Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (1879–1973), popularly known as Periyar ("The Respected One"), was an Indian social activist, rationalist, and politician. He is celebrated as the "Father of Modern Tamil Nadu" for spearheading the Self-Respect Movement and founding the Dravidar Kazhagam. [1, 2]
Periyar is best known for his lifelong crusade against the caste system, religious orthodoxy, and patriarchy. His life and legacy are defined by several key pillars: [3]
Early Life and Activism
Background: Born on September 17, 1879, in Erode (Tamil Nadu) to a prosperous merchant family.
Congress & Non-Cooperation: He initially joined the Indian National Congress in 1919 and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, earning a reputation as an avid campaigner against British rule and alcohol.
Break with Congress: He left the Congress party in 1925, citing a lack of support for reservation systems and non-Brahmin representation, believing the party catered only to elite interests. [1, 3]
The Self-Respect Movement
In 1925, Periyar launched the Self-Respect Movement to promote equality, dignity, and rationalism among marginalized and lower-caste communities.
Eradicating Caste: He heavily criticized Hindu scriptures and Brahminical dominance, which he believed entrenched social inequality.
Women’s Rights: He strongly advocated for female emancipation, education, and the right to divorce and property, challenging traditional patriarchal norms.
Self-Respect Marriages: He promoted weddings conducted without Brahmin priests or orthodox rituals, encouraging inter-caste marriages. [1, 3, 5]
Political Legacy
Justice Party & Dravidar Kazhagam: In 1939, Periyar became the leader of the Justice Party. He transformed it into a socio-political organization called the Dravidar Kazhagam (Dravidian Federation) in 1944.
Anti-Hindi Agitations: He led massive campaigns against the compulsory teaching of Hindi in schools, viewing it as an attempt to impose Indo-Aryan, North Indian, and Brahminical culture on South India.
Dravida Nadu: He advocated for Dravida Nadu, a sovereign and independent state uniting the Dravidian-speaking populations of South India. [7, 8]
Periyar passed away on December 24, 1973, at the age of 94, leaving an indelible mark on Tamil and Indian politics. His ideologies paved the way for the creation of prominent regional political entities, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK). [1, 6, 8, 9, 10]
For further reading on his life and ideology, you can explore detailed profiles on Britannica or Wikipedia.
AI responses may include mistakes.
[1] https://byjus.com/free-ias-prep/this-day-in-history-december24/
[2] https://iasscore.in/current-affairs/periyar-e-v-ramasamy
[3] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Periyar
[4] https://www.dmk.in/en/party/historyofdmk/periyar/
[5] https://www.pjpindia.org/periyar_ev_ramasamy.aspx
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar
[7] https://vajiramandravi.com/current-affairs/periyar-ev-ramasamy/
[8] https://simple.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar_E._V._Ramasamy
[9] https://www.tnpscthervupettagam.com/articles-detail/erode-venkatappa-ramasamy/?cat=gk-articles
[10] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Periyar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar