Minister for Information Technology and Digital Services Palanivel Thiaga Rajan launched a book, titled ‘Manual for Social Democracy’, prepared by the State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu, at an event organised by the forum at Kalaignar Centenary Library here on Thursday.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said Tamil society had always upheld the importance of inclusive education, a tool for growth and development. However, it was saddening that incidents of discrimination were still being reported. When such incidents took place even after 100 years of self-respect movement, it led one to wonder what had really been achieved.
While the number of educational institutions had increased, the quality also required necessary attention. The main objective of education was to instil values and morals in a person before employment. Everyone should work towards establishing an education system to make people humane and promote brotherhood without any hatred and put an end to casteist feelings, he said.
Vice-President and Director of World Tamil Sangam in Madurai I.S. Parveen Sulthana received the first copy. Quoting Periyar, she said women would be the first to be liberated if caste was abolished. When women started to raise voice against the evils of casteism, the caste feelings in men would gradually subside and it would bring about a change, she said.
State Platform for Common School System – Tamil Nadu gneral secretary P.B. Prince Gajendra Babu said curricular development was taking place in Tamil Nadu. Children were innocent and did not know about the evils of the caste system.
Sharing his interaction with the students at an event, he said the children raised several queries regarding the caste system and its evils. Students of all communities participated in the event and at the end of the event, to a query regarding who all believed that the caste system could be abolished, the participants stood up unanimously with their parents stating that they wanted it to be abolished, he said. Teachers played a big role in effecting a change in society, he added.
MUTA president P.K. Periyasami Raja and writer S. Thamizhselvan spoke at the event. ‘Kala Kala Vakupparai’ Siva welcomed the gathering. Advocate S. Umar Farooq, president, TNSPWA, proposed a vote of thanks.
Managing Trustee of Justice Shivaraj V. Patil Foundation S. Selva Gomathi, TNPTF State general secretary S. Myil, TNPGTA State treasurer S. Karthikeyan, TNHHSSGTA Madurai district president V. Ganesan and SFI Madurai City District secretary C. David Rajadurai received copies of the book.