A portrait of an old man with curly hair and thick moustache is an essential part of wall posters and other propaganda materials when Dalit outfits in Tamil Nadu organise meetings and rallies. Along with that of B. R. Ambedkar, his name is frequently dropped at public meetings of Dalit parties. Thatha (Grandfather) Rettaimalai Srinivasan (1859-1945) has an iconic presence, and many Dalit leaders imitate his pose when they stand before the camera.
But other than through his autobiography, not much is generally known about the man, who had consistently fought for and secured the rights of the oppressed people in the Madras Presidency, through his Paraiyan Mahajana Sabha and a weekly magazine Paraiyan .
Meeting with George V
Seeking to fill this surprising gap, the book under review gives a comprehensive account of the western-educated man, a supporter of separate electorate for the weaker sections, and a great patriot who remained a friend of the British as he believed that only the British rule could benefit his people.
However, when he visited England for the Round Table Conference as a representative of the “untouchables” from South India, he refused to shake hands with King George V, saying “he was a slave of the slaves and was an untouchable.”
Rettaimalai was his father’s name. Srinivasan was born in Kozhiyalam in Chengalpet district. After working for the East India Company, he desired to visit England to bring to the notice of the colonial rulers the plight of the “untouchables” but eventually landed up in South Africa. There he had worked as a translator for M.K. Gandhi in the judicial court. Gandhi learnt Tamil from him to understand the greatness of Tirukkural.
On his return, he was elected member of the Madras Legislative Council in 1923. He continued to serve in the council till his death in 1945. In the council he introduced the resolution securing rights for the oppressed class to use public roads, wells, public places, resorts and buildings.
His resolution was unanimously adopted and accordingly the Local Board Act of 1920 was amended in 1927 to pave the way for imposing a fine of Rs 100 on those who prevented others from passing by. He was also instrumental in formation of a Labour Welfare Department in 1919 by the British government to ameliorate the sufferings of the “untouchables”.
The author G. Thangavelu, who retired as the head of the department of History of the Madurai Kamaraj University, has interesting details. Srinvasan’s wife Aranganayagi, in her death bed had asked him to engrave the government order granting civil rights to “untouchables” in her tomb. Srinivasan obliged her and even today one can read this on the tomb in the graveyard in Otteri in Chennai.
On conversion
In the Round Table Conference, he shared the dais with Dr. Ambedkar and continued to have interaction with him. But, he differed greatly with Ambedkar on the question of “untouchables” converting to other religions. In the Yeola Conference in 1935, Ambedkar thundered “I was born as a Hindu, I solemnly assure you that I will not die as a Hindu”. Rettamalai Srinivasan said, “Depressed Classes are not in the Hindu fold. They are full blooded Dravidian in race”.
Events in perspective
Barring the introduction to the book, which is replete with typographical errors, bad construction of sentences and grammatical errors, the book has made a great contribution towards understanding the history of the oppressed people in Tamil Nadu. It places events in perspective, besides giving details about the contemporaries of Srinvasan including M.C. Raja and Swami Sahajananda.
The book also provides insights into the love-hate relationship between the Dalit leaders and Justice Party and the Congress. While the Dalit leaders were suspicious of the attitude of the Justice Party government, the Congress party was also not fully favoured. The book has presented specific cases to support this argument.
The biography is structured in the backdrop of the socio-political situation that prevailed during the days of Srinivasan and everything was a struggle, including the legislation for allowing the entry of “untouchables” into temples.
The speech of M.C. Raja, when the British government conferred the title ‘Diwan Bahadur’ on Srinivasan encapsulates his contribution to the cause of the oppressed sections.
“If the depressed classes are today represented in the Assembly, the legislative council and other local bodies, it was all due to his efforts, guidance and agitations.”
