Who Was Periyar, Who Burned Hindu Scriptures ?

Kathmandu : E.V. Ramasamy, popularly known as ‘Periyar’, was a prominent social reformer and rationalist leader from South India, known for his campaigns against social discrimination, the caste system and conservative religious practices.

Born on September 17, 1879, in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Periyar spent much of his political and social life challenging caste discrimination and social inequality. Through the ‘Self-Respect Movement’, he questioned social structures that determined a person’s status based on birth.

Periyar openly opposed Brahminical social structures, the caste hierarchy, superstition and discrimination against women. He also spoke out against child marriage, the Devadasi system and various forms of discrimination affecting women.

Another important aspect of his thinking was the belief that every belief and tradition should be examined through reason. He used satire to criticize certain passages and narratives found in religious texts and epics. Some of his protests against religious symbols and scriptures, however, became highly controversial.

Periyar also opposed the compulsory teaching of Hindi and advocated for the creation of a separate ‘Dravida Nadu’. His ideas later had a significant influence on the Dravidian movement and regional politics in South India.

His followers respectfully called him ‘Periyar’, a term meaning ‘great’ or ‘respected person’. Although critics considered some of his statements and methods of protest harsh and controversial, the questions he raised about social equality, self-respect and rational thinking continue to be debated.

Beyond Periyar’s political legacy, one of the central questions raised by his ideas remains relevant: Can a person’s worth and rights be determined by birth, tradition or religious beliefs?