The Hindu : Vishwakarmas launch new movement

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Mar 12, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore

Vishwakarmas launch new movement

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, MARCH 11 . The Tamil Nadu Vishwakarma Munnetra Sangham, at its State-level meeting held at Chidambaram recently, launched a new movement, "International Vishwakarma Self-respective Movement."

Ganapathi Sthapathi, who had designed and sculpted the Thiruvalluvar statue installed at Kanyakumari, was elected president of the movement. The objective of the movement was to bring the Vishwarkarmas spread across the world under a single banner to restore the self-respect of the community, according to Mr. Sekar.

The speakers in the meetings noted that the Vishwkarmas had contributed a great deal for the development of art and culture. They had constructed as many as 35,000 temples as per the Agama sastras, and yet, they were not enjoying the status as in the hoary past. The speakers noted that the Vishwakarmas, despite their skill in building temples, which were termed as "spiritual visual forms," were relegated to the background, because they were considered as non-technical people.

Therefore, to assert their place in the society, and regain their past glory, they had decided to launch the movement. The meeting passed a resolution urging the Central and State Government to reserve constituencies for the community. It also called for including the community in the Most Backward Class list.

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Vishwakarmas launch new movement