Shri.MVD, naturally being an egalitarian and a patron of social justice got inspired by Thanthai Periyar’s Self Respect Movement and its virtues. He along with his friends tried to spread Periyar’s ‘Anti-Caste’ ideas in a Caste violence prone Dharavi, to Promote peace and stability in the region. Even though Shri.MVD didn’t join Self Respect Movement or Justice Party, his affiliation towards Periyar was ideological. Under this circumstance, representing the Youth federation of Dharavi, Shri.MVD invited Periyar to deliver a speech in his locality. He met Mr.Annadurai, the secretary of Periyar at that time and fixed the date and time for Periyar’s function. But Periyar, ill-informed of this fixture, gave the same dates to a function to be organized by the elder leaders and big-shots of Dharavi. When Shri.MVD came to know of this confusion, he got furious over Anna and quarreled with him. Periyar inspired by the dauntlessness and presence of Shri.MVD assured him of the dates, but asked him to join hands with the elder leaders and hold a single function. Shri.MVD readily accepted this giving due respect to Periyar’s words. Shri.MVD made sure that, the function was carried out in a very grand way and was attended by nearly all Dravidians of Dharavi. He brought Periyar to the function in a Horse chariot and escorted him back to the railway station with hundred’s of volunteers. Delighted by this, Periyar complimented Shri.MVD. Shri.MVD remembered this incident through out his life as he considered getting such a compliment from Periyar, who is hailed as the ‘Socrates of South East Asia’ cannot be emulated.
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