Dissemination of Knowledge in the Context of Sri Chattampi Swamikal's Vedadhikara Nirupanam

Abstract

Chattampi Swamikal lived in a society divided into numerous castes and sub-castes, where a small minority held all the power and privileges, sitting at the top of the social hierarchy. This elite group dictated the lives of others through a system of social and economic discrimination and exclusion. To maintain their control, they restricted access to knowledge for the majority, exemplifying their practice of deprivation and exclusion. By keeping people ignorant, they controlled political power and economic resources. Swamikal fought against this exclusion by arguing for open access to knowledge and right to education. However, he believed that merely providing knowledge was not enough; he urged people to critically examine it, even questioning the Vedas, which were considered sacred and authoritative.