Politics in India since Independence Dravidian movement ‘ Vadakku Vaazhgiradhu; Therkku Thaeikiradhu ’ [The north thrives even as the south decays]. This popular slogan sums up the dominant sentiments of one of India’s most effective regional movements, the Dravidian movement, at one point of time. This was one of the first regional movements in Indian politics. Though some sections of this movement had ambitions of creating a Dravida nation, the movement did not take to arms.
It used democratic means like public debates and the electoral platform to achieve its ends. This strategy paid off as the movement acquired political power in the State and also became influential at the national level. The Dravidian movement led to the formation of Dravidar Kazhagam [DK] under the leadership of Tamil social reformer E.V. Ramasami ‘Periyar’.
The organisation strongly opposed the Brahmins’ dominance and affirmed regional pride against the political, economic and cultural domination of the North. Initially, the Dravidian movement spoke in terms of the whole of south India; however lack of support from other States limited the movement to Tamil Nadu. The DK split and the political legacy of the movement was transferred to Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The DMK made its entry into politics with a three pronged agitation in - .
First, it demanded the restoration of the original name of Kallakudi railway station which had been renamed Dalmiapuram, after an industrial house from the North. This demand brought out its opposition to the North Indian economic and cultural symbols. The second agitation was for p ol ol ol ol it it it it t ic c ic i al al al al al al al l l eg egac ac ac ac ac c y y y y of of of of of of of t h e he he he he he he he rr rr rr r ed ed ed ed t o o Dr Dr Dr D av av vid d id id d a a a a MK MK MK K ). ).
) e e d to o o mi m c h e e for r th e wh wh ol ole of of sou ou o th Ind nd nd ia ia ia ; ho h o w E.V. Ramasami Naicker ( - ): Known as Periyar (the respected); strong supporter of atheism; famous for his anti- caste struggle and rediscovery of Dravidian identity; initially a worker of the Congress party; started the self-respect movement ( ); led the anti-Brahmin movement; worked for the Justice party and later founded Dravidar Kazhagam; opposed to Hindi and domination of north India; propounded the thesis that north Indians and Brahmins are Aryans. Anti-Hindi agitation in Tamil Nadu, Credit: The Hindu