'Education only weapon that can break chains of Sanatan and dictatorship': Rajya Sabha MP Kamal Haasan

Kamal Haasan

Actor and Makkal Needhi Maiam founder Kamal Haasan made strong remarks on the necessity of education while addressing a gathering at the Agaram Foundation event in Chennai. "Education is the only weapon that can break the chains of dictatorship and Sanatan," the Rajya Sabha MP said on Sunday.

Speaking at the function, the Rajya Sabha MP described education as the only tool capable of dismantling both dictatorship and Sanatan, drawing parallels to earlier comments made by Tamil Nadu minister Udhayanidhi Stalin that had sparked a nationwide debate last year.

Kamal Haasan added, "Don't take anything else in your hands, only education. We cannot win without it, because the majority can make you lose. Majority Fools (Moodargal) will make u lose; knowledge alone will seem defeated. That's why we must hold on to it (Education) firmly."

Haasan praised the Agaram Foundation's efforts, calling its work one of the few remaining sources of genuine education and unconditional love. "Apart from our mothers, institutions like Agaram Foundation are among the few places where we can still find them," he said.

He went on to compare the nature of fame in cinema to the challenges of social work. "In cinema, we are crowned for our performances. But in social work, we are given a crown of thorns. It takes a strong heart to accept that crown. No one else will do this for us-we have to do it ourselves," he remarked.

Touching upon the impact of NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test), Haasan said the law has limited the reach of organisations like Agaram Foundation. "Even Agaram Foundation, despite its best efforts, cannot help students beyond a point because the law doesn't allow it. To change the law, we need strength, and that strength can only come from education," he stated.