Immanuvel Devendrar (9 October 1924 – 11 September 1957), who later took the name Immanuel Sekaran, was a civil rights activist, former soldier and a party worker for the Indian National Congress in Tamil Nadu, India.
Immanuvel Devendrar | |
|---|---|
 Sekaranar on a 2010 Indian stamp | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 9 October 1924 Sellur (of Mudukulathur), Ramnad District, Madras Presidency, British India (now in Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu, India) |
| Died | 11 September 1957 (aged 32) Mudukulathur, Ramanathapuram District, Madras State (now Tamil Nadu), India |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Nationality | Tamil |
| Political party |  Tamil Nadu Youth Congress |
| Parent | Vedhanayagam (father) |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | British Indian Army |
| Years of service | c.1945 |
| Rank | Havildar |
Early life
editImmanuvel Devendrar was born in Sellur, Mudukulathur, Tamil Nadu on 9 October 1924 to Vedhanayagam Kudumbar, a school teacher
Politics
editHe took part in the Quit India movement from the age of 18 and was imprisoned for three months because of it. In 1945, he enlisted in the British army and, upon his discharge, he returned to his native Ramanathapuram district to work for the Indian National Congress party (INC).[1] His time in the army had caused him to question the oppression of the Pallar caste in his district, which was particularly alarming.[2][3]
Sekaran worked to improve the education, rights and representation of the Devendra's/Pallars. He tried to mobilise them to demand equality. The INC saw him as a useful opposition to Pasumpon Mutharamalingam Thevar, who had defected from the party to join the Forward Bloc.[2] The party thought that he might be a worthy future member of the Legislative Assembly and groomed him for that end. It was for this reason that he converted to the Hindu religion and took the name Immanuel Sekaranar.[3]
Assassination
editBackground
editThe Devendra's were often in dispute with the Thevar caste and the relationship between the communities became fraught following a by-election in 1957.[4]
Incident
editDevandrar was ambushed and murdered by a group of Thevars for his activity on 11 September 1957.
Aftermath
editThevar was accused and responsible for the death. Thevar was in fact arrested but later released without charge.[2]
The 1957 Ramnad riots, in which 42 Devendra's were killed, occurred as a consequence of Immanuvel Devendrar's murder,[3] but approx. 20 supporters of U. Muthuramalingam Thevar and 30 Devendra's died according to 1957 Ramnad riots data, not counting the injured personnel.
Legacy
editThe anniversary of Devendrar's death is celebrated annually as Devendrar Gurupoojai by Devendra Kula community people in Paramakudi Ramanathapuram District of Tamil Nadu.[5][6]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Remembering Immanuel Sekaran: Brave freedom fighter". Azadika Amrit Mahastoav. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
- ^ a b c "Freedom fighter, Dalit icon: Remembering Tamil Nadu's Immanuel Sekaran". Hindustan Times. 11 September 2016. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ a b c Karthikeyan, D. (11 September 2011). "Immanuel Sekaran in the vanguard of Dalit struggle". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
- ^ "Remembering Immanuel Sekaran: Brave Dalit leader who lost his life to savarna brutality". The News Minute. 1 September 2016. Archived from the original on 2 September 2016. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
- ^ "Floral tributes paid to Tamil Nadu state leader Emmanuel Sekaran". Archived from the original on 14 June 2018. Retrieved 8 February 2011.
- ^ "Tribute paid to Emmanuel Sekaran". The Hindu. 12 May 2005. Archived from the original on 6 September 2006. Retrieved 20 July 2017.