Hinduism: Details about 'Thanthai Periyar'

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This is an article about the social activist. For the river in the Indian state of Kerala, see Periyar River.
E.V. Ramaswami Naicker
"Thanthai Periyar"
Born
September 17, 1879
Erode, Tamil Nadu, India
Died
December 24, 1973
India

Periyar Ramasami (September 17, 1879–December 24, 1973), also known as E.V. Ramaswami Naicker, EVR, Thanthai Periyar, or just Periyar, was a social reformer, an activist, and the founder of Dravidar Kazhagam and the Self-respect Movement in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu.

Contents

Life and beliefs

Though he was born in an affluent nayak (an upper caste) family, he fought against the untouchability practiced by upper castes, specifically targeting Brahmins, the rituals of Hinduism, and the caste system. In his early political career, Periyar was a freedom fighter, but he later became a supporter of British colonial rule as a leader of the Justice Party.

Periyar was an atheist and a Buddhist. He is well known for his antitheistic statement "He who created god was a fool, he who spreads his name is a scoundrel, and he who worships him is a barbarian."

Periyar was a self-proclaimed rationalist, but he also believed in German scholar Max Mueller's



Aryan Invasion Theory, which postulated the subjugation of Dravidian races (who Periyar identified with lower castes) by an invading Aryan race (who Periyar identified with Brahmins and upper castes). Periyar's anti-Brahmin views were based on the assumption that all Brahmins are upper-class Aryans and all non-Brahmins are lower-class Dravidians. He accused Brahmins of subjugating Dravidian civilization.

Periyar is the founder of Dravidian Nationalism, and demanded the creation of a distinct Dravidian nation. His beliefs continues to influence the socio-political landscape of Tamil Nadu, with many dominant ideologies claiming descent from his theories.

Periyar was opposed to Hinduism, considering it a religion of Brahmins. In 1953, Periyar celebrated Vesak (a major Buddhist holiday) by publicly destroying idols of the Hindu deity Ganesha.

Periyar's most popular writing is The Ramayana: A True Reading (1959), on the Ramayana, a Hindu epic. In that he slanders, demonizes and denigrates Hindu god Shri Ram and goddess Sita. He also destroyed Rama's portrait in public.

Notable followers

  • K.Veeramani, leader of Dravidar Kazhagam after Periyar.
  • Kavignar Inkulab, rationalist Tamil poet.
  • Poondi Kumaraswamy, engineer and hydroglogist.
  • Periyar Thasan
  • S.Vallatharasu

Bibliography

  • Diehl, Anita. E. V. Ramaswami Naicker-Periyar: A study of the influence of a personality in contemporary South India. ISBN 9124276456 Periyar

Periyar Ramasami Periyar E.V. Ramaswamyta:ஈ. வெ. ராமசாமி


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This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Thanthai_Periyar". A list of the wikipedia authors can be found here.