Chief Minister Stalin to Unveil Renovated Periyar Memorial in Kerala on December 12
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Chennai, Dec 8 (NationPress) The Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M. K. Stalin, is scheduled to inaugurate the revitalized memorial dedicated to the social reformer and Dravidian ideologue E. V. Ramasamy Periyar in Vaikom, located in the Kottayam district of Kerala, on December 12.
The inauguration ceremony will be led by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Numerous dignitaries, including Kerala Ministers V. N. Vasavan and Saji Cheriyan, alongside Tamil Nadu Ministers Durai Murugan, E. V. Velu, and M. P. Saminathan, are anticipated to address the gathering.
Key officials such as Kerala Chief Secretary Sharada Muraleedharan, Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary N. Muruganandam, and Kottayam District Collector John V. Samuel are also expected to be present.
The memorial, which has been renovated at a cost of Rs 8.5 crore, showcases Periyar's unwavering fight for social justice.
Spread over 70 cents of land, the complex features a permanent photo exhibition hall, library, visitor's pavilion, children's park, and a statue of Periyar depicted in a seated position.
This inauguration aligns with the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha, an essential movement in the quest for social reforms.
Beyond the Vaikom memorial, the Tamil Nadu government is also constructing another memorial for Periyar in Arookutty, situated in Alappuzha.
The Kerala government has recently transferred 54 cents of revenue "poramboke" land to Tamil Nadu for this purpose. Notably, Periyar was incarcerated in Arookutty Jail, previously part of Travancore, for a month in 1924 during the Vaikom Satyagraha.
A senior official from the Tamil Nadu government stated, "Although the land ownership has been updated, we are still awaiting possession of the site. The memorial is intended to commemorate Periyar's contributions to the Vaikom Satyagraha and will feature a design resembling a prison. Final plans will be determined following discussions with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and other ministers."
This initiative was announced in 2023 by CM Stalin, with Ministers E. V. Velu and M.P. Saminathan visiting the site to monitor the progress.
The Vaikom Satyagraha (March 30, 1924 – November 23, 1925) was a peaceful movement advocating for lower castes' access to the public areas of the Vaikom Sree Mahadeva Temple in the princely state of Travancore.
This campaign was led by prominent figures such as T. K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, K.P. Kesava Menon, George Joseph, and E.V. Ramasamy Periyar.
During that time, lower castes were not only prohibited from entering the temple but also from walking on the surrounding roads. Mahatma Gandhi visited Vaikom in March 1925 to mediate.
Following his intervention, Regent Sethu Lakshmi Bayi permitted access to the north, south, and west roads but maintained restrictions on the eastern road.
This partial compromise was criticized by Periyar, who consistently advocated for complete equality.
In 1936, with the Temple Entry Proclamation, lower castes were finally granted access to the temple and its eastern road.
The Vaikom Satyagraha became a landmark event in Kerala's history of social reform, introducing non-violent protest methods to the region.
