E.V. Ramasamy's Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu completes 100 years

In the year 1925, E.V. Ramasamy started the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu, the objective of which was to achieve social equality, challenge the caste system, and provide non-Brahmins with a sense of pride in their Dravidian heritage.

• This year marks the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement, which changed the direction of political discourse in Tamil Nadu. It was founded in the year 1925 in Tamil Nadu by E.V. Ramasamy, who was commonly known as Periyar.

Objective of the Self-Respect Movement

• The Self-Respect Movement or Suya Mariyadhai Iyakkam was a social movement in South India, the objective of which was to achieve social equality and challenge the caste system.
• The Self-Respect Movement was a reform movement, the objective of which was to provide non-Brahmins with a sense of pride in their Dravidian heritage.
• Brahminical dominance was targeted: This movement refuted Hindu mythology and claimed that innocent people had fallen victim to it. Since Brahmins were considered social and religious leaders in Tamil Nadu, they were targeted by the Self-Respect Movement.
• Women leaders Veerammal and Annai Meenambal, who consistently gained awareness about the rights of Dalit women, contributed to the broader feminist movement.
• In the year 1967, when Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) formed the government, Self-Respect marriages became law, which was the first legislative achievement of the Self-Respect Movement.

Kudi Arasu

• A Tamil weekly magazine established in the year 1924, Kudi Arasu became the mouthpiece of the Self-Respect Movement. Later, Ramaswamy Naicker started the dailies Viduthalai (Freedom) and Pakkutharivu (Common Sense), but in the late 1920s, Kudi Arasu remained the propaganda weapon of the movement.
• Social reformer ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy, who later founded the Dravidar Kazhagam, paved the way for the formal beginning of the Self-Respect Movement through the publication of the Tamil weekly ‘Kudi Arasu’ (Republic).
• In November 1925, after parting ways with the Indian National Congress, Periyar used the opportunity to address a special conference of the Justice Party in Coimbatore, “to support a radical and militant non-Brahminism.”

Self-Respect Conference:

• In February 1929, Periyar organized the first provincial Self-Respect Movement conference in Chengalpattu, presided over by W.P.A. Soundara Pandian.
• Periyar’s Self-Respect Conference was a historic event due to its special focus on women’s issues.

Dravidian Movement:

• This laid the foundation of the Dravidian Movement, which later culminated in the formation of political parties such as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIA-DMK).

Justice Party

• Established in the year 1916, the Justice Party was a political party that advocated for non-Brahmin rights and representation and gave momentum to the broader justice movement for social equality.
• The Justice Party, officially known as the South Indian Liberal Federation, was established in the year 1916 and emerged as a significant political force in the Madras Presidency.
• It mainly represented the interests of non-Brahmin communities. Founded by Dr. T.M. Nair, P. Tyagaraja Chetti, and C. Natesa Mudaliar, the objective of this party was to challenge the prevailing Brahmin dominance in government jobs and education.