VIRUDHUNAGAR: A freedom fighter, who turned 100 on Sunday, has said he was not happy with the way the country has been progressing and painted a bleak future for the nation. He also rued that even another movement like the freedom struggle has had have no impact.
The freedom fighter B Ramasamy, a resident of Ayan Reddiapatti village near Kariapatti Taluk in Virudhunagar district, had fought for independence, along with Congress leader Kamaraj.
“Even if we launch another freedom struggle, it will be difficult to set right the course,” he said.
He recalled he had taken part in several freedom movement-related activities since the age of 15. “We fought for the freedom, but the country is not where we expect it to be. The youngsters should imbibe only good things from society, leave out the bad, and should work to steer the country to the right path,” he said.
On Sunday, on the occasion of his 100th birthday, his family and people from his village celebrated his birthday as if it were a village festival. They arranged for folk music and dance shows. In one spot near the dais,where the programmes were on, the villagers cooked food in huge vessels.
Ramasamy was born on December 7, 1916. He worked as a teacher in a primary school. In 1939, he was booked for giving shelter to a freedom fighter, Nedunkadu Ramachandran of Kerala in the Nellai conspiracy case, against the British and was sent to Alipuri jail. He worked also as the editor of a journal called Veerapandian. From 1966, Ramasamy was given a freedom fighter’s pension of `150.
“Ramasamy, who followed the footsteps of the father of our nation Mahatma Gandhi, struggled for freedom of the country. He was given five acres of land by the government but he donated the land to the Bhoodan Movement. Ramasamy is a selfless person, he still doesn’t have a house he could call his own,” a villager said. There are many youngsters who have been inspired by him, they added.
Former Education Minister and Thiruchuli MLA Thangam Thennarasu attended the celebrations.