தமிழ் ஈழத்துக்காக போராடுவது மகிழ்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது :ஜார்ஜ் பெர்னாண்டஸ்

நெருக்கடி நிலையில் கலைஞரின் உதவி :ஜார்ஜ் பெர்னாண்டஸ் நந்திவர்மனுக்கு எழுதிய கடிதம்

MY POLITICAL MENTOR COMRADE GEORGE FERNANDES

GEORGE FERNANDES AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI

 

 

The picture above taken at Socialist Conference held at Tuticurin reminds me of his greatness. I went as observer to the conference. George Fernandes  called me to stage and asked me to translate his speech. In that speech he announced the launch of Sethu Samudram project, a dream of 138 years unrealized till that date. At the concluding time, he started introducing me to the audience saying my friend Comrade Nandhivarman who translated my speech is running a progressive political party in Pondicherry and showered praise for 5 minutes. I stopped translating his speech and told since it is praises on me I find it difficult to translate. His replies to all my letters will be published in the proposed book which is being planned to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the launch of Dravida Peravai since 30.10.1996. All our work during this decade will be recorded in two books titled " Arikaigal Aiyiram Arasiyal Payiram" and "Puthuvai Varalatrin Pugazh Mighu suvadugal".

Now looking down the memory lane, I wrote a letter to George Fernandes on 27 th September 1984. For which George Fernandes replied on 19 th October 1984. The reason to reproduce few lines from that letter is to record the regard George Fernandes had and has for DMK President Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi. in that letter George Fernandes states " I can never forget the help and support given to me by Mr.Karunanithi during the dark days of Emergency. Our friendship had survived all the vicissitudes of political turns and twists".

In 25th January 1985 he was admitted in a hospital in Bombay. From there he replied to my letter. " Dear Nandhivarman... Thank you for your beautiful letter. With men like you around, we shall win our struggle, no matter what price we have to pay.

India sent IPKF to Srilanka. I wrote a letter condemning Rajiv Gandhi. In that letter I wrote " The curse of our race will see the dawn of your doom". A copy of the letter sent to Rajiv Gandhi was sent to George Fernandes. He replied "It is a shame for India that Mr.Gandhi should have chosen to do the dirty job for the President of Srilanka. That he is doing this at the behest of America makes it all the more dirty." This is George Fernandes comment on IPKF episode.

Dravida Peravai was publishing a news letter titled Green Politics. George Fernandes reproduced one interview which came in our news letter in THE OTHERSIDE [1.10.1997] issue. The Other Side was edited by George Fernandes. He wrote an introductory note for the interview titled 'AUROBINDO ASHRAM TAKE OVER BY CENTRAL GOVERNMENT DEMANDED....... Dravida Peravai General Secretary N.Nandhivarman speaks"

He wrote " There has been a persistent demand for the takeover of the Aurobindo Ashram in Pondicherry by various individuals and institutions. In the forefront of this campaign is the general secretary of the Dravida Peravai N.Nandhivarman. Nandhivarman has over years been exposing for public view the unsavoury goings in the Ashram, which have brought this once hallowed place into disrepute. We are publishing hereby a question-answer report which is an interview with Nandhivarman. We hope the authorities will take note of this report and take action in the matter before it is too late to stem the rot."

On 1998 25 th September Union Defence Minister George Fernandes wrote an official letter to Home Minister L.K.Advani seeking protection for me when I was heading a 15 party struggle committee against land house grabbing in Pondicherry. He could have just sought protection. But his affection for me comes to the fore when he uses extra lines to introduce me. " I have known Mr.Nandhivarman as an indefatigable fighter against corruption in all its manifestations. He has been engaged in a long standing campaign against corruption at various levels of administration in Pondicherry" so goes on his letter.

In Union Territory of Pondicherry three nominated MLA's could be nominated. Usually men of letters and scholars alone could be nominated. But in practice party men were filling these posts. Opposing this I wrote to Attorney General, President of India, Prime Minister etc. I suggested Former Chennai High Court Justice David Annousamy,Tamil scholar Dr.Era.Thirumurugan and Vasudevaraju I.A.S [retd]. Forwarding my letter to Union Home Minister L.K.advani, Comrade George saab wrote " Mr.Nandhivarman is the General Secretary of the Dravida Peravai and in the many years I have known him, he has been a selfless public worker taking up public issues, apart from fighting corruption in Pondicherry. The names he had suggested in his letter to Attorney General provide proof of his public concerns"

Well all these are recorded here not for self boast. I do not belong to his party. Lifelong I am a DMK follower. Even DP though a splinter of DMK is run as true DMK. I had fought emergency with my pen. But all these years not even once my leader Dr.Kalaignar acknowledged me or gave me my due recognition. If Aringnar Anna would have been alive my position within DMK would have been different. By monetary yardstick a man will not be evaluated by Anna. In George Fernandes I saw the nobility of Aringnar Anna. Nearly four decades we had been friends. I never joined his party. But for his Samata Party, I was a special invitee to its National Executive. Could you imagine this in Indian politics. Another party invited to National Executive. George Fernandes in public and private acknowledged me. I am ever grateful to him. In my life George Fernandes has a unique position equal to that of Aringnar Anna.

N.Nandhivarman General Secretary Dravida Peravai  Pondicherry 605013 India

Ever my Leader but never he gave my due

KALAIGNAR AND DRAVIDA PERAVAI

   

Ever my Leader but never he gave my due

After I was suspended by Mr.M.G.Ramachandran "for attending to my personal work", the very first suspension of the Anna DMK came in for media criticism. "Navasakthi", the Tamil daily of the Congress[O] led by Thiru.K.Kamaraj condemned my suspension from the Pondicherry State Anna DMK Convenorship in its editorial. The Statesman wrote a center page article. I will deal them in another occasion. After my suspension from Anna DMK on the advice of Thiru.Murasoli Maran, I met Dr.Kalaignar in his gopalapuram residence. It was decided that myself and my followers should return to DMK. I sought one month's time. When we rejoined DMK, the official organ of DMK, Murasoli Tamil daily said: Pondy ADMK merges with DMK. After throwing me out, Mr.M.G.Ramachandran  could not nominate a State Convener for one year. Immediately he sent a Cinema Director Gopala krishnan as Convener on deputation from Chennai. For another six months Anagaputhur Ramalingam was sent from Tamil Nadu on deputation to lead the party in Pondicherry. I returned to DMK much before Dindigul by election. Since I walked out of MGR and never went back to him, in spite of his repenting my suspension and extending invitation, Dr.Kalaignar has unique regard for me.

Pondicherry Assembly polls 1974 came. Mr.M.O.H.Farook Maricar was the State Convener of DMK. I was made Propaganda Secretary for that polls.Panruti S.Ramachandran, a Minister under Kalaignar's cabinet was sent by high command to coordinate election work. In the selection of candidates I had a big say. Mr.D.Ramachandran who defected from DMK just 2 months before polls had to face my nominee K.Rajaram. In Tirumalairayanpattinam constituency V.M.C.Shivashanmuganathan, my class mate was chosen to contest. During election campaign Dr.Kalaignar came to a dinner hosted by me. The picture taken with my cousin sisters was after the dinner past midnight, when he came from Lawspet public meeting. In that election I was told by Mr.M.O.H.Farook to file nomination for Parliament seat. I filed. Meanwhile PTR.Palanivelrajan who was practicing politics from Cosmopolitan club in Chennai came with a new proposal to Kalaignar. The Reddiars association had at that time decided not to contest against their own caste men. Madurapakkam Lakshminarayanan, Congress M.P from Tindivanam through PTR Palanivelrajan offered to sponsor his relative Kodathur Rajaram for Pondicherry Parliament seat. It was told that pitted against Congress Reddiar, a DMK Reddiar candidate will break the caste unity of Reddiars association. Dr.Kalaignar summoned me to Legislative Party office of the DMK in Government estate of Chennai.

Yenya, nee entha vaguppu ? is the question that came from Kalaignar.In DMK one never ask the other partymens caste, right from Anna's days we were all moving as one family and no one knew the caste of the other. This question I described as "en nenjil thaitha nerunji mull" in later days in one journal. But I have to answer, but answer without directly mentioning caste. " Naan sathi enral ennevendre teri yadavan" , this was my reply. He understood. He held my hand and told, you withdraw from contest, I will give you Rajyasabha seat. Navalar Nedunchezhian, Professor K.Anbazhagan, Minister P.U.Shanmugam,Minister Panruti S.Ramachandran, Propaganda Secretary S.Kandappan M.P, Pondicherry Chief Minister M.O.H.Farook Maricar,Professor M.Elango, Kavignar Karunanandam, Devaraj and Shanmugam, party office staff, and many others were present when Kalaignar made this promise.

DMK lost 1974 polls. Only 2 won. M.O.H.Farook and my friend Soundararangan. My another friend S.Ramasamy who went to the Anna DMK before polls formed the ministry which was toppled in 21 days. Soon after the electoral defeat I met the press.

PONDY DMK UNIT PLANNING NEW MORAL CAMPAIGN

Pondicherry April 12:1974 : Mr.N.Nandhivarman Propaganda Secretary of the DMK here told newsmen yesterday that unless the intelligentia started moulding public opinion so as to cleanse the present eroded political and electoral systems there was no way out of the moral crisis that is facing the nation.

He said most political leaders have lost the moral fibre to undertake this task. The nefarious practice of personal aggrandizement among politicians has resulted in the people losing faith in political units. Mr.Nandhivarman felt that people had to be made politically conscious and political leaders need be moralized.

He said DMK would embark upon such a campaign for the first time in Pondicherry and hoped before long Pondicherry would become a model state to others in this respect.

Referring to electoral reforms, Mr.Nandhivarman said common platforms had to be provided by the Election Commission for all contesting candidates. He wanted personal attacks on platforms to be put to an end and instead criticism leveled against only political principles or policies.

He was optimistic that DMK would be a moral force in Pondicherry irrespective of its poll achievements. [Courtesy : THE MAIL, evening daily from Chennai]

On defeat that is what I told. 1974 promises were never kept and I have no regrets. History will evaluate me.

N.Nandhivarman

Love Tamizh Tamils Everyone

Love Tamizh Tamils Everyone 

Dravida Peravai Policy

 Dravida Peravai over years discussed in public what should be India's foreign policy towards Ealam Tamils. We brought out a white paper which was loaded in a website : http://www/banners/interstitial.html?http://www.dravidam.tamilzone.com/  , that is no more accessible now. Fortunately in other sources our views could be found, and with gratitude we provide the link: http://www/banners/interstitial.html?http://www.tamilcanadian.com/pageview.php?ID=149&SID=40

We have within the parameters permissible in Indian Constitution had raised the issue of Ealam Tamils right from 1978. Not even once we faltered in our footsteps. Nor did we waver in our approach. To my memory the first public expression of mine on Ealam is likely to be the article written in "Nam Naadu" Official party organ of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam edited by Dr.Kalaignar M.Karunanithi on 5 th February 1978.[ From archives if we search we may even get a proof of earlier date.] 

There was a Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in Ceylon and its General Secretary A.S.Manavai Thambi was exiled and lived in Tamil Nadu. There was a time wherever Tamils went, whichever land they choose to live, a separate political party titled Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam will come up in that soil, which will only have emotional and not political ties with Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam of India. We come from that ideological background, hence on all occasions we have raised voice of support for Ealam Tamils. The article" Ezha Thamizharum Kozhai Thamizharum" praises the brave Tamils of Ealam and condemns the cowards of Tamil Nadu. This was a time I was in Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. During emergency in India, a handful wrote in the official organs of DMK, of course Dr.Kalaignar fought emergency with his valiant pen. Among the handful, I am one.

A SEPARATE TAMIL STATE ONLY SOLUTION TO LANKAN PROBLEM: SUNDAY PIONEER

Varanasi:9 July 2000: The General Secretary of Dravida Peravai party N.Nandhivarman said that a separate state for the Tamils was the only solution for the prevailing Srilankan problem.

Talking to reporters at Paradkar bhavan here on Friday, the party supremo said that the party did not support the path adopted by LTTE in Srilanka as it was not in the interests of Tamils. However he said that the party supported the demands of the Tamils in Srilanka and felt that separate Tamil Ealam was the only solution to the Srilankan problem.

N.Nandhivarman, who formed the party after his divorce from DMK, said that his party did not support the LTTE because the latter could not come to power even if the demands of the Tamils in Srilanka were accepted. He said it would be a democratic forum which would come to power in such a situation.

Though Dravida Peravai is an ally of Samata party, Mr.Nandhivarman  and other leaders of the party came here to attend the proposed national convention of Samata party here on Saturday.

Expressing serious concerns over the condition of Tamils in Srilanka, Mr.Nandhivarman said that the voice of Tamil members of Parliament in Srilanka was always crushed and the Srilankan government never paid any serious attention to the problems of the Tamils.Launching a scathing attack on the foreign policy of the Indian Government, Mr.Nandhivarman said that its foreign policy was weak and unclear, especially in the case of Srilanka. He said that the party would present its paper on the Tamils issue of Srilanka at the proposed National convention of Samata party and urge the latter to press the government in this connection.However, he said that the Indian government should not meddle in the internal matters of Srilanka.

In reply to a query Mr.Nandhivarman said Norway might play a vital role as a mediator. He also demanded that the Indian jurisdiction in the sea areas, especially Kacchativu islands, should be redefined.He said due to some confusion many Indian fishermen became victims of Srilankan attacks. He said that in this direction his party had given a "Sethu samudram Yojana' which was also included in the election manifesto of the National Democratic Alliance.The party supremo further said it was shocking that though the matter was in the poll manifesto of NDA, the BJP led NDA government did not do anything to implement the plan.

In a reply to another query, he said that his party fully supported the continuation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking a safe stand that there should be an open debate on it and nothing should be done behind the curtain

[courtesy: Sunday Pioneer, the Sunday paper of THE PIONEER, Lucknow edition in its 136 th year of publication]

During the press meeting at Varanasi press club, repeatedly I was asked do you support LTTE ? My answer was I support Tamil Ealam. They went on asking would not supporting Tamil Ealam be indirectly supporting LTTE ?. I said no. Press pressed for explanations. I told Nethaji's Indian National Army fought for Indian independence, did they come to power in India? During World War II, whole Britons supported Winston Churchill and once War was over, they did not need Churchill. Similarly now it is War and LTTE is fighting a War, after independence people may choose a democratic alternative. Hence supporting EALAM will in no way be construed as supporting LTTE.

Not satisfied press tried to extract from my mouth that I support LTTE. I jokingly said our policy is LTTE, to Love Thamizh Tamils and Everyone. That joke is the source to today's web paragraph title.

RECOGNIZE GROUND REALITIES IN SRILANKA: 

THE HINDUSTAN TIMES

[Varanasi , July 7-2000-HT Correspondent]

Dravida Peravai, the south Indian political party born after the split in the DMK, urged the Union Government to frame the right policy that will not alienate Indian Tamils from the National mainstream and to recognize the ground realities in srilanka by accepting the Tamils legitimate aspiration for freedom.

" Tamil Ealam's struggle has entered the final and crucial phase. Let India rise up to the occasion" Mr.N.Nandhivarman, the general secretary of Pondicherry based party, said.

An associate party of Samata party, Dravida Peravai,an ardent supporter of Tamil Ealam, urged the Prime Minister for a proper evaluation of the past to arrive at the right policy towards Tamils freedom struggle. It brought out a white paper on the ethnic conflict in Srilanka in May, detailing the ethnic cleansing by Sinhalese since 1983 and the plight of Tamils in the island.

Talking to media persons here today, Mr.Nandhivarman said India did not have a clear policy for Srilanka." We do support the Tamils in the island and do believe that separate state for Tamils could be the best solution to the ethnic conflict there", he said.

He said "Altogether 23 major initiatives, to bring forth peace in Srilanka since 1957 till today, have failed to yield any result. "

"Yet Indian bureaucracy is trying to mislead the Government stating that a political solution is possible. I wonder what new proposal India has which forms part of any of the 23 initiatives ?' he added.

" India that cannot resolve the Kashmir issue for that matter the question of sub-nationalism within its territory is now gearing itself to commit another faux pas in its foreign policy. Dravida Peravai urges the Union Government to be clear in its goals, sure of its approach and have a clear cut solution in mind before taking the plunge" Mr.Nandhivarman said

[courtesy: The Hindustan Times July 7,2000]

[IN NORTH ALMOST ALL HINDI DAILIES TELEVISIONS AND URDU PRESS PUBLISHED THE SAME CONTENT AND MADE US REACH  THE MINDS OF THE PEOPLE OF HINDI HEARTLAND]

ARINGNAR ANNA FOUNDATION

ARINGNAR ANNA FOUNDATION

Objectives of Anna Foundation

To wake up the consciousness of fellow beings towards wiping out poverty , to usher in global peace by ensuring that ownership, control and distribution of the gifts of nature and manufactured wealth are for the benefit of one and all

To be a union of scientists, technologists, social activists, idealogues, educationists and politicians, breaking barriers of country,caste, colour, creed, gender, race, language and all kinds of divide

To evolve a political philosophy, economic policy and cultural agenda for an alternative society

To preserve the life-systems and eco-systems on planet earth engaging in a endless pursuit to evolve a suitable model of human development,harnessing the nature's bounty and human skills for the betterment of all living creatures of our galaxy

To involve in a crusade for nuclear disarmament and moral rearmament

To enrich human culture, human consciousness with a rationalist logical inquiry into the manifold scientific discoveries and their ultimate acceptability for societies living in our galaxy

To march towards a just and equitable society upholding the principles of Annaism, enriching it in the light of evolving consciousness

To adopt the noble goals set up by Green Peace and various other environmental protection campaigns for the cause of peace and harmony

To work for the betterment of indigenous people like tribals ,physically handicapped, mentally retarded,victims of genocidal wars, apartheid and gender discrimination

To run orphanages, old age homes, medical centres, educational and research institutions, training centers for unemployed youth etc

To set up Aringnar Anna Rationalist University for strengthening democratic forces of a just equitable alternative society

To engage in a global campaign for upholding the democratic,civil and ecological rights of men and women from all nationalities of this mother

earth

    TOWARDS A  FUTURE BASED ON REASON

Pondicherry  diverse in its culture with  cosmopolitan life style which has been an out come of trade with Red Sea Ports and Roman Connections dating back to the 2nd Century A.D and continuance of overseas trade till 17th  century and the French rule in the past century. The communities in the city and the villages of this union territory are very structured ones with complicated hierarchy as the distinct way of a mixed social setting defines different values and norms for each community beneath the Indo-French dominant superstructure. The Union Territory will generally appear to the bare eyes a place where modernism has deep-seated.Looking below the surface one can find the fact that there are still common traits ingrained from the adjacent parts of the southern region, high lighting the need for increased participation and involvement of common people in the democratic process. 

While there was successful organization and mobilization for converging the citizen?s efforts in the development scenario, under-development and poverty and resource depletion continue in the state. Different interpretations are given for the cause of poverty like population growth and unemployment. But the real cause is the unjust allocation of resources. It is structural in nature.The denial of grass roots democracy by with-holding local body elections for nearly many decades and more in spite of being guaranteed in Constitution of India deprived growth of grass roots leadership and avenues to correct the imbalances in development process.The subsidies keep vanishing, employment generation for the masses is almost nil. Fair wages is a dream.

Therefore in order to promote a life in to the future, it is very necessary to support and develop the movements against unequal development and peoples democratic struggles for egalitarian society in Pondicherry.To provide a platform to inform, document and expand that unity, co-operation and co-ordination of democratic endeavors from every quarter of social action from everywhere within the state became the need of the hour.

In this context, Aringnar Anna Foundation was created to address  issues haunting the other side of society in Pondicherry in the year 1997 and got registered formally in the same year to address the equitable and just distribution in the natural productive resources and to secure basic human rights to end exploitation based on ethnicity, caste, age, gender, religion and class which have been eroding the means of livelihood of common people. The need for addressing these issues is that  these factors lead to the forced migration of economically poor and marginalized people into towns and cities to earn their livelihood.

  VISION

A world without beggar?s outstretched palm, the miser?s heartless stony stare, the piteous wail of want, the pallid face of crime, the livid lips of lies, the cruel eyes of scorn, a race without disease of flesh or brain, a land where lengthens, fear dies, joy deepens, love intensifies and man regains his dignity is what Arignar Anna's dreamed and Annaism stands for.

MISSION

Development representing the set of economic and social aspirations viz: a plural-dimensional process which may comprise all the factors which contribute to the enrichment and personal development of the individual from the economic and political to the social, cultural, environmental and the scientific, from social justice to education.

AIMS

    * Inequality, poverty exclusion, religious fanaticism, racism and xenophobia and lack of dialogue are all impediments to development which ought to be overcome for one to work towards the establishment of a more global democratic culture.

    * Recognizing the importance of the fundamental democratic values at   a global level and the same in the specific historical, religious  or economic circumstances, which contribute to make each society unique.

    * Realizing that respect for human rights in the presence of the right institution to ensure that Laws are implemented and respected that people are represented and that their voices are heard.

ISSUES WE ARE CONCERNED WITH

1. Human rights education on food, health, education, shelters, environment & consumer protection.

2  Injustice, atrocities, exploitation, external interference & unequal treaties in socio-economic and eco terms.

3. Environment development policies and indigenous knowledge

4 Ethical practices of local communities and major corporations for for ensuring consumer rights.

5 Bio-diversity conservation, protected area and peoples's right

6.Depletion of productivity of croplands, forests, pastures, Rivers and other survival systems.

7. Violence against women and children and patriarchal disparities.

8 Welfare, security and rehabilitation, infanticide and child labour  system

9. other pollution issues and welfare of affected people.

 STRATEGY

Arignar Anna Foundation is a non-profit human rights law and social education organization spearheading the value of Rationalism for Future prosperity, and works through strategic alternatives of social mobilization. With those methods the Foundation advocates and lobbies with bureaucracy and policy makers, the opinion derived from informed debates initiated between fellow citizens, professionals, academics, scientists and institutions for bringing in future prosperity, greater equity and participation of women by making awareness and sensitivity through a rational approach needed to actively address the right

problems of the society through group work.

FOCUS AREAS

1. Social Mobilization for integrated community development

The present day efforts at micro levels for development in different walks of life must be co-coordinated with positive contributions by participating target communities. The impact of the community activity must reflect in the social development at large. The net work alliance

of the Arignar Anna Foundation works towards making a significant change in the social mobilization process which is taking place in Pondicherry with its networking partners.

2. Human rights law, social justice and consumer rights

There should be necessary changes made in the human rights law and such changes must be framed by provocation of public knowledge through informed debates with media, and public relation activities. Arignar Anna Foundation aims at social justice in the present and the future through informed peoples initiatives for making necessary changes in the Law and ensuring their basic human rights and their rights bestowed upon them as the organized consumers of natural resources and contributors of the necessary labour for consuming the manufactured goods. 

 3. Egalitarianism and eco-centricism

An egalitarian society can be achieved only through eco-centric approach for the present day rights issues of the society. The practice of multi-national corporations to throw tremendous amount of industrial wastes by exporting to third world countries into lands of unsuspecting people causes grave concern.. The equality debate of today enthralls not mere economic sense, but a vast amount of knowledge resource in orders to safe guard the biomass and sustainable-justified distribution of biomass production.

ACTIVITIES SO FAR:

Arignar Anna Foundation is a non-profit organization working for the cause of making an enlightened and egalitarian society in the footprints of Arignar Anna who has left voluminous amount of intellectual resource for the upliftment and liberation of the oppressed, rights deprived and opportunity denied. With globalization the working masses have been further marginalized and pushed to the periphery. The struggles at this point in Pondicherry and the nation are to fight for economic and social emancipation. Anna Foundation always tried to develop rational way of struggle to create a universal minded people and community free from all kinds of hatred.. In order to go further and create a counter-vision of sustainability and social justice, people should be made enough aware and educated to assert their rights.

Anna Foundation has created awareness about the realities of the society through its tireless propaganda and social action, which resulted in the following outcome in the past years from 1997 till date..

ARINGNAR ANNA FOUNDATION

[Regd S.23 of 1997]

Founder President :N.Nandhivarman  

Hon.President : C.P.Thirunavukkarasu Ex M.P 
Vice President Paris M.Carounanidhi

Treasurer:P.Parangusam 

Secretary: A.Vanthiyathevan

Joint Secretary N.J.Karthikeyan.

                  email :aringnarannafoundation@gmail.com

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

                                                                     

ACTIVE POLITICS TO EXILE