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Exploring caste and patriarchy through the lens of Periyar: A book review

By Janardan Ravidas
The book 'Jaati-vyavastha aur Pitrisatta' (Caste System and Patriarchy), edited by Pramod Ranjan, is a collection of articles and speeches by E. V. Ramaswamy Periyar, often called the Socrates of India, focused on this subject.
In this book, we find Periyar's very logical thoughts. For instance, Periyar says, "I do not agree with words like marriage or wedding. I consider it merely a contract for companionship in life." Similarly, he says, "A man who believes in God and religion can never hope to achieve freedom."
Furthermore, the significance of this book also lies in the fact that it includes articles by various scholars that illuminate the background of Periyar's ideas. The book also provides a chronological account of all the major events in Periyar's life, which helps us understand Periyar's biography. Additionally, it gives us a vivid glimpse of the political landscape of then-India, especially Tamil Nadu.
This book is divided into two parts. The first part of the book compiles Periyar's views on the caste system in India and measures for its annihilation.
The book contains an article by Periyar titled 'Rationalism: The Path to Liberation from Hypocrisy and Superstition'. In this, Periyar suggests adopting logic, intellect, knowledge, and reason in place of hypocrisy and superstition. Periyar calls reason the guide. Periyar says, "Knowledge born of rationalism is the real knowledge." He questions, "Can mere bookish knowledge be knowledge? Can anyone become talented by rote learning? Why is it that highly intellectually gifted educated individuals, and those who hold degrees especially in science, prostrate themselves before a stone, considering it a deity? Is there any connection between the science they have studied and the practice of anointing a mixture of cow dung and cow urine?"
One of his thought-provoking articles is 'Women's Rights'. In this, Periyar reflects on the condition of Indian women and considers their rights. Tauntingly, he asks why the discipline and rules that apply to women do not also apply to men. Addressing women, he says, "Women! Be courageous. If you change your conduct and thoughts, it will be easier for your husbands and other men to change... Strengthen your position in such a way that in the future, instead of you being identified as so-and-so's wife, your husband is identified as so-and-so's husband."
Another article on the same subject, 'Not Husband and Wife, Become Each Other's Companions', is also included. In this article, Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy presents his views on love and marriage. In this article, he says, "A wife should behave with the understanding that she is not her husband's maid or cook... Couples should treat each other with friendship."
The book has an article titled 'The Caste System'. In this, Periyar's anti-caste ideology comes to the fore. He is against any kind of compromise with the caste system and believes that there is nothing but demerits in the caste system.
On the same issue, he has another article 'About Caste'. In this, he presents his views on how castes will end in India. The book also has another article titled 'The Working Method of the Caste System'. In this, he reflects on the functioning of the caste system.
The article 'Why Do Brahmins Hate Reservation?' included in the book is also very thought-provoking and helps in understanding the mentality of the upper castes. In the book, Periyar questions the concept of Swaraj (self-rule) at one point, saying, "We are loudly talking about Swaraj. Is this Swaraj for the Tamils? Or for the North Indians? Is it for you? Or for the capitalists? Is it for the laborers, or for those who exploit them?"
In this article, his view is that as long as castes exist in India and caste discrimination persists, reservation should not be abolished. Other articles in the book on this subject are 'Caste and Character' and 'Let the Caste System Decay'. In these, Periyar supports the destruction of the caste system, saying that castes do no good to anyone; they only create a feeling of inferiority in society.
The second part of the book is an appendix. It includes Periyar's thoughts on the annihilation of patriarchy, as well as articles by some scholars on his life and struggles. In the appendix, Lalita Dhara's article 'Women Called Him Periyar (The Great)' and T. Thamarai Kannan's article 'Periyar's Place in the Movements for Social Change' highlight Periyar's role as a social reformer and agent of social transformation. These articles provide a rational explanation of Periyar's reformist suggestions and ideas regarding the destruction of patriarchy, male-female relations, marriage, widow remarriage, etc.
The editor of the book, Pramod Ranjan, has written an editorial titled 'Periyar in the Hindi Belt'. In this, he sheds light on the role of 'Lallai Singh' in the dissemination of Periyar's thoughts in North India. He also describes his personal experiences related to the editing of this book. Pramod Ranjan is one of those who challenge the traditional way of seeing and understanding Hindi society and literature. He started his ideological journey with journalism and has also edited numerous magazines. His edited book 'The Concept of Bahujan Literature' provided a theoretical basis for the concept of Bahujan literature, and 'Mahishasur: A People's Hero' made an alternative cultural perspective a topic of broad discussion. He has edited a series of three books by Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy. In addition to 'Jaati-vyavastha aur Pitrisatta', these books include 'Dharma aur Vishwa Drishti' (Religion and Worldview) and 'Sachchi Ramayana' (The True Ramayana).
The book under review, 'Jaati-vyavastha aur Pitrisatta', is based on Periyar's thoughts focused on social issues. The caste system, born from the Varna system in India, and patriarchy are prominent among social distortions. In the book, Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy's contemplation, reflection, suggestions, and ideas on these are presented with great scientific rigor and rationality. Besides the caste system and patriarchy, Periyar's logical thoughts on social problems like religious superstition, hypocrisy, gender inequality, untouchability, and social discrimination are included, and he has also shown the path to liberation from these social problems with great precision.
Therefore, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this book lives up to its purpose.
Periyar's socio-political movement, social and political ideas, etc., are presented through articles in the book, which are not easily found elsewhere in Hindi. Most of Periyar's writings are in Tamil, the majority of which have been translated into English. The articles selected for this book have been translated by Kanwal Bharti, Pooja Singh, Kanwal Devina Akshayavar, etc. All the translations are very fluent.
---
Janardan Ravidas is researching Chandrika Prasad Jigyasu at Assam University, Diphu Campus

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