Periyar
Indian social activist and advocate of Dravidian movement / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), revered by his followers as Periyar[lower-alpha 1] or Thanthai[lower-alpha 2] Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is known as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'.[1] He rebelled against Brahmin dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.[2][3][4] Since 2021, the Indian state of Tamil Nadu celebrates his birth anniversary as 'Social Justice Day'.[5]
Periyar | |
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President of Dravidar Kazhagam | |
In office 27 August 1944 – 24 December 1973 | |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Annai E. V. R. Maniammai |
Head of the Justice Party | |
In office 1939 – 27 August 1944 | |
Inaugural Holder | C. Natesa Mudaliar |
Preceded by | Ramakrishna Ranga Rao of Bobbili |
Succeeded by | P. T. Rajan |
Personal details | |
Born | (1879-09-17)17 September 1879 Erode, Coimbatore District, Madras Presidency, British India |
Died | 24 December 1973(1973-12-24) (aged 94) Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India |
Resting place | Periyar Ninaividam |
Political party | Dravidar Kazhagam (from 1944) |
Other political affiliations |
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Spouses | |
Occupation |
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Nicknames |
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Ramasamy joined the Indian National Congress in 1919. In 1924, Ramasamy participated in non-violent agitation (satyagraha) involving Mahatma Gandhi in Vaikom, Travancore.[6] He resigned from the Congress in 1925 when he felt that the party was only serving the interests of Brahmins. He questioned what he felt was the subjugation of non-Brahmin Dravidians as Brahmins enjoyed gifts and donations from non-Brahmins but opposed and discriminated against non-Brahmins in cultural and religious matters.[7] He declared his stance to be "no god, no religion, no Gandhi, no Congress, and no Brahmins".[8]
He founded Self-Respect Movement in 1926.[8] From 1929 to 1932 Ramasamy made a tour of British Malaya, Europe, and Soviet Union which influenced him.[9] In 1939, Ramasamy became the head of the Justice Party,[lower-alpha 3] and in 1944, he changed its name to Dravidar Kazhagam. The party later split with one group led by C. N. Annadurai forming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.[10] While continuing the Self-Respect Movement, he advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu (land of the Dravidians).[11]
Ramasamy promoted the principles of rationalism, self-respect, women's rights and eradication of caste. He opposed the exploitation and marginalisation of the non-Brahmin Dravidian people of South India and the imposition of what he considered Indo-Aryan India.