EV RAMASWAMY NAICKER (PERIYAR)

Published on 23 Nov 2025

Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, revered as Periyar or 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 rebelled against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.

Core Values

• Rationalism: Periyar was a staunch proponent of rational thinking and skepticism. He believed in questioning traditional beliefs, customs, and practices that perpetuated inequality and injustice.

• Self-Respect: The concept of self-respect was central to Periyar’s philosophy. He emphasized the importance of self-esteem, dignity, and self-worth, especially among marginalized communities.

• Example: P.S Appu IAS took voluntary retirement from the position of director of LBSNA on finding that the government would not punish a trainee guilty of reprehensible conduct.

• Language and Identity: Periyar promoted the Tamil language and cultural identity, asserting the importance of linguistic and cultural pride while advocating for broader social change.

• Example: Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh recently declared their intention to provide the MBBS course in Hindi

• Courage: Fearlessly confronted societal norms and practices, even when met with opposition.

• Non-Conformity: Refused to conform to societal norms that perpetuated discrimination and inequality.

• Example: The couple Jayasree AK and Maitrayen who showed a non confirmist attitude against social pressures of marriage.

Quotes

•  “If you are born poor, it’s not your fault. But if you die poor, it’s your fault.”

• “Religion is a trap that keeps the poor oppressed and ignorant.”

• “Caste is the real enemy of society.”

• “Just as a lamp cannot be lit without oil, a society cannot progress without women’s empowerment.”

• “Education is the key to breaking the chains of superstition and ignorance.”

• “The root cause of all social evils is the belief in superiority and inferiority based on birth.”

• “A true rationalist is someone who questions everything and seeks evidence.”

• “Human progress can only be achieved through reason and science, not through blind faith.”

• “A just society can only be built on the principles of equality, liberty, and fraternity.”

Periyar’s enduring impact lies in his unwavering commitment to justice and equality. His principles challenged the norm, echoing a call for progress and human dignity. His life’s work continues to inspire those striving for a fairer and more inclusive world.

Tags:
Ethics, Integrity and Aptitude

Keywords:
EV RAMASWAMY NAICKER PERIYAR Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy Thanthai Periyar self respect movement rationalism courage MORAL THINKERS PHILOSOPHERS If you are born poor it’s not your fault. But if you die poor it’s your fault Religion is a trap that keeps the poor oppressed and ignorant Caste is the real enemy of society just as a lamp cannot be lit without oil a society cannot progress without women’s empowerment Education is the key to breaking the chains of superstition and ignorance The root cause of all social evils is the belief in superiority and inferiority based on birth A true rationalist is someone who questions everything and seeks evidence Human progress can only be achieved through reason and science not through blind faith A just society can only be built on the principles of equality liberty and fraternity

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 4

Topics:
Philosophical Thinkers