The tenth “K. Veeramani Award for Social Justice” will be conferred on Manamigu Hon’ble Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi
Periyar International was established in 1994 in Chicago at function presided over by Late Chandrajit Yadav and attended by Manamigu K.Veeramani. It aims to spread the ideals and ideas of Thanthai Periyar. He spread principles of rationalism, humanism and equality of all, including women. He stressed the need for the eradication of superstitutions.
Periyar International and its patron Dr. K.Veeramani have worked with organisations like International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and Centre for Free Inquiry.
The past presidents of IHEU, Levy Fragell of Norway and Prof. Roy Brown of Switzerland have visited Tamil Nadu and participated in DK Conferences and seminars.
Dr. K. Veeramani has visited CFI in Amherst, NY, as a guest of prof. Paul Kurtz and exchanged views of mutual interest.
The Veeramani Award of Social Justice was instituted to honour an individual or organisation in recognition of the contribution to Social Justice, irrespective of race, religion, nationality etc.
The first awardee was the former Prime Minister, V.P. Singh who boldly implemented a recommendation of Mandal Commission in 1990, fully aware of the risk of his government being toppled by the BJP that sought to gain political mileage through the Hindu religious symbols like ‘Kamandal’.
The other recipients include Late Chandrajit Yadav, Sitaram Kesary, Mayawati, Moorthy of Singapore and Veera K.Munusamy of Myanmar.
Hon’ble Kalaignar M.Karunanidhi will be the 10th recipient of the award for his life time service for social justice, particularly for enacting laws to implement the principle of social justice, topping them all by a legislation in 2006, qualifying all to become archakas (priests) in all temples, irrespective of their birth in any caste, thus taking a historic step towards eradication of caste and untouchability. The award giving function is being planned as our international conference of humanists in which Paul Kurtz, Levi Fragell, Richards Dawkins and others will participate.
Periyar International has instituted an annual award called "K.Veeramani Award for Social justice".
The award committee under the leadership of Prof. Lakshman Tamil have been selecting an Individual or an organization every year who are considered worthy of the award. This award does not discriminate in any form or shape such as race, gender, nationality, religion, creed or caste. The awardees are all stalwarts of social justice who have contributed significantly to enhance the quality of life of the underprivileged. The award carries a plaque and INR100,000.
List of Awardees:
The first award was presented to Hon.V.P.Singh, in a function held in Ohio, USA, 1998.
The second was presented to Hon.Chandarajit Yadav.
The third was presented to Sitaram Kesari
The fourth was presented to Hon.Mayawathi
The fifth was presented to Moorthy of Singapore.
The sixth award was posthumously presented to Karuppaiah Mooppanar
The seventh award went to Veera Munusamy of Yangoon, Myanmar.
The eighth to Hon B.S.A.Swamy in Hyderabad.
The ninth award will go to Hon. Dr. Sudarsana Natchiyappan
and the tenth award will be awarded to Hon. Dr. Kalaingar Karunanidhi, the Chief Minister of Tamilnadu.