by V.V.Subramaniam (a Congress leader) with the financial support of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Periyar was disappointed when, despite his objections and protests against this discrimination, the Congress continued to support the iniquitous practice in the Gurukulam. Thanthai Periyar Memorial (Vaikom, Kerala) Social Transformation in Tamil Nadu Periyar started the Self-Respect Movement in . Periyar understood the relevance of mass communication in spreading rationalist thought.
He started a number of newspapers and journals such as Kudi Arasu (Democracy) ( ), Revolt ( ), Puratchi (Revolution) ( ), Paguththarivu (Rationalism) ( ), and Viduthalai (Liberation) ( ). Kudi Arasu was the official newspaper of the Self-Respect Movement. Usually, Periyar wrote a column and expressed his opinion on social issues in each of its issues. He frequently wrote columns under the pseudonym of Chitraputtiran .
Periyar had a close relationship with Singaravelar who is considered the first communist of South India and a pioneer of Buddhism. In , Periyar got Dr. B. R.
Ambedkar’s Annihilation of Caste translated into Tamil immediately after it was written. He also supported Ambedkar’s demand for separate electorates for scheduled castes. In , in opposition to the Rajaji’s government’s move to introduce compulsory Hindi in schools, he launched a popular movement to oppose it. The anti-Hindi agitation ( – ) had a big impact on Tamilnadu’s politics.
Periyar was imprisoned for his role in the movement. When he was still in jail, Periyar was elected the president of the Justice Party. Thereafter the Justice Party merged with the Self-Respect Movement. It was rechristened as Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) in .
Rajaji, the Chief Minister of Madras State ( – ), introduced a vocational education programme that encouraged imparting school children with training in tune with their father’s occupation. Periyar criticised it as Kula Kalvi Thittam (caste-based education scheme) and opposed it tooth and nail. His campaigns against it led to the resignation of Rajaji. K.
Kamaraj became Chief Minister of the Madras State. Periyar died at the age of ninety four ( ). His mortal remains were buried at Periyar Thidal, Madras. Periyar, a Feminist