xCHENNAI: Members of the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) have started distributing pamphlets of the Tamil translation of Chapter 9 of Manusmriti to dispel a “misinformation campaign” being carried out by the BJP against VCK leader Thol Thiruvamalavan.
On Tuesday, the VCK launched a three- day campaign called ‘Mahaleer Ezhutchi! Makkal Mitchi! (Raise the women! redemption of the people!)’ and started distributing pamphlets, explaining what is there in the code of Manu, an ancient law.
“It is a campaign to disseminate information found in Manusmriti and create awareness among the public in rural areas, particularly women,” party general secretary and Villupuram MP D Ravikumar said. It is also aimed at creating a people’s movement against Manusmriti demanding and rebutting BJP’s “misinformation campaign” that VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan had made misogynistic remarks denigrating women. The party wants Manusmriti to be banned.
The issue started after BJP’s new entrant Khushbu Sundar demanded that Thirumavalavan tender an apology for his remarks during a webinar on ‘Periyar and Indian Politics’ organised by European Periyar-Ambedkar Study Circle in September. A case was registered against the VCK leader in this connection in Chennai following a complaint from a BJP functionary.
DMK leader M K Stalin and leaders of other allies came to the support of Thirumvalavan and issued statements, condemning the case against the Chidambaram MP and demanded swift action against the elements for circulating doctrine videos in social media.
Social reformists Periyar E V Ramasamy, Dr B R Ambedkar, and M C Rajah had burnt the copies of Manusmriti to register their protests as it denigrated women, in general, and men from a lower caste.
Translation of verses from Chapter III, IV, VIII, IX on Shudras and women were prominently found in the handbills distributed among in the rural areas. It also throws light on how renowned leaders and scholars look the ancient law.