147th birth anniversary of E.V.Ramasamy called Thanthai Periyar was recently celebrated.
- He was an Indian social activist and politician born in Erode in western Tamil Nadu.
- He was conferred the title ‘Periyar’ (Revered One) at the Tamil Nadu Women’s Conference (1938).
- He was a member of Indian National Congress from 1919 to 1925.
Key Contributions
- Actively participation in movements: Like the non-cooperation movement (1920–22), Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25), etc.
- Led the Self-Respect Movement (1920s): With S Ramanathan to promote dignity, equality, and self-respect among marginalized communities.
- Central role in the anti-Hindi agitations: In the Madras Presidency (in the late 1930s.
- Transformed the Justice Party: A political body that campaigned for the rights of non-Brahmins, into the Dravidar Kazhagam (Dravidian Federation) in 1944.
- Through the Dravidar Kazhagam he led the Dravidian movement, which advocated for political and social reform in southern India.
- Publications: Newspaper Kudi Arasu (“Republic”)
