Indian Parliamentarian Rajathi Salma and Dravidian Advocate Arulmozhi Lead Panel on Caste, Self-Respect, and Social Cohesion

Leaders of Change Unite in Melbourne

The opening panel of the symposium, “Breaking Barriers: Humanism, Self-Respect, and Social Cohesion in the Fight Against Caste,” brings together two powerful voices from Tamil Nadu who represent the intellectual and activist core of the anti-caste movement. Moderated by Dr Vikrant Kishore, this conversation underscores the global resonance of Dravidian thought and the ongoing relevance of caste abolition as a human rights issue across borders.

This session is not just a panel, it is a dialogue between literature and law, activism and public life, feminism and rationalism.

Voices that Shaped a Movement

Rajathi Salma, poet, novelist, and Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha), brings to the panel a literary and feminist vision grounded in lived experience. Her acclaimed works An Evening and Another Evening and The Hours Past Midnight have questioned entrenched patriarchal and caste structures, while her public life reflects her ongoing commitment to gender justice, free expression, and social reform. As both a writer and legislator, Salma embodies the intersection of creative dissent and policy-making.

Advocate Arulmozhi, Public Engagement Secretary of Dravidar Kazhagam, represents the rationalist legal traditions of the Dravidian movement. Known for her tireless work in public education, legal awareness, and constitutional rights, she continues the legacy of Periyar through grassroots engagement. Her approach connects lived struggles to legal frameworks, making the fight against caste an everyday act of public reasoning.

A Shared Vision

Together, Salma and Arulmozhi bring different registers, poetic resistance and constitutional advocacy to the panel, united by a shared commitment to equality, dignity, and justice. Their conversation will draw from the legacies of Periyar and Ambedkar, yet remain firmly rooted in present struggles, speaking to diasporic audiences grappling with caste prejudice and cultural change.

According to Dr Vikrant Kishore, who convenes the symposium, “this session brings two powerful voices who, through literature and law, have continually challenged the normalisation of caste in society. Their presence in Melbourne is a moment of reckoning for the diaspora , a call to act, reflect, and resist.”

This opening panel sets the tone for a day of engagement, reflection, and collective action towards dismantling caste hierarchies and strengthening social cohesion.