'Educate, Organize, Agitate' - Ambedkar's famous slogan that we misuse
1. ‘Educate, Agitate, Organize’ – Ambedkar's Famous Slogan We Misuse
The famous slogan of revolutionary Ambedkar is widely used by us as “Karpit, Ondru Ser, Puratchi Sei” (Educate, Organize, Agitate). However, this is a misunderstanding that distorts its original order and deep meaning. Its true English sequence is "Educate, Agitate, Organize."
The correct sequence and deeper explanation is this: Educate, Agitate, Organize.
Educate : This is not just about individual learning. Instead, it is about conveying a concept to others, making them realize it, and clarifying it (convey, realize, clarify). This is the first step in politicizing people. True 'education' is teaching others what you know.
Agitate : Agitation is not violence. It is questioning injustice; raising a voice for rights; opposing traditions of oppression. For example, pointing out a superstition and saying, "This is wrong," is an agitation. Periyar saying, "There is no God," was an agitation. Agitation is raising a question towards something that has not been questioned for ages.
Organize : This is the final step. Only after people gain ideological clarity (Educate) and acquire the courage to question injustice (Agitate) can they be united (Organize). A crowd that is not ideologically united can never become a strong organization.
"Without taking 'Educating' and 'Agitation' as conditions, no one will understand. Without questioning, those with that sentiment cannot be united."
This correct understanding transforms Ambedkar's slogan from a mere command into a strategy for building a strong, ideologically unified mass movement.
2. Democracy is Not Just Majority; It is Valuing Every Individual’s Sentiment
Many of us think of democracy as mere majoritarianism, where if fifty-one out of a hundred people vote, that is victory.
True democracy is:
Valuing the feelings of every individual.
Allowing and protecting the right to question authority.
Allowing a person to express their anger or frustration if an injustice has been done to them.
Holding the principle that power should be decentralized, not concentrated in one place.
The concept of democracy is the most revolutionary of all human inventions. This principle has empowered the weak and the oppressed to fight for their rights. This comprehensive view of democracy encourages us to move beyond a mere 'win-loss' mentality in our political and social discourses and adopt a mature, inclusive approach. This is not just a subtle ideology but a mighty social change agent that makes those who suffered as slaves fight, provides educational opportunities to those denied education, and creates an environment where women achieve parity with men.
3. Periyar and Ambedkar are Leftists – The True Meaning of ‘Leftist’
There is a narrow view among us that 'Leftist Politics' is only the politics of Communist parties. This is completely wrong. The fundamental principles of Leftist politics are:
It is for the working and marginalized people.
It is against all forms of discrimination, regardless of gender, caste, or any other basis.
It foregrounds revolutionary democracy.
It fights for egalitarian principles, such as the equality of men and women.
Based on this definition, the politics of Thanthai Periyar and Revolutionary Ambedkar are 100% Leftist politics.
"Dravidian ideology is a politics that unites all Leftist thinkers..."
This perspective is crucial. This is because Leftist politics strives to change the existing social structure and build a new society. Contrary to this, Rightist politics is arguing that "the existing social structure should not be dismantled." Based on this clear distinction, this perspective unifies all progressive movements fighting for social justice under a common ideological umbrella.
4. You Can Criticize Dravidian Parties, But Not Dravidian Ideology – Why?
This highlights a very important difference between a political party and the fundamental ideology it follows.
We may have criticisms of political parties like DMK and ADMK, or organizations operating in the name of Periyar and Ambedkar. However, those criticisms should not lead to the rejection of fundamental ideologies like Dravidianism, Periyarism, and Ambedkarism.
Parties and leaders may make compromises and decisions in the electoral political arena that we may not agree with. But an ideology is like the "life-force" that sustains a movement for generations, even after the demise of a leader.
"Criticizing Dravidian parties is different from criticizing Dravidian ideology."
This perspective suggests that while critically engaging with political activists, we must protect and strengthen the fundamental principles that drive the struggle for social justice. This is a mature and necessary political approach.
5. Why Did Periyar, the Atheist, Fight for Temple Entry for All?
"Why did Periyar, who denied the existence of God, fight for all castes to enter the inner sanctum of the temple?" This question is a riddle that appears contradictory to many.
Periyar's atheism begins with the understanding that "God and Periyar have no problem." It was a "hammer blow" intended to shatter the intellectual stagnation, superstitions, and the social system that exploited people in the name of religion.
The struggle for temple entry was never for the sake of worshipping God. It was a human rights struggle for equality and fraternity. It was a struggle to establish that no human being is inferior by birth and that no public place, including religious sites, should be used to enforce caste hierarchy.
Periyar criticized a particular religion only because it protected a social structure that denied fraternity and equality. This insight reveals the true goal of Periyar's actions: his primary enemy was social oppression and inequality. Atheism was merely a powerful tool in that great human rights struggle.