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 Dravidian Movement’. He has done exemplary work against Bhraminical 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. E.V. Ramasamy promoted the principles of rationalism, self-respect, women’s rights and eradication of caste. Periyar spent over fifty years giving speeches, propagating the realization that everyone is an equal citizen and the differences on the basis of caste and creed were man-made to keep the innocent and ignorant as underdogs in the society. Although Periyar’s speeches were targeted towards the illiterate and more mundane masses, scores of educated people were also swayed.
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Periyar_E._V._Ramasamy
