WHY BRAHMINS HATE RESERVATION ?

Thanthai Periyar

(Translated by A S VENU)
@Nimirvom

E Book by DVK on Aug 2021

Periyar writings and Speeches translated by A S VENU and It is a known fact Thanthai

Periyar E. V. Ramasami had to quit Congress in 1925 as the Brahmin dominated Tamil

Nadu Congress Committee refused to accept the principle of communal representation in

Public Services. Till his last breath he safeguarded the reser vation policy. His writings in

"Kudi Arasu," “Viduthalai" and birthday souvenirs on the need to implement the reservation

policy for all communities are given below in a nut shell

Dravidar Viduthalai Kazhagam

திராவிட வி தைல கழக

 Why Brahmins Hate Reservation?

Communal representation is the accreditted right of of every nation and its government. It is

the com mon right of all citizens belonging to every community: The main motive of the

principle of communal represen tation is to eradicate the unequal status amongst the

citizens. Communal representation is a 'boon' to create a society of equals. When there are

communities which are forward and progressive; hampering the well beina of all the other

communities; there is no other go but to resort to the system of communal representation. It

is by this way the suffering communities could begin to heave a sigh of relief. The need for

the prolongation of the system of communal representation will automatically cease and it

will be found absolutely unnecessary to continue the policy any longer, when all the

communities are made as equals.

Excepting the Brahmin community all other commu nities started to dernand for communal

representation soon after the talk of representation of Indians in governance began. For a

long time, except the Brahmin community all other communities carried on agitation urging

the government to implement the policy of com munal representation.

The Brahmins, particularly the Brahmins of Tamil Nadu stooped to many ways to put hurdles

and create obstacles against the implementation of the policy of communal representation.

They pursued trickish methods and conspired many times against the communal

representation policy which was a boon to all down trodden communities.

One could understand the Brahmins opposing the communal representation policy, if at all

they had openly come forward to list out the evils of uplifting the down trodden people. All

those who opposely said 'no', and no one explained why? So far no one has clearly listed
out the reasons for opposing the policy of reservation. What is wrong in making all people as

equals? What is wrong in giving equal opportunities for all? If there is nothing wrong in

creating a socialist society, and if it is undeniable that the present society composed of

unequals should be made progressive; what else can be done without creating reservations

based on population through the communal representation policy. Could it be denied that

there are weaker sections in the society.

Moreover, when we have allowed the classification of the society based on religion, caste

and community;

we cannot stand in the way of the people demanding special rights, based on religion, caste,

and community. There is nothing wrong on their part or of any community in safeguarding

their interests. I don't see anything dis honest in that. ... The casteism made the people go

backward. Castes spell more and more ruination. Castes have made us low and have-nots.

Till all these evils are eradi cated and everyone attains an equal status in life, the

proportional representation policy based on population indespensable. Many communities

have entered the field of education only recently. All should be enabled to read and attain a

civilised stage. Our people should take to education and read well. Our people should get

their due share in the public services and in all other fields according to their percentage in

the total population,

In this country out of 100 people only three are brahmins. Sixteen percent of the population

are Adidravidas. 72 percent of the population are non brahmins. Should not the jobs be

given to all in proportion to the population?

MERIT AND EFFICIENCY

You find merit and efficiency amongst all people. All communities urge for concessions

today. It is ensured to them by law. Even in the matter of merit the down trodden are given

concessions. Because of this concession given to the Backward and Scheduled people you

do not see any danger. It cannot be said, that the standard of administration has fallen only -

account of the concession extended. It cannot be argued that good traits of humanity as

honesty had deteriorated. No community is discriminated. All communities are treated

equally, by the reservation policy based proportionately on the total population. All the

communities derive their legitimate share.

When a student passes the S.S.L.C. examination, it is clearly stamped that he is eligible for

college course. The educational authorities declare that he is fit for college course. But when

he puts up the application for admission to any college, once again his merit is judged by a

separate test. Marks are taken into account to judge the merit. Higher authorities in the

education department send orders to the principals not to admit students indiscriminately. Is

there any meaning in all these. Who created this? Is it not the Brahmins? When once a

student is declared as eligible for college courses, it is the duty of the government to give

him admission, without any difficulty. Is It not to make the other community people get

disgusted with education and ruin their future prospects that all these cumbersome, unjust

and unwanted practices were created by the Brahmins.

By all these the Backward and scheduled castes future is doomed. In the matters of

education they are buried fathoms deep by these cunning Brahmin machinisa tion. The

Brahmins are able to detain even those students who have a thorough knowledge of the

lessons. Similarly they are able to detain even the few students who manage to get a pass

by these tests and selections.

I am accustomed to watch closely the merit ability and standard of all people all along. My

considered opinion on all these matters is also known to you by my writings, speeches and

publications. I am one who is dedicated to work for the welfare of the Backward and

Scheduled caste people. That is the main reason why I strongly oppose the theory of 'merit

and efficiency. Why should you talk of merit and efficiency when once a student has passed

a particular examina tion. What for such a thing? Is there any sense in doing so?

What are the benefits we have gained by the ministries composed of men with merit and

efficiency? Is there any thing to be proud of? Think over!

Similarly what have we lost by the rule of those who are said to be inefficient and beneath

the standard.

Tell me.

So, I proclaim that there should be no place for merit and efficiency in the realms of

government.

He who does not want rights for his community must be one who does not know his

community. Otherwise he must be a suspect to the community he belongs. If a particular

community demands certain rights for the said community, the vested interests condemn the

community as unpatriotic and anti-natio nal. I would say thatjany one doing so is a nomad

not belonging to any nation or community. Our people have failed to assert their legitimate

rights. It is on account of this serious draw back that we find only nomads over riding us.

When we become conscious of our rights we can easily put an end to the domination of the

nomads.

JOB HUNTERS
There are others who go to the extent of condem ning us as job hunters. I don't deny it. I am

not ashamed of seeking jobs. What is there shameful in seeking jobs. What do the Brahmins

and Aryans do. Are they not seeking jobs? Are they not job hunters? Who are they? If they

have the right to claim for jobs, how ironical it is to call us as job hunters. Please think over,

who really has the legitimate right to seek jobs. I would say that our people alone have the

right to hunt for jobs. If any community neglects to seek jobs I would say that the community

is an irresponsible community.

I would condemn them as unpatriotic and anti national. They are traitors to the country. : Not

only that. If any particular community is differen tiated or ignored it will be desastrous to the

society. If it is objected that jobs should not be given to a parti cular community based on its

proportion to the total population, that would amount to putting that community to disgrace

and injustice. No community would be willing to continue as cowards devoid of self-respect

for ever. Any community that fails to assert for its legitimate share in the field of employment

will be considered as degraded and shameless community:

- (Kudi Arasu 30-11-1934) .

In a country with various caste distinctions if opportunities are denied for every caste to get

education, jobs, and representation in the administration according to their legitimate share

based proportionately on the population there will be no end to the enmity, vengeance and

fraudulent activities in the society.

(89th Birth day souvenir of Periyar)

As a measure to put an end to the evils of caste in India, particularly in South India, it is

absolutely essential to get things done by proper legislation. It is necessary to agitate for
claiming representation in the legislatures through the government. I deem this noble task as

a part of the revolution for the dawn of socialism.

- (Kudi Arasu 18-8-35)

The communal tentions and cleavages are day by day increasing due to many factors, There

is no mutual trust between one community and the other. There is increasing hatred

amongst communities One community wants to dominate over the other. The community

that has somehow become dominant does not like to compromise. Those who enjoy more

rights are not willing to forego anything. They are adamant in their attitude towards the

downtrodden sections with the result, you find more and more bitterness amongst

communities.

(Kudi “Arasu 26-5-35)

Please think over whether there is any fairness and justice on the part of those who have

gained a lot in the name of their community, passing scathing remarks on others as

communalists. They lost their legitimate share by their community identity.

-Kudi Arasu 19-7-36

On one side attempts are made to safeguard the religion, castes and communities. On the

other side the demand for proportional respresentation in the name of religion, castes, and

communities is condemned as unfair, unjust, radiculous. I would say that it is one thousand

times unfair and unjust to say so. It only reveals the low standard and vendetta against the

traditio nally exploited communities.

(Kudi Arasu 8-11-31)

The government which proclaims to root out communalism should have made the practice of

putting caste marks as Naman on the foreheads as an offence and imprisoned the offender

for one year. Similarly a law should have been passed to imprison those who wear the

thread yarn (Poonul) for two years. Are not these symbols indicative of the distinct

communities. A government determined to eradicate castes ought to have given scissors to

the policeman to cut away the tufts and Poonul. Simply saying that the government is not

communal and yet permit the wearing of poonul, keeping tufts, chanting mantras, declare

holidays for the birthdays of gods is condemnable. Under these circumstancəs one cannot

but condemn the government of being a government for upholding the communalism of

Brahmins.

In the story of Ramayana it is said that Vali would acquire the entire strength of all those who

opposed him. I say to those who oppose the communal representation policy, that they

would only be strengthening the demand for communal representation by all their actions.

The more and more they oppose, the more and more would be the need for communal

representation. The demand will go on gaining momentum. That is what is going on now.

-(Kudi Arasu- 1-9-35)

I might have changed many times in politics. But so far as my social life is concerned, I

continue to be opposed to Brahmins. My hatred towards Brahmins is always constant. I

became a rationalist and an atheist by this. To my dream of social reform I strongly insist on

crushing the Brahmin monopoly in the public sevices. | deem it as the very first step for

social revolution. It is the ABCD of social reform. Because of this I am criticised as a

communalist. I continue to be the embodi. ment of communalism of a peculiar nature.

- Viduthalai 5-3-69
MOHINI AVATARAM

For anything and everything the Brahmins are insisting on Merit and Efficiency. It is an

invention by the Brahmins as the "Mohini Avataram" in the epics. The only motive with the

Brahmins is to spoil the pros pects of the non-brahmin communities, who are now only at the

threshold of progress.

In the days of the Birtishers and during the days of the Justice Party rule in the Pre-

independence days jobs were given to all qualified persons. Now mere degrees ere not

considered as the stamp of merit and efficiency by Brahmins. People were trained before

giving them jobs. Their fitness is not now taken as stamp of merit and efficiency by the

Brahmins. The only thing emphasised as the stamp of merit and efficiency is the highest

marks scored in examinations. He who obtains the highest marks gets the job, on the basis

of merit and efficiency. However intelligent one may be, however experienced one may be,

he will not be considered as one with merit and efficiency if he gets the marks for a pass. I

like to to point out how foolish and mischievous the doctrine of merit and efficiency is.

Is there any record to show that those selected on on the basis of merit and efficiency, have

exhibited their talents in their work with merit and efficiency.

Is there any means to find out how the employees belonging to Backward Class execute the

work entrusted to them. Is there any such record to show that those who acquired very high

marks in the examination alone were able to execute the work efficiently in a diligent

manner. This is the way in which the merit and efficiency policy is being worked. Many

people are holding high posts as though they alone have the merit and efficiency to do the

work.

MEANINGLESS
Take the case of teachers. You find many teachers appointed on merit and efficiency basis.

Is there any system to assess their work based on the number of students passing

examination and the marks secured by the students. Do we have any means to judge, the

merit and efficiency of teachers on any basis after appointing them? It is so in the case of

other professions as doctors, engineers, judges, collectors and so on. Is there any means to

assess their merit and efficiency while they are in service.

If it said that securing very high marks in the examination alone is the determining factor and

if we agree that only those who have succeeded in getting high marks are alone to be given

high posts, I would like to ask onething. Are the presidents, governors and chief ministers

posts given to those people taking into consideration any high marks they have secured in

any examination ?

There is another lacuna in this bogus merit and efficiency theory. If a particular person had

secured very high marks in a particular field or subject, is he given a high post in the same

field or subject. Does the high marks secured in a particular subject help him in the job he

undertakes? Is there any relevence or relation between these two things. Are the selections

of candidates made by considering the subject in which one is proficient and the subject he

has to deal with, in service.

Children are sent to schools and colleges to acquirə knowledge. What is the fun of admitting

them after considering their merit and efficiency.. This is absurd. It is not right to talk of merit

and efficiency even for admitting students to various courses of study. I would say it is

meaningless, unwanted and highly objection able,

-17-9-65 Birthday Souvenir

BARHMIN MONOPOLY !!

Really speaking the people who have very few posts in the government services-the

communities which have low representation in the government services those castes which

are enjoying only a few posts in the government services, should be treated as the

minorities. They should be given adequate protection by the government. Special

concessions should be extended to these minorities in the services,

How does India look like? It looks as a thick forest of various castes. Naturally the

legislatures and offices too are flooded with castes. The State Assemblies and the

Parliament also present the same look. But what about the staff in the State and Central

Government offices. And that too what is congnisible, particularly in the Central Government

offices, which has very many high salaried posts.

If you take the pains to analyse closely, you will very easily find out that Brahmin community

alone is monopolising almost all the posts in the States and the Centre. This may be

tolerable when other communities were not keen on claiming the posts. It might have been

acceptable when other communities were not adequately qualified for holding posts. No one

would criticise the Brahmins under such circumstances. But, things have changed.

The Backward and Scheduled Castes are today adequately qualified as the Brahmins to

hold any post equally. They are demanding their legitimate share in all the fields. They

demand their share in proportion to their percentage in the population. What should the

Brahmin monopolists do under these changed circum stances. Should they not silently yield

to the reason able demands of the Backward and Scheduled Castes? Instead of be having

in a just and reasonable manner they are raising loud cries, and indulge in threats. What do

we understand from this. Is there any reason or meaning in their behaviour.

FREEDOM FOR WHOM ?

What for did we wage a bitter struggle to drive away the British imperialists. is it to give the

right exclusively for the Brahmin Community alone to sweep the posts held by the Britishers?

Unless we enable all communities to take part in the governance of the country, we cannot

really have a representative govern ment for all the people..

It is unjust to provide all the jobs to the Brahmin community How could one particular

community alone be the inheritors of all the benefits of the government. Today many

communities are deprived of their share. Similarly many people belonging to other religions

are also ignored. Is not India a land of many religions and communities ?

The behaviour of the Brahmins in opposing the reservation is inhuman and unfair. I like to

cite an example.

Imagine that the thieves have entered and robbed away the valuables of the dwellers in the

house. The owners of the stolen property lodged a complaint with the police. The police

traced the robbers and restored the stolen properties to the real owners. Supposing the

robbers raise a cry and protest with threats, what would any sensible man think? Are not the

Brahmins like those robbers?

There is an adage that the beggar who came for alms had become the son-in-law of the

house. Are all the Government departments rightfully relegated to the Brahmins alone. How

is it right to allow the Brahmins alone to occupy almost all the high salaried posts ? From

whose money are they paid. Could it be denied the major portion of the tax payers are the

Backward and Scheduled Caste people as Gounders, Vanniyas, Mukkulathors, Naidus,

Pillais, Pariahs and Chekkilis.

Why are we demanding our legitimate share in the government services. In India, if a job in

the govern ment ends with mere salary and bribes, the Backwards and the Scheduled Caste

people would quietly go on with their own traditional work. They would be disinteres ted in

the goverment jobs. They would remain content with their own usual occupation. But all

posts in the government carries with it specific powers. Even an ordinary small job carries

with it little power. Don't you think such powers would be exploited by the individual - to

safeguard and enrich his own community. After all they are also human beings. . . After all,

the government employees are also " human beings. Naturally they would look after the

interests of their own community. No one could claim that they are more than human beings.

If every community and caste is able to share the posts and powers in proportion to the

entire population the chances of serving their own community would be abundant.

What factors lead us to determine whether the country is advanced or not? How to say that

the people are civilised. How are we to come to a conclusion that wisdom, discipline,

honesty are being developed. To determine all these things there must be equality. equal

shares, equality in possession, equality before law, similar outlook, understanding and experi

ence amongst all sections or communities in the society in all spheres. We should create

such a state and it must be done. Don't you think it absolu tely indeispensable to attain the

goal of creating an ideal socialist state..

What is the nature of our country? You have Brahmins, Sudras and Panchamas 'as different

and distinct communities.

Taking into consideration religions you find three different and distinct religions. Under no

circumstances will these three divisions come together as belonging to only one community

or nation. Look at their behaviour in the society.

When the actual facts are like these, wisdom lies in determining the legitimate share for each

and every community in the field of politics, public. life, posts and education, failing which

they will have no other go than to lead the life of a dog and a cat. There will be lack of mutual

trust and understanding. There will be scope only to wreak vengeance. One would try to

suppress the others. One would defraud the others One would cheat the others.

In the matter of appointments and in the matter of extending concessions, the total number

of people in every community should be awarded their due share, based proportionately on

the population of the country. The merit and efficiency is a common feature in all castes and

religions. As such whoever is separated under a particular caste or religion or community

must be assured of his right to claim posts based proportionately on the population.

When I say that the Backward Classes and Schedul: ed Castes should be given posts in the

government services, I do not mean that any Tom, Dick and Harry walking in the street

should be recruited for government services.

For every post minimum educational qualification, is fixed. If that qualification is there, I insist

that the job should be given to the downtrodden people. .

After having prescribed the minimum qualification for the posts there is no need to choose

the candidates on any other basis as merit and efficiency.

It cannot be proved with facts and figures that those selected on the basis of merit and

efficiency alone are efficient, deligent, brilliant, and honest in the discharge of duties. At the

same time there are no records in evidence to prove that those who where given jobs by

reservation are dishonest and inefficient in the discharge of duties.

If we just take the pains of analyse, it is the so called high caste forward community, which is

monopolising the high posts in the government who are found to be dis honest in their
dealings, particularly the Brahmin minority community holding the majority of posts are seen

to top the list.

Their dishonest dealings and corrupt actions are gene rally hushed up because of caste

feelings. The accused and the high court judge or senior official belong to one and the same

caste invariably. There is scope for pressure through higher recommendations and chances

to seek concession. . That is why many malpractices are not let known to the public.

If every community is adequately represented in the government services, it would bring to

light all the malpractices and maladministration. Reservation is a must for improving the

standard of administration, Reservation is a must to counter act the malpractices by the

monopolists in all the spheres of activities of the government.

Proportional representation of all communities in the government service is the only solution

for achieving social and communal justice for all communities

The talk of merit and efficiency is a bogus one. It is a hoax played on the innocent people.

Not only that; it is a big fraud to deter the Backward and Scheduled Castes from achieving

any progress, peace, and happiness.