EVR reiterated that he was in full agreement with Bhagat Singh's ideas, but felt ‘he had erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principles into practice.'
The Dravidar Kazhagam founder ‘Periyar' E.V. Ramasamy (EVR), who admired Bhagat Singh's political views, felt the manner in which he implemented his plans was erroneous and drew on his sacrifice to oppose Mahatma Gandhi.
He wrote an editorial hailing the sacrifice of Bhagat Singh in his journal, Kudiarasu, of March 29, 1931, saying he gave his life for the noble cause of showing to India, nay to the world, the real equality and peace.
Historian Chaman Lal, who has compiled rare documents on Bhagat Singh, found the editorial written by Periyar in Kudiarasu. At his request, an English translation was done and published in the Rationalist.
EVR wrote:“The day when Gandhi said God alone guides him, that Varnashramadharma is superior system fit to govern the affairs of the world and that everything happening according to God's will, we came to the conclusion that there is no difference between Gandhism and Brahminism. We also concluded unless the Congress party that subscribes to such philosophy and principle is abolished it will not be good to the country. But now this fact has been found out at least by some of the people. They have gained wisdom and courage to call for the downfall of Gandhism. This is a great victory to our cause.
“If Bhagat Singh had not died by hanging, there would not have been any chance for this victory to take place in a popular manner. We even venture to say that Gandhism would have gained more ground if he had not been hanged. Bhagat Singh had not fallen sick, suffered and died as it normally happens with people. He gave his life for the noble cause of showing to India, nay to the world, the path of equality and peace. We applaud and sing of his martyrdom from the depth of our heart. At the same time we request those in our government to find out and hang four true persons like Bhagat Singh in each of the provinces.”
Known for his forthright expression of views, EVR said he was sad because he could not get the rare chance, which, he said, had delivered Bhagat Singh from the agony of watching the activities of the “idiots and fools who selfishly seek their honour.”
EVR reiterated that he was in full agreement with Bhagat Singh's ideas, but felt “he had erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principles into practice.”
“The issue is whether a man has done his duty or not. The issue is not whether the action has borne fruit. Yet we agree that we should do our duty, taking into account the time and place of the action. We are sure time, place and the general trend not hostile to the principle upheld by Bhagat Singh. Though it occurs to our mind that he has erred a little in choosing the means to translate his principle into practice. We will never at anytime be emboldened to say that his principle is flawed one,” he argued, saying “we would not have called him an honest man if he had not conducted himself only in the way he had found just.”
Periyar also recalled Bhagat Singh's letter to the Punjab Governor to reiterate his support for the ideas of socialism and atheism.
Prof. Lal also obtained Bhagat Singh's article ‘Why I am an atheist' in Tamil translated by P. Jeevanandam, which was published by Periyar in Kudiarasu in 1935.
According to Prof. Lal, at one time after Partition, the English copy of this essay was not found anywhere. It was then retranslated from Tamil to English, and some websites still carry the retranslated English version of this essay. But the original publication was found and it is now preserved in the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi in microfilm form.
Jeevanandam was then working together with the DK leader in the Self-Respect movement. The British government arrested both Jeevanandam and E.V.Krishnasamy, publisher and EVR's brother. They were released after the two tendered an apology at the behest of Periyar.
Later, EVR himself wrote an article in Kudiarasu, explaining that it was he who forced them to submit an apology and they could not be faulted for their action.
Dravidar Kazhagam general secretary Kali Poonguntran said the incident created a wedge between Periyar and Jeevanandam, who quit the Self Respect Movement to join the Congress.
Periyar Dravidar Kazhagam president Kolathur Mani, who was instrumental in re-publishing Kudiarasu, said EVR's aversion to the Congress was no secret as he regarded the party and its leader Gandhi as proponents of Varnashrama dharma.
Keywords: The Dravidar Kazhagam founder, ‘Periyar' E.V. Ramasamy (EVR), Rationalist, Gandhism, Brahminism.
Going by Gandhi's way, violence may only give us temporary relief or solution. It is only by non-violent means can one achieve permanent solution. I highly regard Bhagat singh who has sacrficed his life for the country. Had he been alive he would have become a bigger hero and the nation would have got a great leader, than he actually is. But he chose violent means and ended up being a temporary moment of success. With due respect to Mr.Periyar, I'm shocked to read from Mr.Periyar that more people like Bhagat should've been hanged for the government to listen to. Did we not lose many great leaders to the tyrant British, how much more should be hanged?! What will that end in?!!! And who will be those persons?...Think about that thought with that of Gandhi's thought, where he felt for the family of the policemen when their police station was gutted!!! Now we know why he was called the MAHATMA!
reply to comment from P. Radhakrishnan; It'd be really helpful if you can provide the source of your statement that Gandhi had caused Jinnah to demand separate country and Ambedkar to do 'what' (I did not even know that Ambedkar wanted divided society; I thought he fought for equality for Harijans given the situation at that time). I am always appalled to see people criticizing Gandhi whenever they get a chance without carrying any credibility and evidence in their criticisms. Bhagat Singh and Gandhi are both great leaders who sacrificed their lives to make our country independent. They contributed in their own ways and it is not respectful of us to compare them. Mr. Periyar (EVR) in the article above fails to mention the logical correlation between Gandhi's statement on God and why it is not good for the country.
The inevitable truth is the leaders should see the un-selfish,true nature of Bhagat singh. A man lost his life only to wake up all our powers to go for struggle. Always our Indians are aligned towards person CHARISHMA and they need direction every time. That is the problem and this made lot to worship Gandhiji. Indians should avoid the tendency to align them with populist approach. As periyar said - ONE SHOULD ACT ONLY BY REASON NOT BY ANY OTHER MEANS.
Bhagat is great thinker, social reformer, till in this internet age majority of youth don't aware,bhagat was to familiar with world in 1914,he studied whole books of socialism, atheism,and came to conclusion that is not god,not culture, but only power, brainwashing account in enslaving any community. Bhagat was great man like subash babu who were intelligent and quite reasoning. If they had guided the nation,india would never partitioned on religion and would have developed on scientific and great ethicsof equality and stronger prosperity. Alas they were neglected and put to rest in great ignomity and unforgetness. Now whole country is missing them,whole country is in a mess,,religion,caste,language are more indulging in divide and rule ,and whole great nation in totally mess,,great poverty index,poorest in the world, great corrupt,poor.
Bhagat Singh was a role model. My Father always look his picture with respect, he hardly respect anyone of the other leaders.
@Sumathi, awesome comment! I find it more appealing than the article itself. Kudos!
Seldom we come accross such inspiring words and writeups. What would have been the spirit and mood of the nation to demand the colonial rulers to hang more youths like Bhagat in all the corners of the country. The message is - without sacrifice freedom cant be won, and such sacrifices inspires and creates more and more revolutionaries. Had not Bhagat been hanged the freedom movement would not have been accelerated in a greater pace. Oh! Bhagat! by going to the eternal sleep you roused the slumbering nation. It is pathetic, even today we the indians need someone to struggle for our sake and face all the assaults from those in the power while we like to comfort on the couches barring a day or two of slogan rising or fasting and become so much elated and complacent that we have done our "democratic duty". Oh Bhagat Bhai! we are yet to learn lessions from your life, struggle and death
If Gandhi had not gatecrashed into Congress after his fiasco in South Africa, India would not have been partitioned. Jinnah associated Gandhism with Brahminism, as felt by EVR also. Pre-Gandhian Congress was headed by Gokhale and Nehru and it was highly catholic, secular and progressive. But Gandhi tinctured Congress politics with religion, and it naturally raised the fury of Jinnah and Ambedkar which later led to division of india and division in Indian society.
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