The vehicle that added miles to EVR Periyar's campaigns

TRICHY: A specially designed campaign van of the pioneer of the Dravidian movement, EVR Periyar, is still lovingly preserved at 'Periyaar Maaligai' of the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) at Puthur in Trichy. The rationalist icon of Tamil Nadu undertook several campaigns for eradication of caste in this vehicle, including his last one five days before his death.
Presented to him on August 19, 1973 by the party at Thanjavur, the Fargo make vehicle had been used by him for four months till his death on December 24, 1973. The party got TMZ 9595 as its registration number to mark his service to the people at the age of 95.
"We mobilised funds from people and bought a vehicle for our leader. The total cost of the vehicle and the coach building was around Rs 2 lakh. It was the third vehicle presented to him for campaigning against caste and untouchability," said DK president K Veeramani, who was the then secretary of the party.
Until the age of 84, Periyar was healthy and able to campaign from the dais. In his 90s, he developed several health complications that prevented his active participation in public life. So the vehicle was designed in such a way that he could deliver speeches from the vehicle.
A coach builder in Karur personalised the vehicle to provide Periyar a comfort journey in a lying position.
"He did not let his ailments prevent his travelling at least 200 miles a day even at the age of 95, though he had to carry a urinal bag. His public meetings were scheduled in the evening and used to go on till 11 pm. He would involve himself in discussions with party people the rest of the time," Veeramani said.
The then chief minister M Karunanidhi had presented Periyar a golden key at a function in Thanjavur and issued a G.O to give motor tax exemption to the vehicle.
The nonagenarian used to carry food with him during his travel and his wife Maniammai accompanied him to take care of his health. His followers, including Veeramani, also travelled with him.
T Mahalingam, 86, residing at Rettaivaikkal in Trichy, who travelled with Periyar in the vehicle, recalled that Periyar once gave a lift to a pregnant Brahmin woman though he was in principle opposed to their religious practices. "When we were on the way for a campaign, some Brahmin people waved their hands to stop the vehicle to take a pregnant woman to hospital. On seeing Periyar inside they were hesitant, but our leader gave them a helping hand and admitted her to a hospital where she gave birth to a male child." Mahalingam is also in charge of the Periyar Book Shop in Puthur.
The party had presented him three vehicles bearing registration numbers MDS 401, MSW 7007 and finally TMZ 9595.
Exactly four months of travel in the third vehicle on December 19, 1973, Periyar addressed a campaign at the Theagaraya Nagar bus stand in Chennai.
It was his last campaign. "He fell sick after delivering a fiery speech and was admitted to hospital in Chennai and then in CMC Vellore where he breathed his last early on December 24," said Veeramani.
His mortal remains was brought to Chennai for the final rites in this vehicle.