E. V. Ramaswami Periyar

Early Life and Contributions of Periyar Ramasamy: A Pioneer in Social Reform

Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, widely known as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), left an indelible mark as an Indian social activist and politician, heralding the renowned Self-Respect Movement and founding the Dravidar Kazhagam. Revered as the ‘Father of Dravidian Movement,’ Periyar devoted his life to combating Brahminical dominance, dismantling caste structures, and challenging the oppression of women in Tamil Nadu.

Joining the Indian National Congress in 1919, E.V. Ramasamy’s disillusionment with the party’s Brahmin-centric focus led to his resignation in 1925. He boldly confronted the subjugation of non-Brahmin Dravidians, highlighting the disparity where Brahmins enjoyed non-Brahmin gifts and donations but opposed and discriminated against them in cultural and religious spheres. In 1924, he actively participated in the non-violent agitation (satyagraha) in Vaikom, Kerala.

Ramasamy’s transformative journey included extensive travels from 1929 to 1932, spanning British Malaya, Europe, and Russia, profoundly influencing his perspectives. Taking the helm of the Justice Party in 1939, he rechristened it Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. However, internal divisions arose, leading to the formation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949 under C. N. Annadurai, while Periyar continued championing the Self-Respect Movement. He staunchly advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu, envisioning a land for the Dravidians.

Beyond political endeavors, E.V. Ramasamy tirelessly promoted rationalism, self-respect, women’s rights, and the abolition of caste distinctions. He vehemently opposed the exploitation and marginalization of non-Brahmin Dravidian communities in South India, challenging what he perceived as the imposition of Indo-Aryan culture. Periyar’s legacy endures as a beacon of social reform, inspiring generations to challenge inequities and champion the principles of equality and justice.

Ramaswami Periyar with Ambedkar

Early Life and Personal Journey of Periyar Ramasamy: A Visionary Social Reformer

Erode Venkata Ramasamy, born on 17 September 1879 in Erode, part of the Coimbatore district in the Madras Presidency, embarked on a transformative journey that would shape the course of social reform in India. His father, Venkatappa Nayakar (Venkata), and mother, Chinnathyee Muthammal, provided the foundation for his early years. With an elder brother named Krishnaswamy and two sisters, Kannamma and Ponnuthoy, Periyar eventually earned the revered moniker “Periyar,” signifying ‘respected one’ or ‘elder’ in Tamil.

At the age of 19, E.V. Ramasamy entered into matrimony, and despite facing the tragedy of losing his daughter at just five months old, his marriage to Nagammai proved to be a source of enduring support. Tragically, Nagammai passed away in 1933, leading Periyar to a second marriage with Maniammai in July 1948. Following Periyar’s demise in 1973, Maniammai continued his social work, while his ideals found advocacy through Dravidar Kazhagam.

In a pivotal moment during the First Provincial Self-Respect Conference of Chengalpattu in 1929, Periyar declared the removal of his caste title Naicker from his name, symbolizing his commitment to the cause of self-respect and social equality. Proficient in three Dravidian languages—Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil—Periyar’s early education spanned five years before joining his father’s trade at the age of 12. Exposed to Tamil Vaishnavite discourses in his household, Periyar’s critical thinking began questioning the contradictions within Hindu mythological stories.

As he matured, Periyar observed religion being wielded as a tool for deception, leading him to consider it a life duty to expose superstitions and challenge the influence of priests. His marriage to Nagammai, though arranged, blossomed with love, and despite the heartbreak of losing their firstborn, the couple faced life’s challenges together. E.V. Ramasamy’s personal journey serves as a testament to his unwavering commitment to dismantling oppressive norms and fostering a society grounded in equality and rationalism.

Who was Erode Venkata Ramasamy Periyar?

Erode Venkata Ramasamy Periyar was born in 1879 in what was then called the Madras Presidency to a Kannada businessman and later joined his father’s business. He joined the Congress party but left it after he found it to be dominated by Brahmins. Much later, he started his own Dravidar Kazhagam party, which is considered the inspiration of all political parties launched later on the plank of Tamil pride.

What was E.V Ramasamy Periyar politics?

Periyar’s thought, philosophy and action revolved around his opposition to Brahminism. He said Brahmins had dominated all other castes through their religious principles and practices. He propounded rationalism and criticised the Hindu religion as superstitious.

However, he believed in the ideas of Tamil saint Thiruvalluvar and hence held faith in the idea of a single, formless God. He found conversion to Islam and Christianity as a way for the lower castes to escape Brahmin oppression as he thought both these religions created better societies than Hinduism. Periyar was also against Mahatma Gandhi because he saw Gandhi not totally rejecting Brahminical ideas and practices.

Periyar’s Self-respect movements

Periyar came to be known widely as a leader of the lower castes after he led a movement in 1924 that demanded entry of Dalits in temples in Kerala. He is known the most for his Self-respect Movement that aimed at generating pride in lower castes.

His campaign against imposition of Hindi in Tamil Nadu is the origin of all anti-Hindi movements later in south India. He found Hindi a tool of Brahminical domination of Tamils. His most controversial movement was protests against Hindu idols. The movement involved breaking or burning of idols of Hindu gods or garlanding them with shoes.

Quotes of Periyar

 There is no god, there is no god, there is no god at all. He who invented god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who worships god is a barbarian.

Man is equal to man. There should not be exploitation. One should help the other. No one should harm anybody. Generally there should be no room for grievance or complaint from anybody. Everyone should live and let others live, with a national spirit.

Man treats woman as his own property and not as being capable of feelings, like himself. The way man treats women is much worse than the way landlords treat servants and the high-caste treat the low-caste. These treat them so demeaningly only in situations mutually affecting them; but men treat cruelly and as slaves, from their birth till death.

 Foreigners are sending messages to the planets. We are sending rice and cereals to our dead fore-father through the Brahmins. It is a wise deed?

By helping the poor, we must be able to remove their poverty. But extending help to one here and one there in the form of providing food will not remove poverty.

There’s no god. He who created god was a fool; he who spreads his name is a scoundrel and he who worships him is a barbarian.

The word ‘Sudra’ which means ‘Son of prostitute’ should not find a place even in the history hereafter. We will not allow it to find a place  I want the Brahmins to realize that the Dravidian people today are very much hating those who cunningly cheated them with absurdities. They are now aware of the particular community making a living by spreading the foolishness. People have begun to hate god, religion, caste, mythologies (puranas) and so on.                  

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