Periyar’s ideals of rationalism and equality resonate a century later. (Photo: ANI)
Marking the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin will unveil the portrait of EV Ramasamy (Periyar) at the University of Oxford in England on September 4 and release two books that chronicle its hundred-year journey and living legacy.
“‘Oppression is my enemy’ the rallying cry of Periyar now resonates at #Oxford,” the Chief Minister said in a post on X. “Marking the centenary of the #Self Respect Movement, I will unveil Thanthai Periyar’s portrait at the University of Oxford on 4th September and release two books that chronicle its hundred-year journey and living legacy,” he added.
E.V. Ramasamy (Periyar) launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 to challenge Brahminical hegemony and uplift non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu. By advocating for rationalism, gender equality, and anti-caste reforms through its journal Kudi Arasu, the movement fostered a new sense of Dravidian identity and directly paved the way for the rise of the Dravidian Movement.
Chief Minister Stalin said that borders do not bind Periyar’s ideals of equality; they belong to humanity as a whole. “Before an assembly of international scholars, the movement that set ablaze caste tyranny and burned down barriers of gender in Tamil Nadu will be placed in dialogue with struggles worldwide for dignity, equality and freedom. Periyar’s ideals of equality are not bounded by borders; they belong to humanity as a whole,” he said.
The year 1925 is pivotal in the history of the Self-Respect Movement for two reasons: the May launch of the Tamil weekly Kudi Arasu (The Republic) and Periyar’s November departure from the Indian National Congress (INC).
Although his exit from the Congress is commonly seen as the movement’s formal beginning, Kudi Arasu had already introduced a new dynamic into the Madras Presidency months earlier. The publication demonstrated a strong zeal for social reform that extended beyond advocating for the political gains of communal representation. After leaving the Congress, Periyar used the paper to adopt an unrestrained approach in criticising both the INC and Brahminism–a term he used for the horrors of Hindu caste orthodoxy.
(With ANI Inputs, except headline and subhead nothing has been edited)
ALSO READ: Why Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin Backed Out Of Global Ayyappa Sangamam?
Sofia Babu Chacko is a journalist with over five years of experience covering Indian politics, crime, human rights, gender issues, and stories about marginalized communities. She believes that every voice matters, and journalism has a vital role to play in amplifying those voices. Sofia is committed to creating impact and shedding light on stories that truly matter. Beyond her work in the newsroom, she is also a music enthusiast who enjoys singing.
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