| K.Veeramani | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 2, 1933 Cuddalore, India |
| Occupation | Lawyer, Social Worker, Atheist, Social Reformer |
| Spouse | Mohana |
Krishnasamy Veeramani (Tamil: கி.வீரமணி) was born on December 2, 1933 in Cuddalore, Cuddalore District, Tamilnadu.He is referred as Aasiriyar K.Veeramani. He is the President of the Dravidar Kazhagam, an Indian organization centered in Tamil Nadu, opposed to the caste system and dedicated to the welfare of non-Brahmins since 1978.He is the third President of the Dravidar Kazhagam and Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai University. He is a well known Atheist.
Contents |
Veeramani was born in a middle class family in Cuddalore, South Arcot District, Tamil Nadu. He had his primary education at Cuddalore and entered Annamalai University for higher education. He obtained his masters degree in Economics in 1956 with a Gold medal for being the top scorer in his class. He received his Bachelor of Law degree from Madras University in 1960. He married his wife Mohana in 1958 and has two sons and two daughters. The fact that Mohana is not from his caste is considered by his followers as a symbol of caste denial. And an additional information is Mrs.Mohana's parents were inter caste marriaged pair (caste denial marriage).
K.Veeramani came into limelight when as a boy of just 10 he was allowed address the gathering in the Justice Party Salem conference in 1944.He was introduced as "Saint Gnanasambandar" by Annadurai.[1] Apart from one year in which he practiced as a lawyer in Cuddalore, his career has been as a social worker. He began working with Periyar in 1956, and assisted Periyar in editing Viduthalai, the rationalist daily of Dravidar Kazhagam.In 1962 he was made the Executive Editor of Viduthalai and since 1978 has been the Editor. He was active in the social campaigns and agitations launched by Periyar for support of "Tamil nationalism", and was incarcerated forty times for his activities. He continues to support LTTE.He was jailed under MISA for a year in 1976 for opposing Emergency. He was again jailed in 1978 for showing Black flags against Indira Gandhi for imposing Emergency while in power and he was jailed. His father C.S.Krishnasamy died while he was in jail.[2]
Alagappa University conferred the Doctor of Law on him (Honoris Causa) on April 4, 2003. Periyar International Inc., (USA) gives an annual award for outstanding contributions to Social Justice, which is named his honor. Mr. V. P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India, was the first recipient of the award. K.Veeramani is an Honorary Associate of Rationalist International