Did Periyar embrace Islam?

The new book by Periyardhasan titled ‘Islathai Periyar Etraara? Edhirthaara?’ brings lesser known information about Periyar’s attraction to Islam

N Vinoth Kumar

Chennai: What will come to your mind when you hear the words ‘Islam’ or ‘Muslim’? Terrorism, jihad, sunnath, biryani, burkha or ‘Vishwaroopam’ ban..? But while you read the book, ‘Islathai Periyar Etraara? Edhirthaara?’ then from the next time if you hear those words, Periyar will come to your mind.

The book in which Abdullah Periyardhasan delivers his research details about Periyar’s beliefs over the religion, Islam. The book unfolds based on the information taken from the collection of 20 volumes titled ‘Periyar E Ve Ra Sindhanaigal’ brought out by Aanaimuthu in the year 2009.

E V Ramasamy, who fondly called as Thanthai Periyar, was an iconoclastic and who fought for the upliftment of backward classes in Tamil Nadu. As an atheist he propagated the principles of rationalism through his movement Dravidar Kazhagam. He has been considered as an offender of religions.

Periyardhasan whose real name is Seshachalam was born in a Saivite family. He was attracted to Periyar’s rationalist thoughts and so he changed his name as Periyardhasan. Then little later, he changed to Buddhism. A couple of years back he was again changed his religion from Buddhism to Islam. Later he joined MDMK party. In spite of his attitude in changing the religious stand, he is considered as a good Dravidian ideologist, an orator, an actor and a philosopher.

Periyar’s inclination towards Islam, starting from 1923 to 1973 and his beliefs on Islam a way to eradicate social descrimination are brought out in the book.

The book records many important events of Periyar’s embrace of Islam. To a surprise, in 1923 when Periyar delivering a speech at Ernakulam and asked the socially downtrodden people who were attending the speech, to convert into Islam from the present religion, thousands of people converted very next moment. The sudden conversion, that gave immense strength to downtrodden, also brought violence.

“Though Periyar has changed his stand in various issues at times, he has supported the principles of Islam continuously for 50 years”, says Periyardhasan in this book.

“Periyar opposed only the Gods created by man and not the God who created the mankind. In that way he supported Islam, since, it is the religion that believes God created the man” he adds.

The book discusses on various platforms such as what is the opinion of Periyar on wearing burkha, how one’s caste discrimination will change if one changes from his religion to other, whether changing of religion affects the ‘Dravidian’ image, whether Periyar accepts Muhammed as a final prophet and finally, most importantly, whether Periyar shifted to Islam religion.

Finally, the book also presents an important view of Periyar. At one point of time, Periyar said, even the religion Islam must be reformed according to changing times.

“We welcome if any alternative thoughts or criticisms to this book” he says.

Based on this book, with eponymous title a 90-minutes documentary has been made. 

Title Courtesy: The New Indian Express.