Did Periyar say ‘If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’?
Claim
Rating
Description
‘If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’.
It is claimed that Periyar has said the above quote and is being circulated on social media for the last few years.
Explanation
What is the Truth?
‘If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’.
This quote was not mentioned by Periyar but by another person Beverley Nichols, an American Author. A book ‘Gandhiyar Sandhiyadaiya’ written by P.Thirumavelan, Senior Journalist, Tamil Nadu has mentioned it.
A scholar says that the old quote ‘If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’ remains new.
This was said by an American but not by blacks or those who wear black. Beverley Nichols visited Kanyakumari till Kashmir, observed people, researched and wrote a book ‘Verdict on India’ about India. The claimed quote is mentioned in the book. “Don’t kill snakes’ wrote P.Thirumavelan in his book.
Beverley Nichols in his book ‘Verdict on India’ says, “Ancient saying, still current, is – If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin”.
However, Periyar has written another quote. “Whoever comes in front of you with an attitude of casteism, consider him like a snake and beat him. This would be the best medicine to stop casteism. This will start working immediately like an injection (Viduthalai: 27-2-1948).
He has not mentioned anything like ‘beat/kill Brahmins’.
Conclusion
It is fake that Periyar said ‘If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’. Beverley Nichols has mentioned in his book ‘Verdict on India’ that ‘Ancient saying, still current, is – If you meet a snake and a Brahmin, kill the Brahmin’.
Proof Links
