Political Career
- Started as a Congress worker but left over disagreements, particularly on caste-based issues.
- Known for opposing Gandhi’s compromise on separate dining for Brahmin and non-Brahmin students.
Self-Respect Movement
- Founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to promote equality and challenge caste dominance, particularly of Brahmins.
- Focused on liberating non-Brahmins from social and political oppression.
Justice Party and Reservations
- After leaving Congress, Periyar aligned with the Justice Party, advocating for reservations for non-Brahmins in the bureaucracy.
- Gained national fame during the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924), a movement for lower castes to access public spaces near the Vaikom temple in Kerala.
- Earned the title Vaikom Veerar (Hero of Vaikom).
Opposition to Caste
- Criticized the caste system as an imposition by Aryan Brahmins, opposing the Aryanisation of the Tamil identity.
Formation of Dravidar Kazhagam (DK)
- In the 1940s, Periyar founded Dravidar Kazhagam, advocating for an independent Dravida Nadu comprising Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada-speaking regions.
- His ideas formed the basis of the Dravidian Movement, which later gave rise to major political parties in Tamil Nadu.
Social Reforms
- Promoted rationalism, gender equality, and social justice.
- Advocated for women’s rights, including property ownership, divorce, and education.
- Urged people to reject caste suffixes in names and supported inter-caste dining.
Source: The Indian Express