E.V. Ramasamy Periyar
E.V. Ramasamy Periyar (ई.वी. रामास्वामी पेरियार, 1879–1973), commonly known as Periyar, was a social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidian movement in Tamil Nadu. He is revered as the “Father of the Dravidian movement.”
Political career and reform
Born into a wealthy family in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Periyar initially worked within the Indian National Congress before breaking away due to what he perceived as its Brahminical dominance. In 1939, he became head of the Justice Party, which he transformed in 1944 into the social organisation Dravidar Kazhagam (Dravidian Association), advocating for the rights of non-Brahmin Dravidians and the abolition of the caste system.
Self-Respect Movement
The Self-Respect Movement, launched in 1925, was Periyar’s most significant contribution. It encouraged non-Brahmins to reject Brahminical authority and assert their social and cultural identity. The movement promoted inter-caste marriage, women’s rights, and the use of Tamil in education and government.
Periyar rejected the authority of the Vedas and the caste system, which he saw as tools of Brahminical oppression. He advocated for a rational, scientific worldview and was critical of organized religion in all forms.
Legacy
Periyar’s ideas profoundly influenced Tamil politics and society. His followers, the Dravidian parties, have governed Tamil Nadu for much of the post-independence period. His emphasis on social justice, linguistic pride, and rationalism continues to shape political discourse in South India and beyond.
Verification notes
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- Audited against Wikipedia (September 2026).