The Vedas: Repository of Knowledge: A Societal Endeavor Beyond Class Boundaries

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss explore the content of the Vedas, a topic addressed in Chattampi Swamikal's influential work 'Vedadikara Nirupanam' (The Right to Learn Vedas: A Critique), written in the late nineteenth century. Swamikal's seminal treatise challenged the prevailing laws that restricted the majority of the population from learning and teaching the Vedas. However, the term Veda used 'Vedadikara Nirupanam',  is understood ony within a narrow religious context. Despite this limitation, Swamikal's work sparked significant societal transformations. Beyond advocating for religious rights, Swamikal emphasized the importance of access to all forms of knowledge for individual and societal development. This study prompts an examination into whether his focus was solely on religious education or if he intended broader implications. It discusses the specific interpretation of the Vedas that Swamikal intended. The paper can reveal that that Swamikal's ideas align closely with modern movements such as Open Access, Open Knowledge, and Open Science, which aim to dismantle barriers to information and foster a more inclusive and fair sharing of knowledge globally.