 |
| Statue of Sri Muthu Ramalinga Thevar, Pasumpon, TN. toptamilnews.com |
 |
| Nethaji with Sri Thevar twitter.com/ |
 |
| Quote from Geeta quora.com |
The annual Sri Muthuramalinga Thevar ''Guru Puja'' event is being held on 28, 29 and 30th of October every year and in the southern parts of Tamil Nadu this event is an important one. The 59th Guru Puja takes place to day (30th October) at Pasumpon village, Kamuthi circle, Ramanathapuram district and his day also marks his 114th birth anniversary - Thevar Jayanthi. Tens of thousands of people visit his memorial during this event to pay their homage to Sri Thevarji who was a nationalist and a person of great repute. Though decades have gone-by since his death in 1963 he is being held in great esteem by people from different walks of life.
His parents were Ukirapandiya Thevar and Hindurani Ammal. A close associate of Nethaji Subash Chandra Bose (President of the Indian national Army- INA), Sri Muthramalinga Thevar headed the Forward Block party in Tamil Nadu and on the national level he was the Deputy chairman of the party after 1952. Both his birth (30-10-1908) and death (30-10-1963) fall on the same date 30 October.
 |
| Sri Muthuramalinga Thevar, TNpinrest.com |
Above image: ''One hundred poor people make a rich man; but one wealthy man makes one thousand poor people.'' ...........Sri Muthramalinga Thevar.
His loyalty to Nethaji was quite abiding and deep-rooted. In March 1939 in the 52 annual session of the Indian National Congress held in Tripuri, though Nethaji was re-elected the President of INC, he was forced to resign the presidency of Congress despite support from many leaders including Thevarji, Upon Bose's resignation sri Thevar quite apprehensive about the way Netaji was treated by Congress leaders had joined the Forward Block party started by him in 1939. Even prior to his death Thevarji was in touch with Nethaji.
On 28th morning Guru Puja had begun in the presence of Gandhi Meenal Natarajan, Thangavel and other prominent people associated with the Thevar memorial. The Guru Puja was done as per Agama Sastras with Yagasala specially arranged by the Sivachariars from Pillaiyarpatti temple.
On account of COVID-19 pandemic which shows signs of gradual decline across India, this supposedly great and exciting event is facing restrictions by authorities to avoid another wave of infection. Taxis, private buses or vans are not allowed to proceed to Pasumpon Village. Car owners have to get a permit from the Ramanathapuram District Collector to proceed to Pasumpon village and must park the cars in specified places with permit sticker visible to the security people.
Elected to Parliament thrice and to the state assembly once, Sri Thevarji, coming from a very rich family, could have led an cozy and comfortable life. But, it was not to be; he chose a different path, a path full of hurdles. In this respect he was ready to face challenges using his innate skill and deep trust in God, in particular Muruga (God Karthikaya). He made a solid contribution toward the welfare of factory workers and others and never failed to fight for their rights. His successful handling of labor problem won him laurels.
After the suppression of thuggee menace by 1870 that was responsible for killing more than 2 million people over a long period of time in the northern states, the Criminal Tribes Act (CTA) of 1871 was introduced by the British. Thanks to Sir William Sleeman (8 August 1788 - 10 February 1856) who finally eliminated the secret band of notorious criminals when William Bentinick was the Gov. General of India.
The CTA was enforced by the British to cut down criminal activities of some tribes across India. Unfortunately many innocent tribal groups who had nothing to with these mass murders, were affected by this act. In the Madras Presidency, 19 Maravar villages were forced to register under the CTA and Mr. Thevar vehemently opposed this draconian act. Sri Thevar toiled as much as he could to get the law withdrawn by the govt. He made a vain attempt with Justice party and Congress party when they were in power in the Madras Presidency. The Congress party had failed to revoke the Criminal Tribes Act (ACT) under which lots of innocent tribal communities were classified and subject to scrutiny without any legal implication.
https://navrangindia.blogspot.com/2016/09/sri-muthu-ramalinga-thevar-great.html
