Book Talk by Vignesh Rajahmani, author of The Dravidian Pathway
The Shiv Nadar School of Law hosted Mr. Vignesh Rajahmani for a discussion on his book ‘The Dravidian Pathway’. Mr. Rajahmani is a postdoctoral research fellow and holds a PhD in Political Science and Public Policy from King’s College London. His research focuses on public policy in the digital age. He also applies this expertise through political consultation and campaign strategy in today’s political landscape.
Rajahmani discussed a pivotal time in Tamil Nadu history, chronicling the transformation of the Dravidian movement from a social reform campaign into a powerful force in politics. What distinguishes his research from scholarship around the same subject, is that ‘The Dravidian Pathway’ examines the role of books, reading rooms, and the power of knowledge in creating political consciousness that shaped the state’s trajectory.
Rajahmani highlighted how Dravidian leaders, particularly Periyar E.V. Ramasamy believed that expanding access to knowledge was essential for mobilising marginalized communities. Reading rooms, as a core tenet of its political regime, as well as public discussion spaces became sites of political education. In towns like Virudhanagar, newspapers were read aloud to the public and even works like Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment were discussed in Tamil. These spaces had its doors open to everyone, welcoming women and people across caste and class backgrounds.
The session concluded with an engaging interaction with students, who were eager to raise thoughtful questions regarding the movement and its continued relevance in contemporary politics.
