Indian Maoists are also called as Naxals owing to their origin in Naxalbari, a village in West Bengal. The Maoists are classified as ‘far radical left’.
54-year-old Tada Periyasamy is one such Naxalite. But he is different from the so-called ‘Naxals’.
The founder of Nandhanar Sevashrama Trust who once upon a time took up arms against what he believed as state tyranny now runs hostels for Dalit schoolchildren in Perambalur, Ariyalur and Chidambaram.
His political career comprised of stints with DMK and BJP that included losses in the state assembly and two parliamentary elections since 1999.
Dalit kids in Tamil Nadu government schools are not taught Hindi due to Dravidian politics.
So, this trust founded by the ex-Naxalite takes care of 45 Dalit children from 60 villages. Not just Hindi, night classes are also conducted along with running yoga, sewing and computer classes.
This is what Mr Periyasamy believes in:
Education has the power to bring people closer…and this man is acting as a catalyst.
News Source: The Times Of India
*The images are used for representational purpose only.