Dr. K. VEERAMANI
Editor,Viduthalai Tamil Daily
President, Dravidar Kazhagam,
Chancellor,Periyar Maniammai University.
Date of birth:
2, December 1933
Place of birth:
Cuddalore Old Town, Cuddalore District,
Tamil Nadu, India
Parents
Father: Thiru C.S.Krishnasamy
Mother: Thiumathi Meenatchiammal
Wife :
V. Mohana (Inter-caste marriage 1958)
Children:
Two Sons & Two Daughters
Education:
Master of arts (Economics), Annamalai University, 1956
Bachelor of law,University of Madras, 1960
Academic Excellence
Gold Medallist in the M.A.Degree of Annamalai University and also won many prizes for academic excellence.
Many Awards for Oratory during the School and College days.
Career
1956-60 Assisted Thanthai Periyar in editing ‘Viduthalai’, a Rationalist Tamil Daily (originally established in 1935) and in all his Social campaigns.
1961-62 Practised as Advocate at Cuddalore.
1962-77 Executive Editor, ‘Viduthalai’.
1978 Editor, ‘Viduthalai’.
Awards & Honour
Was conferred the degree of Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.)(honoris causa) by Alagappa University on 4th April 2003. The University Citation Says, “Thiru K.Veeramani, a relentless fighter for social justice, educational and job opportunities for people belonging to backward and downtrodden sections of the society, especially espousing the cause of Women, Women’s Right and Women Empowerment, is recommended by the Syndicate of Alagappa University for the award of the degree of Doctor of Literature (honoris causa)”
First Recipient of “Periyar Award for Social Justice” instituted by the Government of Tamil Nadu towards his contribution to Social Justice.
Recipient of “CIDA Award of Excellence” in connection with the Environmental, Health, Poverty Alleviation and Women Empowerment activities undertaken by Periyar Centenary Polytechnic College in joint collaboration with College of the North Atlantic, New Foundland, Canada.
Recipient of “Bharat Jyothi Award” from the Front for National Progress, New Delhi.
Recognizing his contribution to Social Justice, Periyar International Inc., (USA) has instituted “Veeramani Award for Social Justice,” awarded every year to outstanding leaders. Mr.V.P. Singh, former Prime Minister of India, was the first recipient of the Award.
In recognition of his service to the Community, the public presented him with silver bars equal to his weight at a State Level Conference held at Pudukkottai.
In honour of his services to the humanity, the public presented him Gold bars equal to his body weight at an International Meet at Thanjavur. The gold bars worth Rs. 25 million, donated by the public were formed into D.K.Trust.
Awarded the title of “Karuthukkanal” (Spark of Ideas) by the Malaysia Dravidar Kazhagam.
The Myanmar Self-respect Association conferred the title “Per Arivaalar” (Man of Wisdom) in February 2003.
Honoured with “Kalaignar Award” by Murasoli Trust on 31.03.2009 in Chennai..
Honoured with “Thanthai Periyar Award” by Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam at the Centenary Celebrations of Anna on 26-9-2009 in Kancheepuram
Honoured with “Justice BSA Swamy Award for Social Justice” by Justice BSA Swamy Memorial Trust on 24-07-2011 in Hyderabad
Mass contact
Addressing public meetings since the age of nine.
Through public addressing, in indoor meetings, at open Platforms, Seminars and Conventions etc.,
President
Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (A Public Charitable Trust).
Secretary
The Periyar Self-Respect Propaganda Institution (Periyar Trust – A Public Charitable Society, registered in 1952), Chennai.
Patron
Tamil Nadu Rationalists’ Forum.
Founder Chancellor
Periyar Maniammai University
Executive Director
International Institute of Periyar’s Philosophy and Ideology.
Member
International Humanist and Ethical Union.
British Humanist Society, England.
Editor
Viduthalai – A Tamil Daily
Unmai – Tamil Fortnightly
The Modern Rationalist -English Monthly
Periyar Pinju – Tamil Monthly (Children’s Magazine)
Author
More than 100 Books in Tamil and English.
Founder Member
Periyar Organization for Women Empowerment and Renaissance – POWER (a Public Charitable Trust)
Founder
Periyar Maniammai Free Clinics at Chennai, Vallam (Thanjavur), Salem, Trichy and Sholinganallur, (Tiruvarur)
Periyar International at Chicago – USA, London – UK, Singapore.
Founder Member and a Trustee of the Lawyers’ Forum for Social Justice, New Delhi.
Periyar Centenary Polytechnic College, Vallam – Thanjavur.
Periyar College of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Girls – Trichy.
Periyar I.A.S. & I.P.S. Coaching Centre, Chennai.
Periyar Maniammai College of Technology for Women, Vallam – Thanjavur (The first Engineering College exclusively for Women in the world).
Periyar Community College of Continuing Education, Vallam – Thanjavur
Periyar Centenary Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Trichy.
Periyar Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Jayamkondam.
Periyar Matriculation School, Vettikadu.
Swamy Kaivalyam Home for Senior Citizens, Trichy.
Periyar Computer Research Academy, Chennai.
Periyar College of Advanced Computer Education,Trichy.
Periyar Centre, New Delhi.
Periyar Organization for Bio-Technic and Eco – System, Vallam – Thanjavur.
Periyar Renewable Energy Training Institute, Vallam – Thanjavur.
Periyar Centre for Energy and Environment Management Vallam – Thanjavur.
Periyarism Seminary, Trichy.
Innovative Maestro Periyar Rural Entrepreneur Service Scheme -IMPRESS.
Periyar Centre for Cancer Detection and Prevention.
Periyar Club of Organ Donors.
Campaigns and incarcerations
As a social activist, he campaigned for the cause of Social Justice demanding reservation in education and job opportunities to the socially and educationally backward classes and depressed communities. He championed for social justice and national causes involving constitutional crises, violations of human rights and women’s rights.
Participation in international conference
International Conference organized by Tamils in New York, USA in 1984
International Peace Congress Convention in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1985
Annual Convention of Tamil Nadu Foundation in Toledo, USA in 1995
4th World Atheist Conference in Vijayawada, India in 1996
International Conference organized by Periyar International Inc., (USA) inChennai, 1997.
International Conference organized by Humanist Ethical Union Congress held in Mumbai, 1999.
Endowment lectures
Delivered extensive lectures on various occasions in the Universities of Nagpur, Madras, Pondicherry and Annamalai; Thanjavur Tamil University and Ethiraj College for Women, Chennai.
Delivered the “G.U. Pope Memorial Lecture” at the House of Lords, Westminster Palace, London on 15th January 2004
Countries visited
Delivered lectures and participated in seminars / conferences held in Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, USA, Canada, Russia, Japan, Myanmar, England and other European Countries.
Institutions sponsored by
The Periyar Self-Respect Propaganda Institution and
Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology
Periyar Maniammai University, Vallam, Thanjavur.
Periyar Centenary Polytechnic College, Vallam, Thanjavur.
Periyar Community College of Continuing Education, Vallam, Thanjavur.
Periyar Organization for Bio-Technic and Eco-System, Thanjavur.
Periyar Renewable Energy Training Institute, Vallam, Thanjavur.
Periyar Centre for Energy and Environment Management, Vallam, Thanjavur.
Periyar Dairy Farm, Thanjavur.
Periyar Teacher’s Training Institute, Tiruchirapalli
Nagammai Teacher’s Training Institute,Tiruchirapalli
Periyar College of Pharmaceutical Sciences for Girls, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Primary School, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Maniammai Higher Secondary School for Girls, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Centenary Nursery School, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Centenary Memorial Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Jayamkondam.
Periyar Matriculation High School, Vettikadu.
Periyar Community College of Continuing Education,Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Computer Centre, Tiruchirapalli
Nagammai Children’s Home, Tiruchirapalli
Sami Kaivalyam Home for Senior Citizens, Tiruchirapalli
Periyarism Seminary, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Maniammai Hospital, Thanjavur.
Periyar Maniammai Free Clinic, Sholanganallur.
Periyar Hospital, Sholanganallur.
Periyar Maniammai Free Clinic, Tiruchirapalli
Periyar Maniammai Free Clinic, Chennai.
Periyar Maniammai Hospital, Chennai.
Periyar Medical Mission, Chennai.
Periyar Urban Family Welfare Centre, Chennai
Periyar Centre for Cancer Detection and Prevention, Chennai.
Periyar Club of Organ Donors, Chennai.
Dr. Maragatham – Mariappan Hospital, Salem.
Periyar Coaching Centre / Institute of English, Chennai.
Periyar I.A.S. & I.P.S. Coaching Centre, Chennai.
Periyar Centre for Youth Counselling, Chennai.
Periyar Free Legal Assistance Cell, Chennai.
Periyar Self-Respect Marriage Bureau, Chennai.
Periyar Vision, Chennai.
Periyar Rationalist Library and Research Centre, Chennai.
Periyar Museum, Chennai.
International Institute of Periyar’s Philosophy and Ideology, Chennai.
Periyar Organization for Women Empowerment and Renaissance (POWER), Chennai..
Innovative Maestro Periyar Rural Entrepreneur Service Scheme (IMPRESS), Chennai
Periyar Centre, Bomnoli, New Delhi.
Periyar Centre, Jasola, New Delhi.
