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

Neville Cardus: The man who turned cricket writing into poetry

By Harsh Thakor*  Neville Cardus was one of the most remarkable literary figures of the twentieth century. A prolific English writer and critic, he achieved distinction in two vastly different fields: cricket and classical music. Entirely self-taught, Cardus rose from humble beginnings to become both the cricket correspondent and chief music critic of The Manchester Guardian . His achievements in these contrasting disciplines earned him widespread acclaim and established him as one of the foremost critics of his generation. In February 2025, the cricketing and literary world marked the fiftieth anniversary of his death, which occurred in February 1975.

​Ideological shifts and structural realities within India's left-wing insurgency

​By Harsh Thakor*  The Maoist insurgency in India is arguably at its weakest point since the formation of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2004. Years of sustained counterinsurgency operations, leadership losses, shrinking territorial influence, declining recruitment, and growing technological advantages enjoyed by the state have significantly eroded the movement's operational capabilities. 

The Dalit body on screen: Stereotypes, sacrifice, and subjugation in Hindi films

By Dr. Prem Singh*  Despite centuries of reformist efforts, from Gandhi and Ambedkar to contemporary activists, the caste system remains deeply embedded in the Indian psyche. One of the primary reasons for this persistence is the religious sanction provided by Brahminical scriptures, which have shaped not only social structures but also cultural and artistic expressions.