(The following is the English Version of the excerpts from the speech delivered by Thanthai Periyar on 23rd October 1949, at Salem, as the Presidential address in a training camp organised by Salem-Sevvaipettai Self-Respect Association on ‘Public Speaking’)
It is absolutely essential for young people to receive training in public speaking. In Chennai and other cities, such training organizations have existed for many years. Similar societies, known as debating societies, have long functioned in Western countries, even in small villages, contributing to education.
Those who practice public speaking should think carefully before they speak. They must speak in a way that stimulates the audience’s thinking and ensures that the ideas they present are firmly implanted in their minds. Speech without thought, or speech that does not inspire thought in others, can never be considered good speech, no matter how elegant or well-structured it may be. Such speech produces no real benefit.
Public Speaking as a Means of Livelihood
Some people make public speaking their profession and means of earning a living. We can especially observe such speakers during election campaigns. Whoever pays them becomes their client. They speak in favor of those who hire them, criticize and abuse their opponents, and lavish praise upon those who pay them. Young people should never aspire to become such speakers. A truly honorable speaker will never use their speech for such purposes.
Speaking for the welfare of society is what should be desired and respected. Young people should train themselves to present sound ideas. They should speak only those ideas that can guide people toward a better path. The true public speaker is one who wins over the people by presenting good ideas, speaking the truth, pointing out shortcomings, and explaining genuine needs.
“To become a good speaker, it is not necessary to have mastered grammar or literature. What is essential is the ability to speak clearly. A measure of intelligence and sound judgment is enough. If one can explain one’s ideas so that people understand them, that is sufficient.”
Staying on the Subject
A good speech is one that never strays from its chosen topic, does not introduce unrelated matters, and is not unnecessarily prolonged with meaningless words. Although speaking in this manner may be difficult, it is the proper way to cultivate the art of public speaking. Every word should be measured so carefully that removing even one word would damage the meaning, while adding another would make the speech excessive.
Some people believe a speech should be ornate, full of rhetorical flourishes, alliteration, and decorative language. In pursuit of such embellishment, they pile up countless ideas and unnecessary words, ultimately diminishing the importance of the actual subject.
Public Support
Some people, once they begin speaking, continue endlessly whether the audience enjoys the speech or not. Even when the chairperson signals them to stop, they refuse. They keep talking until someone literally pulls them back to their seat.
Just as public speaking can suffer from certain flaws, speakers themselves can develop a dangerous disease. More than ninety-five out of every hundred speakers fall victim to it, and once they do, they rarely recover.
What is this disease?
A person learns to speak pleasantly for a few minutes. They address a handful of public meetings. They receive applause from the audience a few times. Immediately, they begin to think they have mastered the art of speaking. They imagine that they have won the support of the people. From there, they conclude that they should become a leader.
Of those who fall prey to this illusion, ninety out of a hundred never amount to anything. Many, after suffering repeated failures because of this ambition, eventually withdraw from public life altogether. A public speaker should never develop such desires or entertain such thoughts.
Anyone who believes that public applause qualifies him to become a leader is, in truth, a fool. He is destroying himself. Public speaking and leadership are entirely different. They have no necessary connection, and they should never be confused.
Leadership is one field; public speaking is another. A leader may become a good speaker because of the responsibilities of leadership. But no one becomes a leader merely because they are an effective speaker.
Many have failed because they did not understand this distinction. People may admire someone as an eloquent speaker, but that does not mean they will accept him as their leader.
Speak with Humility, Clarity, and Responsibility
Those who come to the platform to speak should do so with a sense of caution and responsibility. They should choose their words carefully. They must speak the truth. They should express themselves with clarity. At the same time, they must remain conscious of their own abilities and limitations.
A speaker should never assume that because he possesses some knowledge or ability, he can declare, “This is my opinion,” or “I say this,” as though his words alone carry authority.
To become a good speaker, it is not necessary to have mastered grammar or literature. What is essential is the ability to speak clearly. A measure of intelligence and sound judgment is enough. If one can explain one’s ideas so that people understand them, that is sufficient.
A speaker should not indulge in personal abuse. Even when criticism cannot be avoided, it should be expressed with restraint, precision, and, as far as possible, indirectly rather than through harsh or insulting language.
Periyar reflects on his own position
“I am now seventy years old (in 1949). If I happen to use a somewhat improper or slightly offensive word, people are unlikely to become angry or misunderstand my intention. But if the same words are spoken by a young man, a student, or someone who speaks merely for a livelihood, the audience—men and women alike—will regret having come to the meeting and may even walk out.”
Therefore, every speaker must remember that the style and manner of speech should be appropriate to one’s age, experience, standing, and personal character. If a speaker wishes to achieve good results, he must speak with humility and self-restraint. He should present his views as humble opinions rather than as unquestionable truths.
Even those who disagree with him should be able to say, “Poor man, that genuinely seems to be his sincere belief,” rather than feel offended or attacked. Someone writing from the privacy of home may write almost anything. But a public speaker is different. A speaker regularly faces the people directly. Therefore, he must always speak with the awareness that careless words may permanently damage his reputation and cause people to lose respect for him.
A Speaker Represents More Than Himself
In ancient times, communication was largely through verse and song. Prose oratory, as we know it today, scarcely existed. Times have changed. The prestige once enjoyed by singers has diminished.
In the future, Periyar says, public speakers will command greater respect than singers or actors. Given the condition of society, effective public speaking has become an essential necessity.
Even in drama, cinema, and other forms of entertainment, the spoken word now carries greater influence than music or scholarship alone. Nothing equals the usefulness of speech in educating people. For worthwhile social service, good public speaking is indispensable.
A speaker is, in effect, a teacher. He is a guide who helps show people the right path.
The Responsibility of a Public Speaker
Those who aspire to become speakers should always remember this responsibility.
Some people, after learning to speak, become obsessed with promoting themselves. The moment they see a public meeting, they become impatient to get onto the stage. They send notes requesting an opportunity to speak. Some even persuade others to send such requests on their behalf.
At meetings where senior leaders have already been scheduled to speak, they plead for a chance to address the audience and often speak for so long that those who follow are inconvenienced. A good speaker should avoid such behavior altogether.
The Misuse of Popularity
Some people, after gaining popularity through their speeches and becoming known to the public, immediately start newspapers or magazines of their own.
If they are unable to run these publications with dignity and integrity, they begin using them to collect donations. They praise those who contribute and criticize those who do not. They exploit the influence they gained through public speaking for personal benefit. If money is not forthcoming, they even change their principles and convictions.
Such abuses, Periyar warns, often arise when the gift of public speaking is misused.
Therefore, if an irresponsible person—one who lacks integrity, honesty, and a sense of duty—becomes a public speaker, he can become a great nuisance to society. People may eventually regret having encouraged such a person to become a speaker in the first place.
For this reason, choose only worthy individuals. Train only those who possess responsibility and integrity. Let your speeches serve the people more than they serve yourselves.
Conclusion
Periyar’s central message is that public speaking is not a path to fame, power, or leadership—it is a moral responsibility and a form of public service.
Source: Viduthalai – 6th November 1949
- by Modern Rationalist August 10, 2026
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