Periyar

E.V. Ramasamy (1879–1973), popularly known as Periyar (“The Great One”), was a revolutionary social reformer and political activist from Erode, Tamil Nadu. He is the preeminent figure of the Dravidian movement, known for his uncompromising stance against Brahminical hegemony, caste-based inequality, and superstitious beliefs. His ideology, often referred to as “Periyarism,” focused on rationalism, self-respect, and gender equality.

Early Life and Political Evolution

Periyar’s transition from a devout nationalist to a radical social critic shaped the trajectory of South Indian politics.

• Early Nationalism: He was an active member of the Indian National Congress and participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
• The Cheranmahadevi Incident (1925): His disillusionment with the Congress began after witnessing discrimination in the Gurukul at Cheranmahadevi, where students were fed based on their caste. This incident convinced him that political independence was meaningless without social equality.
• Departure from Congress: He resigned from the Congress in 1925, citing the party’s failure to address caste disparities and its tendency to uphold the interests of the upper-caste elite.

The Self-Respect Movement (Suyamariyathai Iyakkam)

Launched in 1925, the Self-Respect Movement was the defining institutional platform for Periyar’s reform agenda.

• Core Objective: The movement aimed to restore the self-respect of the non-Brahmin communities and liberate them from the psychological and social shackles of the caste system.
• Rationalism: Periyar advocated for a scientific and rational outlook. He encouraged people to question religious dogmas, scriptures, and customs that propagated inequality.
• Egalitarian Marriages: He promoted “Self-Respect Marriages” (Suyamariyathai Thirumanam), which were conducted without Brahmin priests, Sanskrit rituals, or dowry, thereby simplifying the institution of marriage and removing caste markers.

Major Contributions and Reforms

Periyar’s reforms were multifaceted, targeting the structural roots of social oppression.

• Anti-Casteism: He challenged the Varna system, arguing that it was a mechanism designed to maintain the supremacy of a few. He popularized the term “Dravidian” to build a distinct non-Brahmin identity.
• Women’s Rights: Periyar was a staunch advocate for women’s liberation. He campaigned for women’s education, widow remarriage, the right to divorce, and the right to property. He criticized the institution of marriage as an instrument of male dominance.
• Anti-Hindi Agitation: In 1937, he led a massive protest against the compulsory introduction of Hindi in schools in the Madras Presidency, viewing it as a form of cultural imposition by the North over the Dravidian South.
• Temple Entry: He supported the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924) in Travancore, which sought the right for lower castes to use public roads surrounding temples, eventually earning him the title “Vaikom Veerar.”

Journalistic and Literary Impact

Periyar used media as a potent weapon to propagate his ideas and mobilize the masses.

• Kudi Arasu: Founded in 1925, this weekly magazine served as the official mouthpiece of the Self-Respect Movement.
• Viduthalai: Launched in 1935, this newspaper became a daily journal that broadcast his radical thoughts on social, political, and religious issues.
• Puratchi (Revolution): Another of his publications that explicitly promoted rationalist and revolutionary ideals.

Institutional Legacy

Periyar transformed his movement into a political force, which laid the foundation for the Justice Party and later the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK).

• Justice Party Influence: In his later years, he revitalized the Justice Party, which eventually merged with his Self-Respect Movement to form the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944.
• Political Legacy: His ideology provided the ideological framework for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which have dominated Tamil Nadu politics for decades.

Summary of Periyar’s Reformist Pillars

Important Facts and Trivia for Prelims

• Title of Periyar: The title “Periyar” was conferred upon him by the women of the Tamil Nadu Women’s Conference in 1938 at Chennai.
• Atheism: Periyar is one of the few prominent Indian reformers who openly advocated atheism, arguing that belief in god was used as a tool to sustain caste oppression.
• Opposition to Superstition: He launched campaigns to burn, break, or criticize scriptures that he believed preached inequality (e.g., the Manusmriti).
• UNESCO Recognition: In 1970, UNESCO honored Periyar with a citation, describing him as “the prophet of the new age, the Socrates of South East Asia, father of social reform movement and arch-enemy of ignorance, superstitions, meaningless customs and base manners.”
• Political Impact: His movement led to the passage of various legislative reforms in Tamil Nadu, including laws favoring the employment and educational quotas for non-Brahmins and marginalized sections.