Poongulali

My husband's grandfather is a staunch DMK man. He has Kalaingar's photo tattooed in his arms. He was attracted into the party by Periyar. In fact, he organized a public meeting for Periyar right near a temple area when Brahmanical oppression was too much in their village. His fight to employment, ownership of land, education and humanity were taught by the Dravidian ideology, he claims. He didn't go to school and owes all his ability to read, write along with awareness of society to reading Murasoli for the last 60+ years. He made sure his grandchildren were well read, so he put them in the best colleges in Madurai even if the family couldn't afford it at that time. The grand old man is 80+ today, he didn't give one word against my husband's proposal to marry me. Ours was an OBC - SC marriage that usually comes with too much violent drama in TN but it wasn't the case with a grandfather like Kasi in the fam, who believes in equality and love against caste inequality and hatred. He didn't say (then and now) anything discriminatory or even bitter about the intercaste arrangement, instead too happy and proud of me for choosing my boyfriend as my husband. He likes me more for being educated and empowered. He loved the fact I go to a job in the media, reads books. He was so supportive to the marriage! ❤️✊🏾 Kasi thatha speaks so dearly, and gives courage everytime I meet him. He was in the peak of happiness when his grandson wanted to marry at Periyar Thidal. On the day of the wedding, he stood there before Periyar's statue and looked at it with awe and wonder with gratitude filling his eyes. Seeing him look at his hero was deeply moving. It is people like the 80 years old Kasi from a random remote corner of Tamil Nadu who are willing to get their children, grandchildren married at the Periyar Thidal for a Self Respect Marriage and register it in the same Act. It is their only weapon against the casteist kith and kin from the soil of Madurai. Yet, Kasi's multiple petitions to Arivalayam seeking one meeting with the party chief as a token of love and respect from an "udan pirappu" went unanswered for the last three years. @arivalayam must understand that the party is still relevant to a large group because of "why" it was started and "how" it empowered the marginalised people. Last mile cadre and functionary like Kasi are the ones teaching us the real meaning of Dravidian principles in our families. They are the foot soldiers who adorn the 'black & red' shawls with pride and actually live up to what it actually means. Y'all keep ignoring such elderly mass and elevate people in the party who chose to throw ideology in the bin for a wedding. Sad to see the party absolved by fake progressiveness. #SelfRespectMarriage