அண்ணா அறிவாலயத்தில் கழக இளைஞரணியின் சார்பில் இன்று நடைபெற்ற திராவிட இயக்கத்தின் நூற்றாண்டு விழாவிற்கு தலைமையேற்று சிறப்புரையாற்றினேன்....

DMK leader M.K. Stalin presided over the historic centenary celebrations of the Dravidian Movement organized by the DMK Youth Wing at Anna Arivalayam in Chennai on November 29, 2016. Delivering the keynote address, Stalin traced the momentous century-long journey of the Justice Party, the Self-Respect Movement founded by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam established by Arignar Anna and led by Kalaignar M. Karunanidhi.

Stalin emphasized that the Dravidian movement fundamentally transformed Tamil society by dismantling institutionalized social hierarchies, establishing universal communal reservation, pioneering women's inheritance rights, and promoting scientific rationalism. He highlighted that Tamil Nadu's exceptional achievements in human development, industrialization, and educational accessibility were direct outcomes of Dravidian legislative policies. Engaging young minds in ideological history was crucial at a juncture when conservative forces sought to undermine social justice and regional autonomy.

The opposition leader called upon the youth wing to carry forward the torch of self-respect, federalism, and linguistic pride. Stalin asserted that the centenary was not merely an occasion for retrospective pride, but a renewed pledge to resist cultural hegemony and economic centralization across India.