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Actor-politician Kamal Haasan on Sunday defined education as the only weapon powerful enough to destroy "the shackles of dictatorship and Sanatan". He was speaking at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai, organised by actor Suriya's education charity.

 

"Don't keep anything else in your hands, just education. We cannot succeed without it, because the majority can make you fail. Majority fools (Moodargal) will make you fail; knowledge alone will get defeated. That's why we have to keep it (education) tight," the Makkal Needhi Maiam leader said, while urging greater public investment in knowledge systems and social empowerment.

 

Hailing the efforts of Agaram Foundation, which has given assistance to thousands of poor children in Tamil Nadu, Haasan averred, "Unconditional love and real education are not easily found. Other than our mothers, such institutions as Agaram Foundation are one of the few where we can still find them." Commenting on the contrast between cinema and social work, he further remarked, "In cinema, we are awarded for our performances." But in social work, we are offered a crown of thorns. It demands a steadfast heart to take that crown. No one will do it for us, we must do it by ourselves."

 

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In a clear criticism of the NEET policy since 2017, Haasan contended that the law had actually shattered the dreams of medical applicants from marginalised and poor backgrounds. "You can't see doctors of such a batch next year. There is a reason for what I'm saying, as after 2017, they can't keep up their efforts. Now do you understand why we protest against NEET? Since 2017, that law has made such children unable to receive education," he said. He also mentioned that "only education can give the strength to change that law".

 

Referring to a recent meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin, the Rajya Sabha MP stated, "I informed the Chief Minister yesterday that NGOs aren't seeking anything like money— they're only seeking permission to work. He assured me that measures are in place towards it. I am proud to be part of this cause."

 

Haasan ended his speech with a thought about leadership and legacy. "Leadership is that which dissolves (with time) into the society and not that stands and governs. It took me 70 years to realise it," he remarked.