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Preface to the Second Edition
This Tamil work on 'Caste and Its Evil' first appeared in the form of a somewhat long essay in the sixth volume of my Tamil magazine Jnanasagaram in October, 1911. The occasion which called it into existence was in this wise. In response to the invitation of the Saiva Siddhanta Sabha at Tuticorin, I had to go there in December, 1910, in order to preside at its grand annual gathering and so to conduct it as to make it meet the needs of the time. I took an active part in its proceedings, as it was ably managed by learned, intelligent and well- meaning Saivites and was also attended by a large number of men and women of enlightenment, earnestness and understanding. Everything went on smoothly and delightfully on the first day, except in one important respect. Able lecturers filled with enthusiasm for introducing reforms into religious and social matters, came from distant parts of the country, but some of them were not treated with that respect which learning, good intentions and good manners claim, but were treated, as appeared to my mind, rather badly, simply because they happened to belong to non-vegetarian castes. Whether learned or unlearned, good or bad, religious or irreligious only those who were known to be Saivites, that is, those only whose lineage was known to have originated with the vegetarian velala parents, were invited to sit in one hall and dine together, while others, whose adherence to Saiva religion and clean vegetarian mode of living could not be questioned but whose only fault was what was occasioned by the mere accident of birth, were made to sit aloof in a separate place and served meals rather lately. This I observed on the first day and, on the next, I questioned some of the prominent members of the society why they were treated thus. One amongst them replied me that they belonged to non-vegtetarain castes, and, therefore, could not be admitted into the dining - hall of the Saivites.
