Atrocities against Scheduled Castes frequent in T.N., says Governor Ravi

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Monday (January 27, 2025) alleged that atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Tribes were being frequently committed in Tamil Nadu in spite of the teachings of great savants like Swamy A.S. Sahajanandhar Adigalar, who took measures to empower society through its cultural and dharmic roots.

Tamil Nadu Governor R.N. Ravi on Monday (January 27, 2025) alleged that atrocities against the Scheduled Castes and Tribes were frequently being committed in Tamil Nadu in spite of the teachings of great savants like Swamy A.S. Sahajanandhar Adigalar, who took measures to empower society through its cultural and dharmic roots.

Speaking at the 135th birth anniversary of Adigalar, organised by the Swamy Sahajanandha Spiritual and Cultural Centre at Chidambaram, Mr. Ravi contended that while it has become “a fashion” now to speak about the Vaikom satyagraha in Kerala, one does not hear of cases of discrimination from that State, unlike in the past, and people from downtrodden communities have been elected as Chief Ministers. This was possible not through politics but through social transformation and the teachings of Narayana Guru, Mr. Ravi said.

“Politics is about power. It divides and sub-divides, but it is social transformation that unites society. Kerala could overcome this social revolution with leaders like Narayana Guru. But unfortunately, we try to forget Swamy Sahajanandhar, who was actually on the same line: a spiritual leader and a social transformer,” the Governor said.

Expressing that a member of the Scheduled Castes should become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu one day and that members of the community should become powerful scientists at ISRO, Mr. Ravi said this was why the Swami’s teachings were relevant. “We have to reclaim him and his memory, and they should not be allowed to fade. We have to keep his message alive and remain culturally rooted,” he said.

Adigalar had appeared at a time when society was in great distress and under extreme threat from two external forces: British missionaries and the movement led by intellectual Karl Marx prior to India’s Independence, who had spoken against the system of worship of gods. Both these forces were trying to destroy our culture, civilisation, and our dharma, he said.

However, after Independence, a third force had come into being and said it would ensure social justice and equality, Mr. Ravi said, without specifying what this third force was.

These forces had caused a “cleavage” among the downtrodden people and as many as 200 sub-castes of Dalits had come into being because of the work done by these forces, he said, adding that vested interests keep them fighting amongst themselves. This problem cannot be solved through politics as politics is competitive power and not about welfare, he added.