Periyar

A man named Periyar lived in India.

He was born in a family of traders. He worked in his father's shop when he was twelve.

Periyar wanted everyone to be treated fairly. He fought against unfair rules. He wanted all people to have equal rights. He also helped women have more rights.

He led a big group called the Self-Respect Movement. He wanted to stop people from being treated badly because of their birth. He traveled to many far lands to learn new ideas.

He was a very brave leader. He even went to jail to help his cause. Many people called him a hero. He is still remembered today.

One place celebrates him every year. They call it Social Justice Day. It is a day to remember his work.

Periyar was a famous leader in India.

He was born in 1879. His real name was Erode Venkata Ramasamy. Many people called him Periyar. This name means 'respected one' in Tamil.

Periyar wanted to change how people lived. He fought for caste equality. He wanted to stop people from being treated poorly because of their birth. He also fought for women's rights. He wanted women to have equal rights in society.

He joined a group called the Indian National Congress in 1919. He helped lead a protest in a town called Vaikom. This protest helped people of all castes use public roads.

Because of his work, people called him the Hero of Vaikom.

Later, he started the Self-Respect Movement. He wanted people to have pride in their past. He also started a group called Dravidar Kazhagam. He traveled to many places like Europe and the Soviet Union. These trips gave him new ideas for his work. Today, the state of Tamil Nadu celebrates his birth as Social Justice Day.

Periyar was a very important social leader in India.

His real name was Erode Venkata Ramasamy. He was born on 17 September 1879 in Erode. Many people called him Periyar, which means 'respected one' in Tamil. He spent his life fighting for fairness in society. He wanted to make sure everyone was treated with dignity. He worked to stop people from being treated poorly because of their caste.

Periyar's ideas changed because of things he saw. When he was younger, he visited a holy place called Kashi. At a temple there, he saw people being treated unfairly. He was even refused food because of his background. This experience made him change his views on religion. He decided to fight against superstitions and unfair rules. He wanted people to use reason to make choices. He believed that everyone should have equal rights regardless of their birth.

He was very active in politics for many years. In 1919, he joined a large group called the Indian National Congress. He worked hard to help his community in the Madras Presidency. One major event was the Vaikom Satyagraha in Kerala. This was a nonviolent protest to help people use public roads. Periyar helped lead this movement between 1924 and 1925. He was even arrested twice for his work there.

Because of his bravery, people called him the Hero of Vaikom.

Later, Periyar started his own special movements. He began the Self-Respect Movement to help people feel proud of their history. In 1944, he changed a group called the Justice Party into the Dravidar Kazhagam. He also traveled to places like Europe and the Soviet Union. These trips helped him learn new ways to fight for equality. He spoke three languages: Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. He even removed his caste title from his name in 1929.

Periyar's work still matters to people today. He fought for women's rights and for ending child marriages. He wanted a society where everyone was like brothers and sisters. After he died in 1973, his wife Maniammai continued his social work. His ideas helped shape politics in South India. Today, the state of Tamil Nadu celebrates his birthday every year. They call it 'Social Justice Day' to honor his life.

Erode Venkata Ramasamy was a major Indian social activist and political leader.

He is often called Periyar, which means "respected one" or "elder" in Tamil. He is famous for organizing the Self-Respect Movement and the Dravidar Kazhagam. Many historians consider him the architect of Dravidian politics in South India. His work focused on fighting for the rights of non-Brahmin people. He also pushed for left-wing political ideas and social equality.

Periyar was born on 17 September 1879 in Erode. At that time, Erode was part of the Coimbatore district in the Madras Presidency. He grew up in a Kannada-speaking Balija merchant family. His father was Venkatappa Nayakar and his mother was Chinnathyee Muthammal. Periyar attended school for five years before joining his father's trade at age 12. He was a multilingual person who could speak Kannada, Telugu, and Tamil. In 1929, he took a bold step by deleting his caste title, Naicker, from his name.

A turning point in his life occurred during a pilgrimage to Kashi in 1904. Kashi is home to the holy Kashi Vishwanath temple. While there, Periyar witnessed what he called "Brahmanic exploitation." He was refused meals at certain eateries that only served Brahmins. He even tried to disguise himself as a Brahmin to get food. However, a gatekeeper noticed his moustache and realized he was not a Brahmin. Periyar was pushed into the street and forced to eat leftovers from the ground. This experience changed him from a theist to an atheist. He began to view religion as a tool used to deceive people.

In 1919, Periyar joined the Indian National Congress. He served as the chairman of the Erode Municipality. He worked on many programs, such as spreading the use of Khadi cloth. He also participated in the Temperance movement by picketing shops that sold toddy. In 1922, he was elected President of the Madras Presidency Congress Committee. During this time, he fought for reservations in education and government jobs. However, he felt the Congress party showed indifference to these issues. He believed the party primarily served Brahmin interests, so he resigned in 1925.

One of his most significant achievements was leading the Vaikom Satyagraha from 1924 to 1925. This was a nonviolent protest in the Kingdom of Travancore. At that time, strict caste laws prevented Dalits from using the roads near the Vaikom Temple. Periyar arrived in Vaikom in April 1924 to lead the movement. He and his wife, Nagammai, were both arrested and imprisoned. The movement sought to give all castes the right to enter temple areas. After negotiations involving Mahatma Gandhi, a compromise was reached. While not all roads were opened immediately, the event earned Periyar the title "Vaikom Veerar," or Hero of Vaikom.

Periyar founded the Self-Respect Movement to promote Dravidian pride and social reform. He wanted to end the caste system and the practice of untouchability. He also campaigned heavily for women's rights. His goals included stopping child marriages and encouraging widow remarriages. He advocated for love marriages and inter-caste marriages. To spread these ideas, he started the Tamil weekly Kudi Arasu in 1925. He also published an English journal called Revolt in 1928. His travels to Europe and the Soviet Union between 1929 and 1932 also influenced his leftist views.

In 1939, Periyar became the head of the Justice Party. He later transformed this group into the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. This organization focused on rationalism and the eradication of caste. The party eventually split in 1949, leading to the creation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) by C. N. Annadurai. Periyar also advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu. His influence on South Indian politics remains very strong.

Periyar's legacy continues to be honored in India today. He passed away on 24 December 1973. His second wife, Maniammai, continued his social work after his death. In the state of Tamil Nadu, his birthday is celebrated every year. The state officially calls this day "Social Justice Day." This honors his lifelong dedication to equality and human dignity.