Stalin: Bold moves. The Tamil Nadu textbook corporation has started implementing the order of the state government which was given a few years ago to drop the caste surnames in streets and roads of Tamil Nadu, a statement from the state Text Book corporation on Thursday said.
Former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, the late M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) while speaking at the centenary celebrations of Dravidar Kazhagam founder, E.V. Ramaswami Periyar (Thanthai Periyor) in 1978 had said that his government would take steps to remove the caste references from roads and streets of the state and a government order was issued for the same later on.
Tamil Nadu textbook corporation removed the surnames of famous scholars like U.V. Swaminatha Iyer, his teacher Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai who authored the first Tamil novel, C.W. Thamotharampillai and Ramalingam Pillai.
While U.V. Swaminatha Iyer who is known as Tamil Thatha (grand old man of Tamil) for his immense contribution to Tamil literature will henceforth be known as U.V. Swaminathar. His teacher and guru, Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai will be known as Meenakshi Sundaranar. Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, who authored the first Tamil novel will here from be known as Vedanayagam.
C.W. Thamotharanpillai will be known as just Damodaranar and poet Namakkal Kavignar Ramalingam Pillai will be known as Ramalingnar, but the Text Book corporation has not touched upon the titles, Deekshithar and Desikar.
There are however opinion among Tamil scholars that those whose names were established in the literature and academic circles could have been given an exemption.
V. Manivarnan, Tamil Scholar and writer on contemporary Tamil language said, “While socially it is a good move to remove the caste tag from scholars but the names of established scholars like U.V. Swaminatha Iyer should have been retained.”
The founder of Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), S. Ramadoss, said on Thursday that there is no point in dropping caste names of achievers from school textbooks in Tamil Nadu, and called upon the state government to allow mentioning the caste names of eminent scholars in Tamil textbooks.
The PMK leader was reacting to reports that the Tamil Nadu state textbook corporation has started the process of dropping caste surnames of noted Tamil scholars, including U.Ve. Swaminathan Iyer by referring to him as U.Ve. Swaminathan, in the Tamil text books for Class XII students.
In a statement, Ramadoss said that while the move of the government to abolish caste is welcome, the identity of the scholars would be erased.
The PMK leader, who has been spearheading the demand for 10.5 per cent reservation for his community, the Vanniyars, within the Most Backward Caste (MBC) section, said in a statement that caste system can be abolished only by creating equality among the people.
He said that reservation in educational institutions and for jobs are measures taken by the Central and state governments to ensure equality among the people.
Ramadoss said that dropping caste surnames shows a lack of understanding of the issue.
The PMK leader said, “There is nothing wrong in dropping caste surnames of ordinary people, but exemptions must be given to caste surnames of achievers as there is a possibility of erasing their identity.”