Periyar E.V. Ramasamy (1879–1973)

Periyar E.V. Ramasamy was the architect of the Dravidian movement and one of the most influential rationalists of the 20th century. Born in Tamil Nadu, Periyar rejected caste hierarchy, idol worship, and Brahminical dominance, dedicating his life to building a society grounded in self-respect and equality. He founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925, advocating inter-caste marriage, women’s rights, and rational thought. Periyar’s uncompromising atheism challenged religious orthodoxy, and his newspaper Viduthalai became a major platform for rationalist ideas. He was a fierce critic of the Manusmriti and campaigned against Hindi imposition, patriarchy, and superstition. Periyar’s humanism was practical: he promoted literacy, social justice, and equitable access to wealth and political power. His ideas transformed Tamil society and continue to influence secular and anti-caste activism across India.