Who was Periyar, who burnt Hindu scripture

Periyar's real name was EV Ramaswamy. He was a Tamil nationalist, politician and social worker. His fans called him 'Periyar' while giving him respect.

EV Ramaswamy i.e. Periyar was a veteran leader of South India. Leaders who have largely fixed the politics of South Indian states. September 17 is the 139th birthday of the same Periyar. New generations in North India hardly know about Periyar. Who is Periyar? He continued to oppose the orthodox Hindutva throughout his life, as well as being a fierce opponent of compulsory studies of Hindi. He had also demanded a separate Dravida Nadu. His politics revolved around the exploited and the Dalits.

Periyar's real name was EV Ramaswamy. He was a Tamil nationalist, politician and social worker. His fans called him 'Periyar' while giving him respect. Periyar means the Holy Spirit or revered person. He started the 'Atma Samman Andolan' or 'Dravidian Movement'. Formed the Justice Party, which later became 'Dravidar Kazhagam'. He was also called Socrates of Asia. He was considered revolutionary and rationalistic by ideas. He was born into a religious Hindu family, but was a strong opponent of Brahminism. He not only lit Holi of Brahmin texts but also considered Ravana as his hero.

Used to mock the absurd things of Hinduism

Erode Venkata Ramaswamy Naicker was born on 17 September 1879 in Erode, Tamil Nadu. Father Venkatappa Naidu was a wealthy businessman. A series of bhajans and sermons continued at home. However, he used to question the authenticity of things said in the teachings from childhood. They mocked the conflicting and nonsensical things of Hindu epics and Puranas. He was against child marriage, devadasi system, widow remarriage and was totally against the exploitation of women and Dalits. He also boycotted the Hindu varna system. He also burnt Hindu scriptures.

Kashi turned atheist

He left home at the age of 15 due to a rift with his father. He went to Kashi. What he saw there in the name of religion made him an atheist. They returned Soon became the head of the municipality of his city. In Kerala, he started leading the Congress' Vaikom movement, which opposed the ban on the movement of Dalits on the roads leading to the temples.

Joined congress and left

He became a member of the Congress in 1919 on the initiative of Chakravarti Rajagopalachari. Participated in non-cooperation movement. Arrested. In 1922, he became the President of the Madras Presidency Congress Committee. When he proposed reservation in government jobs and education and did not get the approval of the Congress, he left the Congress party in 1925. He realized that this party is not with the Dalits from the heart.

Movement in support of Dalits

After leaving the Congress, he started a movement in support of Dalits. Periyar changed the name of his Justice Party to Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. This led to the emergence of the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) party. He kept himself away from power politics. Throughout his life, he was engaged in improving the condition of Dalits and women.

Protest against hindi

In 1937, when C. Rajagopalachari became the Chief Minister of the Madras Presidency, he made the teaching of Hindi language compulsory in schools. Then Periyar emerged as the leader of the anti-Hindi movement. Fueled furious movements. He was arrested in 1938. The same year, Periyar gave the slogan 'Tamil Nadu for Tamils' against Hindi. He believed that Tamil culture would be destroyed after the introduction of Hindi. The Tamil community will be subservient to the North Indians.

Second marriage

His wife Nagammai died in the year 1933. After 15 years, they got married for the second time. Then he was 69 years old while his second wife was 30 years old. There was also a dispute about this marriage. The people of his party asked him not to do so. His second wife Maniamai was actually Periyar's personal secretary. Periyar argued that the way Maniamai takes care of him, he feels that he should marry her. After this marriage, there was resentment in his party.

Time line

1879 : On 17 September E.V. Birth of Ramaswamy
1898 : Married to Nagamamai at the age of 19
1904 : Periyar visits Kashi and becomes an atheist
1919 : Joined the Indian National Congress
1922 : Elected President of Madras Presidency Congress Committee
1925 : Resigned from his post in Congress
1924 : Periyar organized the Vaikam Satyagraha.
1925 : Starts 'Self Respect' movement
1929 : Travels to many countries including Europe, Russia and Malaysia
1929 : Left his surname 'Nayakar'
1938 : Slogan of 'Tamil Nadu for Tamils'
1939 : Became President of Justice Party
1944 : Justice Party's name changed to 'Dravidar Kazhagam'
1948 : Married second to a girl 40 years younger than him.
1949 : Differences between Periyar and Annadurai split into Dravidar Kazhagam.
1973 : Died on 24 December