Skip to main content

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

Comments

TRENDING

Small Farm, big success: How an innovative couple built a model of sustainable farming

By Bharat Dogra  In Sema, a remote village in Rajasthan's Rajsamand district, Bhagwati Lal and his wife Rekha share equal credit for creating a remarkable farm that has become an inspiration for villagers and visitors alike. Their achievement demonstrates how even a very small piece of land can provide a strong foundation for sustainable livelihoods while enhancing climate resilience and protecting the environment.

Incarceration of Prof Saibaba 'revives' the question: What is crime, who is criminal?

By Kunal Pant* In 2016, a Supreme Court Judge asked the state of Maharashtra, “Do you want to extract a pound of flesh?” The statement was directed against the state for contesting the bail plea of Delhi University Professor GN Saibaba. Saibaba was arrested in 2014, a justification for which was to prevent him from committing what the police called “anti-national activities.”

Shrinking settlements, fading schools: The Tibetan exile crisis in India

By Tseten Lhundup*  Since the 14th Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959, the Tibetan exile community in Dharamsala has established the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) as the guardian of Tibetan culture and identity. Once admired for its democratic governance , educational system , and religious vitality , the exile community now faces an alarming demographic and institutional decline.