Periyar E. V. Ramasamy

Over one and a half years after jointly inaugurating the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha, Kerala inaugurated the renovated memorial of Tamil reformist E.V. Ramasami Naicker, popularly known as Thanthai Periyar. 

About Periyar E.V. Ramasamy:

• Born: September 17, 1879, in Erode, Madras Presidency (now Tamil Nadu).
• Tamil reformist E.V. Ramasami Naicker, popularly known as Thanthai Periyar was born into a Kannada Balija merchant family. His parents were Venkatappa Nayakar and Chinnathayee. He had one elder brother, Krishnaswamy, and two sisters, Kannamma and Ponnuthoy.
• Periyar married at the age of 19. He and his first wife had a daughter who tragically passed away after just 5 months. His first wife, Nagammai, passed away in 1933. In 1948, he remarried Maniammai, who continued his social work after his death in 1973.
• Periyar received five years of schooling before he joined his father’s trade at the age of 12.
• Though his formal education was limited, he was proficient in Kannada and Tamil, the two major Dravidian languages.
• As a young man, he often welcomed Tamil Vaishnavite gurus into his home, engaging in discussions and learning about religious discourses.
• Social and Religious Views:
  • Early on, Periyar began to question the contradictions in Hindu mythology and the societal norms imposed by religion.
  • He became deeply critical of how religion was used as a tool to deceive people and perpetuate superstition.
  • He believed that priests and religious leaders exploited the masses, and he felt a personal responsibility to warn people against superstitions.
• Social Activism: Periyar was known for his strong anti-caste stance and efforts to challenge the hierarchical caste system in Indian society.
  • In 1929, at the First Provincial Self-Respect Conference in Chengalpattu, Periyar made a symbolic and impactful decision to remove his caste title "Naicker" from his name, signifying his rejection of caste-based identity.
  • His Self-Respect Movement focused on empowering marginalized communities, advocating for gender equality, caste abolition, and rational thinking.
• Periyar's ideologies were carried forward by the Dravidar Kazhagam, an organization he helped shape, which promoted his vision of social justice, rationalism, and self-respect.
• His efforts laid the foundation for significant social reforms in Tamil Nadu and inspired future generations of social reformers and activists.
• Periyar's life was marked by a constant pursuit of social equality and rational thought, and he remains a significant figure in the history of India's social reform movements.

What was the Vaikom Satyagraha?

• The Vaikom Satyagraha was a significant movement in Kerala (then the princely state of Travancore) in 1924, aimed at securing the rights of untouchables (people from lower castes, also called avarnas) to use public roads leading to a famous Shiva temple in Vaikom.
• The movement was not initially about entering the temple but about the right to access public roads that were restricted to upper castes.
• Background of the Vaikom Satyagraha:
  • Travancore’s Caste System: Travancore had a harsh caste system, where lower castes faced extreme discrimination. They were not allowed to even look at or touch upper caste individuals.
    • This strict system was described by foreign travelers like Duarte Barbosa, who recorded how upper-caste people would force lower-caste people to get out of their way on the streets.
  • Social Reforms Leading Up to the Movement: In the 19th century, Christian missionaries and the influence of the British brought some reforms, such as free primary education for all, including lower castes.
    • The Ezhava community, once considered untouchable, became the most educated and organized lower caste group, but faced discrimination in jobs, especially in the government.
  • The Issue of Temple Entry: The idea of opening temples to lower castes was raised as early as 1917 by Ezhava leader TK Madhavan. In 1921, Mahatma Gandhi supported this cause after a meeting with Madhavan.
• In 1924, the Vaikom Satyagraha was launched by leaders like Periyar (E.V. Ramasami Naicker) and C. Rajagopalachari. The focus was on opening the four roads around the Vaikom temple to people from all castes, not just the temple entry issue.
  • Periyar, along with his wife Nagamma, had joined the Vaikom Satyagraha, recognised as the first organized movement for the rights of the `untouchable’ communities in April 1924. He was jailed twice for his involvement and was later honoured with the title Vaikom Veeran for his leadership.
• The protestors, called Satyagrahis, were arrested repeatedly by the police for attempting to use the roads. The protests continued for months, with violent resistance from conservative caste Hindus.
• The Vaikom Satyagraha laid the foundation for further social reform movements in the region. In 1936, the Maharaja of Travancore signed the Temple Entry Proclamation, officially allowing marginalized castes to enter temples, a significant victory for caste equality.