Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death
TweetPeriyar E. V. Ramasamy
Tamil politician and social reformer
Date of Birth: 
Place of Birth: Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
About Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
- Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), commonly known as Periyar, also referred to as Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist, and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam.
- He is known as the 'Father of the Dravidian Movement'.
- He has done notable work against Brahminical dominance, caste prevalence and women oppression in Tamil Nadu.E.V.
- Ramasamy joined the Indian National Congress in 1919, but resigned in 1925 when he felt that the party was only serving the interests of Brahmins.
- He questioned the subjugation of non-Brahmin Dravidians as Brahmins enjoyed gifts and donations from non-Brahmins but opposed and discriminated against non-Brahmins in cultural and religious matters.
- In 1924, E.V.
- Ramasamy participated in non-violent agitation (satyagraha) in Vaikom, Kerala.
- From 1929 to 1932 Ramasamy made a tour of British Malaya, Europe, and Russia which influenced him.
- In 1939, E.V.
- Ramasamy became the head of the Justice Party, and in 1944, he changed its name to Dravidar Kazhagam.
- The party later split with one group led by C.
- N.
- Annadurai forming the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.
- While continuing the Self-Respect Movement, he advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu (land of the Dravidians).E.V.
- Ramasamy promoted the principles of rationalism, self-respect, women’s rights and eradication of caste.
- He opposed the exploitation and marginalisation of the non-Brahmin Dravidian people of South India and the imposition of what he considered Indo-Aryan India.
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