got an opportunity to share the platform with Periyar. He has translated international works into Tamil as well as written numerous articles in English and Tamil. That apart, his work on Periyar and Dravidian movements are considered to be classic and highly popular among the common people.
This conversation was recorded at his home in the foothills of Nilgiris near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu on July 15th, 2023. 
Human rights defender. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat. X: @freetohumanity. Skype: @vbrawat

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