Tamil Nadu has upheld secularism, social justice, and equal opportunity in education, but there are still forces seeking to undo these values and drag society backwards, said M. Appavu, Speaker of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, here on Wednesday.
Speaking at the ‘Teachers Fest,’ at St. Joseph’s College, Mr. Appavu said Lord Macaulay paved the way for universal access to education, breaking the monopoly where learning was once restricted to the Brahmin community. “In 1835, when Macaulay piloted reforms in the British Parliament, he challenged the casteist barriers of Sanathana Dharma. Without that intervention, many of us would never have had access to education. Christian institutions, from the very beginning, committed themselves to providing education for the poor, without caste or class distinction,” he said.
Criticising the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Mr. Appavu described its ideology as ‘dangerous’ and rooted in caste hierarchy. “RSS ideologues uphold Sanathana Dharma. They are the ones who opposed education for all. Their politics culminated in the sinister plot that killed Mahatma Gandhi. When they argue for a return to the gurukula system, we oppose it, because equality is non-negotiable,” he said.
On the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, he expressed concern over provisions for board examinations from Classes III, V, and VIII, warning that they could create barriers for disadvantaged children. He also noted that Tamil Nadu had already achieved the NEP’s 2035 target of 50% gross enrolment in higher education three years ago.
Mr. Appavu further contrasted the treatment of loans. “Farmers and students are still struggling to get their agricultural and education loans waived, but loans of big corporates close to the ruling dispensation at the Centre are written off,” he alleged.
Published – September 03, 2025 06:02 pm IST
