Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar — A Great Nationalist
Owner of 32 and a half villages, Muthuramalingam was a philanthropist and donated 8700 acres of land to Dalits and poor people. He headed 23 trade unions and raised his voice for maternity leave for women. Being inspired by Bose, he supported self-governance; Mobilized an army for Bose’s INA from Tamil Nadu. Thought spiritual politics with nationalism will be the key to India’s success and was a role model in following that till his death.
Introduction
Ukkirvandi Muthuramalinga Thevar was born in the Zamindar family at Pasumpon. His mother passed away at an early age; So, was raised by his maternal grandmother.
He studied in Kamudi, a small village, and then high school in Madurai. Due to health issues, he discontinued his education after 10th standard. But, he was very fluent in English and so, later communicated with leaders across the nation
Bose Inspiration
Thevar was involved in a legal battle over the inheritance of his family property. The case judgment came in favor of him only in 1929; This allowed him to interact with Srinivasa Iyengar (Madras high court), who was very close to Subash Chandra Bose. Srinivasa Iyengar was impressed by Thevar’s speech, activities and so, introduced to Bose.
Thevar was impressed by Bose and took him as a role model.
Criminal Tribal Act
In 1929, Criminal Tribal Act was enacted; Many villages were forced to register. This would make all males in the villages to be discriminated against. Thevar mobilized resistance to it, touring villages and leading protest rallies against individuals register under it. Thevar led campaign forced authorities to reduce the number of villages registered from 2000 to 341.
Infuriated by the attitude of Justice-party, which then became DK- parent organization for Dravidian parties, government towards CTA, Thevar wanted to strengthen congress.
Political Career
In 1933, Thevar was suddenly asked to speak by Sethuraman Chettiar in a public meeting as the main speaker couldn’t make it. Being his first speech, Thevar spoke for 3 hours fluently at the age of 25 on Swami Vivekananda. He introduced spirituality into politics in India. Kamaraj, who later became CM of TN, then realized his importance for congress from his speech.
After returning from a trip from Burma in 1936, he began to work to strengthen the Congress in the southern areas of the Presidency. He was requested to contest the election to the Ramnad District Board from the Mudukulathur constituency from Congress ticket. He had a powerful opponent, the Raja of Ramnad- Sethupathy; Interestingly, his father was working for Sethupathy and so, spoke against his own son. Thevar won a landslide victory without campaigning because of vaai pootu sattam (Deny right to speak in public). Thevar said, “I am not dumb, government made me dumb”. Only 2 persons received this punishment in India; Another person is Bala Gangadhar tilak. We can see the power of his voice from the British’s actions.
Formation of Forward Bloc
Following the election, the Congress formed a government in the Presidency. Thevar had high hopes that the new Congress ministry would revoke the Criminal Tribes Act but the new Chief Minister, C. Rajagopalachari, did not do so.
In 1939, Bose was elected president again over Gandhi’s preferred candidate Pattabhi Sitaramayya. Thevar strongly supported Bose in the intra-Congress dispute. He mobilized all south India votes for Bose. However, due to the maneuverings of the Gandhi-led clique in the Congress Working Committee, Bose found himself forced to resign from the Congress Presidency. He then launched the Forward Bloc on 22 June, calling for the unification of all leftwing elements into a united organization within the Congress. Thevar, who was disillusioned by the official Congress leadership which had not revoked the CTA, joined the Forward Bloc.
Temple Entry Movement
The Temple Entry Authorisation and Indemnity Act was passed in 1939. Thevar supported this reform and on 8 July he helped the activist A. Vaidyanatha Iyer take Dalits to Meenakshi Temple in Madurai. He said, “I would be there at the entrance of the Meenakshi Temple. Those who dare to prevent the Dalits’ entry into the temple, could come there and meet me. I will answer them.” After this statement, the anti-Dalit people hesitated to prevent it. He stated, “there is no caste for god and politics”
In Jail and after Release
The growing popularity in Thevar as a leader of elements opposing the official Congress leadership in Tamil Nadu troubled the Congress-led government. Thevar was also increasingly associated with labor militancy. A criminal case, the so-called Madura Security Case, was proceeded against him. He was banned from leaving Madurai. When traveling to his birthplace, Pasumpon, in September 1940 he was apprehended and jailed for 18 months. His capture sparked wide condemnation in Tamil Nadu. He was arrested again at the entrance of jail after his release- under the Defense of India Rules.
He was released from prison on 5 September 1945. In 1945, a conference was held to elect the congress leadership. Chaos broke out as warring factions confronted each other. Thevar interrupted the disputes and passed a motion re-electing Kamaraj as the TNCC President. In February 1948, the Congress expelled all dissenting fractions, including the Forward Bloc, which became an independent opposition party.
1952 General Election and thereafter
In January 1952, the first general elections in independent India were held. The Forward Bloc contested to form non-Congress governments at the Centre as well as in the states. Thevar contested the Aruppukottai constituency in the Lok Sabha election and the Mudukulathur constituency in the assembly election. He won in both cases. After the election, Congress lacked a majority of its own in the Madras legislative assembly. Thevar cooperated with the communists in trying to form a non-Congress governing coalition. However, the governor intervened and made C. Rajagopalachari of the Congress, the Chief Minister.
Thevar spoke against Nehru in parliament for Kashmir & 370; The second person to do this after Shyam Prasad Mukherjee. He said, “People who gave Pak, people who want PAK –both are stupids”.
In 1955, internal divisions reappeared with the Forward Bloc. The Indian National Congress had adopted Socialism as its guiding principle at a session in Madras. Some leaders within the Forward Bloc unilaterally declared the party merged into the Congress Others resisted and AIForward Bloc was reformed with Thevar as Vice Chairman.
Thevar died on 30 October 1963 on his 55th birthday. He passed away at Thirunagar, Madurai at 4:30 am. 1 October 2002 the life-size statue of Thevar was unveiled in the Parliament House by the then President of India, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
More about the Nationalist:
He used the title ‘Pasumpon’; Was revered by everyone as Pasumpon, which means Yellow- Gold person. He said, “Desiyamum theivegamum enadu iru kangal” that means ‘Nationalism and Spirituality are his two eyes’. This stands as the inspiration for all youth till today.
Thevar dedicated all his life to the people and so, he didn’t get married. He gave away all his properties to the poor and led a simple yogi life. When he visited Burma, he was asked to step on the hair of ladies — respect given to world leaders; but, he said our culture respects women as mothers and so, he can’t do it. Can see his value for people including women from his actions.
References:
1) Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar Life History- Tamil Edition — Mani Vasan