Why in the news?

  • 2025 marks the Centenary of the self respect movement, which was launched in Tamil Nadu under the leadership of E.V Ramasami Naicker.

Self-Respect Movement

  • Origins and Founder:
    • The Self-Respect Movement was founded by E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) in 1925 in Tamil Nadu, India.
    • It emerged as a reaction against the social injustices, caste discrimination, and dominance of Brahmanical Hinduism.
  • Objectives:
    • The movement sought to promote rationalism, self-respect, and equality.
    • It aimed to dismantle the oppressive caste system and liberate the lower castes (especially the Dalits) from social discrimination.
    • The movement also promoted women’s rights, encouraging widow remarriage, property rights for women, and birth control.
  • Criticism of Brahmanism:
    • The movement was highly critical of the Brahmanical order, which perpetuated caste-based oppression through religious rituals and practices.
    • Periyar advocated for the abolition of the caste system and rejected Hindu scriptures like the Vedas and Manusmriti for justifying caste inequality.
  • Social Reform and Rationalism:
    • The Self-Respect Movement emphasized rational thinking over blind faith in religion and rituals.
    • It promoted atheism and questioned the existence of God, advocating for human-centered values and progressive ideals.
  • Empowerment of the Dravidian Identity:
    • Periyar and the movement promoted the Dravidian identity, in opposition to what they saw as the domination of North Indian (Aryan) culture over South Indian (Dravidian) culture.
    • This laid the foundation for the Dravidian political movement, which later influenced the rise of political parties like Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
  • Women’s Rights:
    • The Self-Respect Movement strongly advocated for women’s liberation from patriarchal norms.
    • It supported education for women, women’s participation in public life, inter-caste marriage, and the abolition of dowry and child marriage.
  • Impact on Tamil Nadu Politics:
    • It played a key role in the rise of Dravidian parties and influenced policies that sought to empower backward classes and promote social justice.
  • Periyar’s Legacy:
    • E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) is remembered as a pioneer of social justice and equality in South India.