In a new twist, Puthiya Tamilagam president K. Krishnasamy has found fault with Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi leader Thol. Thirumavalavan’s doctoral thesis on ‘Religious conversion of Meenakshipuram Dalits’.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Dr. Krishnasamy, who has a Dalit following in the southern districts, strongly objected to the Manonmaniam Sundaranar University awarding the Ph.D. to Mr. Thirumavalavan, another Dalit leader.
“Since more than 75% of the families that embraced Islam in early eighties have reconverted to Hinduism, the data he [Mr. Thirumavalavan] has provided in his thesis is wrong. This will only incite unwanted tension in the village,” said Dr. Krishnasamy. En masse religious conversion had not taken place in any of the villages in Tamil Nadu and in the case of Meenakshipuram, there was neither economic development nor vertical growth in the social status of those who embraced Islam.
“I’ll soon send notice to the vice-chancellor of MSU, the guide of this particular research and the faculty members concerned, asking them not to accept this wrong thesis,” he said.
Mr. Thirumavalavan told reporters at the Thoothukudi airport on Friday, that he was awarded the doctoral degree by the University for his methodical research on the religious conversion at Meenakshipuram.