Tamil Nadu to remove caste titles in roads and streets

A statement from the Tamil Nadu textbook corporation on Thursday clarified that the corporation has started implementing the state government's order to drop caste surnames in the streets and roads of Tamil Nadu.

Former Chief Minister late MG Ramachandran had said his government would remove caste references from roads and streets of the state while speaking at the centenary celebrations of Dravidar Kazhagam founder, EV Ramaswami Periyar (Thanthai Periyar) in 1978. A government order was issued soon afterwards.

The corporation has removed the surnames of upper caste scholars, including UV Swaminatha Iyer, otherwise known as Tamil Thatha, for his contributions to Tamil literature, his teacher Meenakshi Sundaram Pillai, Mayavaram Vedanayagam Pillai, who authored the first Tamil novel, CW Thamotharampillai and poet Ramalingam Pillai.

Henceforth they would be known as UV Swaminathar, Meenakshi Sundaranar, Vedanayagam, Damodaranar and Ramalingnar, respectively. However, the Text Book corporation has not touched upon the titles Deekshithar and Desikar.

Several amongst Tamil scholars, however, have opined against the removal of upper caste titles. Some also argued that the names of those established in literature and academic circles could have been exempted.

"While socially it is a good move to remove the caste tag from scholars but the names of established scholars like UV Swaminatha Iyer should have been retained," said Tamil scholar and writer V Manivarnan.