Context:
Periyar was remembered on his 146th birth anniversary on September 17.
E. V. Ramasamy:
- Prominent social reformer
- Also known as – Periyar
- Often referred to as the ‘Father of the Dravidian movement’.
- Born in – Erode, Tamil Nadu in 1879
- Notable works – Why Were Women Enslaved? On Caste and Religion
- Death – 1973
Key Contributions:
- Fought against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.
- Participated in Vaikom Satyagraha (1924) which demanded the right of lower castes to use a public path in front of the Vaikom temple in Kerala.
- Opposed the conservatism of the Indian National Congress and resigned from it in 1925.
- Joined the Justice Party, which was formed in 1916 to oppose the political and economic power of Brahmins.
- Founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to promote rationalism, self-respect, and social equality.
- Legacy – His efforts laid the foundation for the Dravidian movement, which significantly influenced Tamil Nadu’s social and political landscape.
Source: The Indian Express
Previous Year Question
The Vital-Vidhwansak, the first monthly journal to have the untouchable people as its target audience, was published by:
[UPSC Civil Service Exam – 2020 Prelims]
(a) Gopal Baba Walangkar
(b) Jyotiba Phule
(c) Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi
(d) Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar
Answer: (a)
