Article 4: Periyar - A Saint that He Wasn’t
Uncovering the reality of a politician elevated as a saint for political ends
Periyar, a revered figure in Tamil Nadu politics, is considered as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'. He is best known for starting the Self Respect movement and founding the Dravidar Kazhagam (which is the parent organization of current DMK).
He is, however, a controversial figure, whose thoughts, philosophy and actions mostly revolved around his opposition to Brahminism. He was an iconoclast, who frequently advocated against the Hindu religion and his thoughts on women rights and Dalit rights can best be termed as “controversial”.
This article attempts to analyze Periyar’s personal and political journey and attempts to list those facts which most people are either unaware of or don’t want to talk about.
Early Family Life
Periyar’s real name was Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy Naicker. He was was born on 17 September 1879, in a Kannada Balija merchant family.
His father was a popular rich merchant and an ardent Hindu devotee (a Vaishnavite). He started school at 6 yrs but left schooling within 5 yrs. At 12 yrs he joined his father’s trade.
At 19 yrs, he married Nagammai (13 yrs). 2 yrs later, he had a daughter, who died at 5 months. Thereafter he didn’t have any children.
In 1904 (at 25 yrs), he undertook “renunciation” of family because of the harsh reprimand by his father. He went first to Vijayawada, then proceeded to Hyderabad and Kolkata.
Kashi Incident which fueled his anger towards Brahmins and Hinduism
After roaming different cities, EVR reached Kashi. There he could not get free meals easily at choultries which exclusively fed Brahmins. When he was hungry, he put a janeu and tried to enter a choultry. But he was recognized by gatekeeper and was thrown out. He finally ended up eating from the streets.
When he realized that the choultry was actually built by a Tamilian non-brahmin merchant, this made him angry. He asked “Why and how the Brahmins can obstruct the Dravidians from taking meals in the choultry although the choultry was built with the money of a Dravidian Philanthropist?”
He also saw begging, prostitution, dead bodies in Ganges, which in turn led fueled his hatred towards Hinduism (although in reality these activities were prevalent like any other city and had nothing to do with religion as such).
He came back to Erode, where his father delegated all his trade rights to him and renamed his major commercial establishment under the title: “E.V. Ramasamy Naicker Mandi”.
Political Life
Being a well-known wealthy businessman in Erode, EVR entered into public life in 1905.
In 1918, he became the Chairman of Erode Municipality. He was also made Honorary Magistrate by the British Government. Thereafter, he held many top prestigious positions in British Govt (e.g. in District Board, Taluk Board, Urban Bank). During that time, he formed a friendship with MR. C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) who later became the Governor General of India.
In 1919, he joined Indian National Congress on insistence of Rajaji. In 1920, he participated in “Non-cooperation” movement started by Gandhiji.
In 1922, Periyar became the President of Tamil - Nadu Congress Committee.
1920 onwards, he came in contact with Justice Party leaders which started to polarize his already tinted views against brahmins. Since 1920, he had been moving a resolution in Congress conferences demanding 50% communal reservation in Government jobs and education for the non-brahmins. After his resolution kept getting defeated, finally in 1925, he resigned from the Congress saying the party was only serving the interests of Brahmins.
In 1925, he started “Self-respect movement” after his exit from the Congress Party. He started working closely with the Justice Party (South Indian Liberal Federation), a non-brahmin party formed in 1917, which also claimed to promote similar interests). The two entities merged in 1938 under Periyar's leadership. The name was changed to Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. While continuing the Self-Respect Movement, he advocated for an independent Dravida Nadu (land of the Dravidians).
Post his 2nd marriage with Maniammai in 1949, there was a huge uproar amongst his followers who disapproved this marriage. His colleague CN Annadurai left the party with his followers and started his own party Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.
Today, Periyar is known as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'. Since 2021, the Tamil Nadu celebrates his birth anniversary as 'Social Justice Day”.
Periyar’s Anti-brahmin Views
Periyar’s anti-brahmin views started very early in his life and was fueled by the Kashi incident. Thereafter this sentiment was instigated by his contact with the Justice Party ideology and various other scholars that he came in contact with in his adult life.
By 1930s, he was completely turned against Hinduism, and developed a genocidal hate for brahmins.
Here are some of his problematic statements against brahmins which clearly show this hatred:
1. Comparing Brahmins with Jews:
Periyar compared Brahmins with the Jews and said that “hatred for Jews was justified and Brahmins deserved similar hatred”. He said:
“That Jews do not have a separate nation and hence no patriotism on their own is a fact that resonated with Brahmins who do not have a separate nation of their own. Is this not a similarity? Jews being obsessed only with themselves cajole those in power and indulge in cunning manipulations to hurt and suck others for their own living. Does not this resonate with Brahmins who with no responsibility cajole those in power and try to dominate others.”
In fact, in his magazines (that he was editing and publishing), he praised Hitler and said that brahmins should learn from plight of Jews in the Germany
2. Genocidal statements against brahmins:
On 29 Jan, 1954, he wrote:
“Parpanan (a derogatory term for Tamil brahmins by Dravidians) should be driven away from this land.”
20 October 1967, he said:
“However much a rationalist or atheist, if a person is a Brahmin he should not be allowed in our organizations”.
In Feb 1967, in Srirangam, he recounted his past genocidal threat from 1954:
" If Kulakalvi scheme is not withdrawn in a month, I asked (people) to stab every and any Paapaan and Paapaathi (Tamil brahmin man and woman). Buy petrol and matchsticks and set fire to all Agraharams."
Ve Aanaimuthu (a follower of Periyar) revealed in his book that he told his cadre to “rudely push away the Brahmin reporters when they came to his place”.
Sami Chidambaranar in his hagiography of Periyar titled Tamizhar Thalaivar (“The leader of the Tamizhs”), writes:
“To destroy caste discrimination, burn the pictures of Nehru and Gandhi and also the Constitution of India. If all these methods fail to give us results, then we should start beating and killing the Brahmins; we should start burning their houses.”
The Indian Express (22 Oct 1957) also covered a speech by Periyar, wherein he called for killing of brahmins:
"Brahmins formed only 3% of the population and nothing would be lost if one out of 3 was killed. Until the B blood was shed, there could be no salvation for Tamilians".
Periyar’s Controversial Marriage with Maniammai
On 9 July, 1949, 70-year-old Periyar married the 32-year-old Maniammai. This marriage caused lot of outrage and ultimately led to a split in the Dravidar Kazhagam .
Reason given for marriage
Maniammai was the daughter of Kanakasabapathy, a member of the Justice party. After her father’s death in early 20s, she joined Dravidar Kazhagam and later became Periyar’s most trusted follower.
She was the caregiver for Periyar in his old-age and later became his political successor. Periyar considered her to be his successor and wanted her to inherit his personal property and continue the DK work. His followers say that he married her, in order to make her his legal heir Their marriage in 1949 made her the legal heir.
[Note: Per the Hindu Marriage Act, at that time, the adopter and the adoptee had to be of the same caste. Otherwise, the adoption was not valid. Also, according to old Hindu law, female daughters had no legal right to property. Before 1956 according to the old Hindu law, a woman had the right to stay in her father’s house and she was entitled to Stridhan only]
In an article (in Viduthalai, dated 28/6/1949), Periyar said:
“It is necessary to establish someone as a legal heir for me and my property, and there is an urgent need for the same, I know Maniammai for 5-6 years, and she has been very loyal and has been concerned about my welfare and the welfare of the movement. I want to make her my legal heir. I have made arrangements to write a trust deed giving her those rights, as an individual trustee and involving 4,5 people for operational and material security. The deed is also being written.”
Periyar always maintained that the marriage was “purely an arrangement to secure his property while satisfying the law.”
Separation of DMK from DK
Following his marriage in 1949, Periyar's chief lieutenant, Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai, parted his ways from Periyar to form his own party and named it Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Annadurai objected to the marriage saying that Periyar married Maniammai when he was 70 and she 32.
Periyar and Annadurai also had political differences brewing from some time. While Periyar advocated a separate independent Dravidanadu or Tamil state, Annadurai wanted to be a part of India with increased state independence. The marriage with Maniammai was the last straw in already strained relationship which led to the split in the party
Periyar’s Anti-Hindu Views
Periyar not only hated brahmins, he also made various statements demeaning Hinduism and Hindu Gods. He made several objectionable and outright blasphemous statements against revered Hindu Gods.
Insult of Hindu Gods
Statement on birth of Shri Ram (1973):
"Who was Rama born to? His dad had no sons, so he didn't send his wives to Bs directly and the Bs didn't do the work for him. First, a horse did its work and triggered emotion (lust) in the wife, then the B did his work. See Bala Kandam, after the Yagam, he left his wives with the horse. A living horse might even kick, so it was killed and its penis was inserted into the female part of Rama's mom to trigger her emotions (lust). Then the B came in and did his work (inseminate) and got money for it and left. Read a book "Nyaana Sooriyan" and you'll understand"
He also advocated breaking the Hindu god idols. He even started an Idol-breaking movement in Tamil Nadu, wherein he instigated the public to break Idols of Shri Ganesha.
During his speech at Mangudi on April 28 1953:
"We have to eradicate the gods who are responsible for the institution which portray us as Sudras, people of low birth, (...). We have to break the idols of these gods. I start with Ganesa because it is he who is worshiped before undertaking any task.”
& No one can one forget the infamous rally carried out by Periyar in Salem district in 1971, wherein he “paraded Shri Ram and Sita’s effigies without clothes, garlanded with footwear”. This created quite a furore among the Hindu community and was condemned all over India.
Note that Periyar had also severely condemned the worship method of Tamilian deities like Karuppasamy, Madurai Veeran, Sangili Karuppan etc. and called it "barbaric".
He said:
"Why does your god need weapons like sickle, spear, javelin etc? Why should your god demand alcohol, Ganja etc? What is the difference then between a thief and your god?"
Advocation of Islam/Christianity
Also, in his various speeches and published articles, he called for conversion to Christianity/Islam and condemned Hinduism:
His statements:
"No other religion in the world has so much lies and fraudulence like Hinduism"
"We need to become humans first. That can happen by becoming either a Muslim or Christian, only then can we be free of disgrace"
"To eradicate caste in our country, we need to propagate the eradication of God, religion, Sastras and Brahmins. Even if one of them remains, can we really consider caste to be truly eradicated?"
"No follower of any other religion are such fanatical barbaric fools about their own religion”
"Mohamedan religion is better than Hinduism as it has unity, equality and refuses idol worship"
"Crores of Non-brahmin Hindus are ridden by a long-term disease which is similar to cancer & leprosy. And there is only one medicine to it - Islam. If not for this only medicine, we will have to suffer"
U-Turn on Islam/Christianity?
It’s also interesting to note that Periyar’s views kept oscillating between love and hate for Islam/Christianity.
Once he said:
“The Muslims, who comprise 6 per cent of the population, without doing any coolie work or labour that involves the flexing of bodies, do not let our gaze fall on their women even if these women belong to families that beg for a living, are also enjoying a good life in this country.” He further says as below: “The products of such minority-appeasing privileges will be ‘betrayal’ and ‘blatant betrayal’. And this is already happening. In our country, selfish irresponsible people who work against the society’s interests use these minorities as a support base and can stoop to do anything. We feared the brahmin, and yielded extra space for the Muslims. We are facing the consequences today. It’s like that old proverb: fearing the dung, we have stepped on shit.”
In 1954, EVR Periyar had called Christians & Muslims as non-Tamil. He said:“In Tamil Nadu’s entire population it seems the brahmins are 2.75 per cent, the Christians 4 per cent, the Muslims about 5 per cent, the Malayalis 8 per cent, those from Karnataka are it seems 5 per cent – if we combine these, it emerges that the non-Tamils in Tamil Nadu constitute 25 per cent of the population. However, in employment these non-Tamils hold 75 per cent of the top posts. Not just that, the reason why the Tamils are suffering is because the brahmins, Christians, Muslims and others claim themselves to be Tamil.”
Periyar – Not a Messiah for Dalits
Periyar had made it quite clear that he was committed towards the welfare of non-SC non-Brahmins (OBCs in today’s times). On 16 April 1950 (Viduthalai), he had said:
“Today in the society there are three major divisions: Brahmins, Shudras and Panchamas. In this, the Brahmins because they are upper castes, are getting the concessions they need. The Panchamas because they are low castes are getting the concessions they need. It is the Shudras who are in the middle, who are suffering from lack of concessions.”
On 25 Dec 1968, a group of 44 women and children, the families of SC agricultural landless workers striking for a wage hike, were burnt to death by henchmen of non-Brahmin landlords in Keezhvenmani, a village in Thanjavur district of Tamil Nadu. Periyar didn’t really condemn the incident, rather he made a statement:
“The workers should be taught to live with what they receive as wages. Instead of teaching them that the Communists are trying to instigate the workers into riots and rebellions. Because of that 42 persons have lost their lives. Both the left and the right Communists as well as the ultra-Communists are trying to somehow topple this government. … Agriculturists of Eastern Thanjavur should not allow the evil force of Communists to spread in their area. Our people should support and strengthen our government instead of weakening it.”
His other problematic statements on Dalits:
He attributed the rise in prices of clothing to the fact that Dalit women had started wearing jackets (blouses). [He said this in a meeting in presence of SC leaders, who were shocked]
He wanted higher education institutions to be closed so that cheap labour would be available
He said rise in unemployment was because Pariah men were becoming literate
Anbu Ponnoviam, a venerated historian also wrote that he was shocked on listening to these views of Periyar. Various SC leaders condemned Periyar for these on these contemptuous statements. The proof for these statements came from DMK magazine Murasoli, wherein a cartoon was published highlighting the anti-SC mindset of Periyar.
Translations (from cartoon):
1) Why the cloth price increased- Periyar- that’s because all pariah ladies started wearing blouse!
2) Why rice price has increased? That’s because people who drink kallu (a kind of alcohol mostly drunk by Dalits), started eating rice!
3) Why there is an unemployment? That’s because all Dalits started studying (in a sarcastic way)!
4) Why post card price increased? That because postman started earning more!
Also, most don’t know that it wasn’t Periyar who started Dalit-rights movement in Tamil Nadu. Dalit leaders like Ayothidasa Pandithar, MC Rajah, Rettamalai Srinivasan had mobilized Dalits way before the Dravidian “Non- Brahmin Movement” led by Periyar. In fact, when leaders of the movement placed an extra emphasis on Dalit education and public employment opportunities, Periyar had initially ridiculed this effort saying:
“Asking the government for jobs, education, duties, huts and housing; and seeking from the Mirasdars two extra measures of paddy is a shame.”
In fact, Ma Venkatesan (an SC leader), says about Periyar:
“How can a man, who actually disliked Dalits, did nothing for women’s rights, and who called the Tamil language ‘barbaric’ and the Thirukkural ‘human refuse’, be great, that too in Tamil Nadu?
Somewhere, we have all been fooled.”
Periyar’s Objectionable Statements on Women
On Temples, women
Periyar, 94 yrs, writes (Viduthalai, 1973):
"Why are temples still alive? Because only in a temple's festive crowd, will a husband get the pleasure of seeing his wife being groped. He is habituated to this because everyone else's wife is also subject to the same. Women could also get such a chance to graze multiple men only within temple premises. If we make different arrangements for this, women would not go to temples"
On women’s make-up
Periyar, 92 yrs, speaks on why women wear makeup:
"Why do women spend so much time in makeup? The only reason is to make others (men) take a look at them. They dress provocatively such that their parts are visible rousing emotions in men. The makeup and the dress they wear is what arouses emotions (lust) in men"
Periyar on marriage:
Periyar said that the institution of monogamous marriage was imposed on Tamils by Brahmins.
"If humans had no family life or marriage, his lifetime will increase to 100. It is worries and troubles caused by wife, kids and family that reduces his lifespan."
He also said that Tamils had no custom named "wedding" and was against both weddings and begetting kids.
"Not only did Tamils have no custom called “marriage”, the monogamy condition that one man must marry one woman only was also laid out only by Brahmins. With time, Tamils considered this to be the civilized thing and adapted to this new custom."
Periyar’s “rational approach” to stop his wife from going to temples
When Nagammai (first wife of Periyar), wanted to go to temple, he tried to convince her not to visit temples. When he could not win over her by his arguments, he secretly went to some of his friends, showed them his wife and told them that she was a new Dasi (prostitute) in the town asking them to make her consent to their desires. As a result, his friends started teasing and stalking her from the temple. Traumatised by this his wife stopped attending the temple. Later she came to know that this was a trick played by her rationalist husband.
Periyar’s Differences with Nehru
Nehru called Periyar as “Lunatic & Criminal”
On Nov 5, 1957, Jawahar Lal Nehru wrote to then Chief Minister of Madras State (Kamaraj), condemning the speeches made by Periyar and his followers where they were inciting public to kill brahmins and burn their houses. He called Periyar as “Criminal and Lunatic” and urged the chief minister to put him in a lunatic asylum.
Periyar filed a contempt of court case against Nehru (1958)
In 1957, due to his 3 inflammatory speeches against brahmins, 3 counts (under section 117) were filed against Periyar in Tiruchirappalli. The case was heard on 12-12-1957, and it ultimately ended in conviction. EVR was sentenced to a prison term of 6 months.
During the same duration (when the case was sub-judice), Nehru had visited Tiruchirappalli on 9-12-1957, and, during the course of his engagements, he addressed a public meeting. In his speech he referred to and condemned Periyar’s speeches (albeit indirectly).
Periyar then filed a “contempt of court” case against Nehru, alleging that this speech interfered with the course of justice and prejudiced the judge against him. Nehru’s speech was published in "The Hindu" (dated 10-12-1957).
Periyar quoted following excerpts from Nehru’s speech as objectionable:
“But one of the most remarkable and one of the most foolish agitations that I have experienced in India has recently started in your own State of Madras. This I believe is known as Dravida Kazhagam agitation and the leader of this movement had said something which cannot be forgiven and which cannot be tolerated. Apart from actually talking in an unabashed manner about murder, inviting people to murder others - a thing unheard of in any civilised society he has dared to insult the National Flag and the National Constitution, these are unforgivable offences (cheers).... But, Mr. Nehru said, "I wondered recently, if the Dravida Kazhagam in Madras is not more primitive than any primitive tribe in India (loud cheers). Because it talks a language, which is a language unheard of in civilised society. It is a language of murder. It is a language which should either lead one to the prison or to the lunatic asylum, because society cannot tolerate that language and no civilised State will put up with a deliberate insult to its Constitution.”
Petition was finally rejected.
Periyar’s Differences with Ambedkar
1. Periyar believed in AIT (Aryan Invasion Theory). Ambedkar on the other hand rejected AIT
In fact, in his book ‘Who were the Shudras’, Dr. Ambedkar called the theory of Aryan invasion as well as the idea of Aryan race “an invention”. He always maintained that “race had nothing to do with the social dynamics in India”. He said:
“If anthropometry is a science which can be depended upon to determine the race of a people, (then its) measurements establish that the Brahmins and the Untouchables belong to the same race. From this it follows that if the Brahmins are Aryans the Untouchables are also Aryans. If the Brahmins are Dravidians, the Untouchables are also Dravidians. “
2. Periyar was against Democracy, Ambedkar wasn’t
Periyar considered democracy to be the root cause of all the problems faced by the society and considered it as an evil manipulation of Brahmins.
In an editorial dated 8-2-1931, he stated that
“In a nation with different languages, religions, and castes with low literacy democracy cannot in any way bring any progress.”
On the other hand, Dr. Ambedkar strongly supported universal suffrage and thought ‘the exercise of vote was itself an education’.
Dr. Ambedkar famously stated:
“Social democracy means a way of life, which recognises liberty, equality and fraternity as the principle of life.”
3. Periyar hated Sanskrit, while Ambedkar was pro-Sanskrit
Periyar had said:
“Aryans were nomads in different places and picked up different dialects. And what they call today their Sanskrit language is actually a combination of these dialects and languages spoken at different places in different ages. The Sanskrit language has nothing noble in it and the Brahmins spoke high about Sanskrit only to make themselves superior and to humiliate other languages.”
On the other hand, Dr. Ambedkar wanted Sanskrit to be the national language of India. (Report of the Sanskrit Commission, 1956-1957, p.200).
He observed:
“Sanskrit is the golden treasure of epics, the cradle of grammar, politics and philosophy and the home of logic, dramas and criticism.” (Keer, p.19)
4. Periyar was a pro-monotheistic while Ambedkar didn’t like monotheism
Periyar stated:
“I am not asking you not to worship God but to worship one God like the way Christians and Muslims do.” (Viduthalai, 04-06-1959) To EVR colonial imperialism was the ultimate sign of a religion’s superiority.
Dr. Ambedkar rejected the idea of universal fatherhood of God as shaky foundation for democracy.
Periyar’s Views on Ambedkar
It was quite evident from his statements that Periyar disliked Ambedkar.
This is what he said about Ambedkar:
"Of the five Constitution Committee members, Ambedkar was bribed as he kept disagreeing. He was asked to fill in whatever % he wanted to assign as reservation for his own community. Ambedkar used this golden opportunity to reserve 16% of seats for his own community. They asked for his silence in exchange for this deal, and he agreed. No matter what laws the remaining four members wrote, Ambedkar signed it without questions"(Source: EVR speech at Karur Pongal celebrations on 17/1/1968)
“Today Dr. Ambedkar had started taking the sterile stand of the North Indians that this nation should not be partitioned. I am afraid that in coming days he would also oppose the Dravidstan demand.”(Source: Kudiarasu, 8 July 1947)
“Dr. Ambedkar alone somewhat fought for the Adhi-Dravidas (Scheduled Communities). They (Brahmins) went and told him, ‘If you want something for your problem, we may do something. But do not talk for others.’ Ambedkar also accepted that solution for his people. So, in proportion to their population, they made reservation for SC people in all departments. At least for his people he had got this. But if we ask reservation for us, they call us ‘communalist’.(Source: Viduthalai, 22 September 1951)
“Ambedkar had some feeling similar to us. He asked me, ‘What can I do for your people?’ I gave him a lot of data. He started talking for us. At once Brahmins fixed a price for him. He asked 10 percentage reservation for his people in education and government jobs. They said ‘we will make it 15’. The Brahmins knew that even if 25 percentage was given even three or four persons of SC community would not come. And Ambedkar simply signed in that law. He did not bother about the problem of others.”(Source: Viduthalai, 11 November 1957)
Periyar’s Views on Gandhi
Not only he opposed Nehru and Ambedkar, he also opposed Gandhi too. He once said:
"By 1928, based on my disagreement with Gandhi’s principles, I decided not to address him as Mahatma anymore. Since then, I've been addressing him only as Mr. Gandhi or Comrade Gandhi in my speeches and writings. What is the benefit to our society or country due to Gandhi? Our country has been enslaved to Brahmins and North Indians due to him. All the disciplines in our common folk have been eroded; All departments becoming corrupt due to him. Politics has become vulgar and the spring of deceit. I shall propagate across the country to make the public themselves demand for the removal of Gandhi statues."
Periyar’s Anti-Hindi Movement
In 1937, when Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari became the Chief Minister of Madras Presidency, he introduced Hindi as a compulsory language of study in schools, thereby igniting a series of anti-Hindi agitations.
Tamil nationalists, the Justice Party under Sir A. T. Panneerselvam, and Periyar organised anti-Hindi protests in 1938 which ended with numerous arrests by the Rajaji government.
During the same year, the slogan "Tamil Nadu for Tamilians" was first used by Periyar in protest against the introduction of Hindi in schools. He claimed that the introduction of Hindi was a dangerous mechanism used by the Aryans to infiltrate Dravidian culture. He reasoned that the adoption of Hindi would make Tamils subordinate to the Hindi-speaking North Indians. Periyar also claimed that Hindi would not only halt the progress of Tamil people, but would also completely destroy their culture and nullify the progressive ideas that had been successfully inculcated through Tamil in the recent decades.
Periyar’s U-Turn on Hindi
Very interesting to note is that Periyar’s views on Hindi language kept oscillating between complete hate to somewhat accepting during various periods of time.
Jan 25 - Feb 13, 1965 was a crucial period when DMK held widescale protests against Hindi, and Periyar not only refused to partake in the protests, he called this as “a Tear Drops (a jibe on DMK) attempt to beat a dead snake for the sake of extending their power.”
He said, in 1965: "If we have to learn a different language, may it be Hindi"
In an interview, he stated:
"Where is Hindi imposition? Why should North Indians - who view English as subpar yield to the demands of Tamils? Like a Tahsildar learns surveying on the job, what's the harm in learning Hindi?"
Separatist Nature of Periyar
It is a well-known fact that Periyar and his movement were pro-British and they also supported the Muslim League in its pro-Pakistan demand.
In an interview to a Tamil magazine, Anantha Vikatan, in 1965, Periyar expressed how he had hoped that, the British would hand over the authority to the Justice party.
In his own words:
“I went and told the British that it was not British honesty to hand over the power to them while we are the ones who have always supported you. The British smiled and said that they now knew only Hindu-Muslim difference and not Brahmin-non-Brahmin difference. Then I went and saw Jinnah and asked for his help. He said that your bed (plan) looks good but it lacks the legs to stand on. And he told that only I had to look after my problem. The media wrote that Jinnah had tar-brushed the face of EVR.”
He was also very vocal on his demand for a separate nation “Dravidanadu”. He had also sought the help of the British and Jinnah for his separate nation.
He made the demand for Dravidanadu in his presidential address at the 14th Confederation of S.I.L.F (Justice Party) on December 1938. He met Sir Stafford Cripps and put forward the demand of Dravidanadu in 1939. Resolution was passed to that effect in 1940. Ironically, Muslim League refused the Cripps offer in 1942.
Periyar had then pleaded with the British to not leave India and pledged allegiance to them asking the Madras Presidency to be ruled from London.
Post independence, he had many times advocated for burning/insulting of national symbols.
List of things Periyar had urged public to burn:
Indian Constitution [10-11-1957]
Image/Map of Indian Republic [21-05-1960]
Indian National Flag [31-07-1955] (He asked "Is the flag's cloth fire proof? If you put Kerosene, it'll burn brightly. We'll show that your flag has the same respect as a ragged cloth)
Periyar’s Other Problematic Views
On Tamil Language
Periyar once called Tamil as language of barbarians:
“For more than 40 years, I have been describing Tamil as a barbarous language (Kattumirandi Mozhi) used only by barbarians.”
Periyar once also said that Tamil has uncivilized swear words, but English doesn't have such uncouth words.
"If we fight in Tamil, we will use words like: vaada, poda, w*thạ, your mom, this one's son etc. Such (uncouthness) is not there in English language. To address both the king and his servant - the same pronoun - you are being used. Is this not equality?" According to EVR, this is how Aussies or the English indulge in sledging: "Dear son of a virtuous woman, why don't you hit this bouncer for a six, mate? Buzz off darling, you are a pain in my digestive tract's endpoint" Because English apparently has no cuss words.
His Views On Cinema
Cinema folks are scoundrels who seize your money
Women should not go to cinemas because films trigger unsavoury emotions in women
Better to visit places in person than see them in cinema
Periyar’s speeches (Audio recording)
Periyar’s famous genocidal speech on brahmins:
1. He is saying:
“We should kill Tamil brahmins, whenever we see them. If we see temples, go inside break all idols and kill the brahmins. Even if we have to die, if for 1 brahmin, 1 Tamilian is killed, we still be only 3 dead out of 100, while they all will be dead. So, 100-3 (brahmins)-3 (Tamilians)=94. So, 94% of us will still remain”
https://x.com/realitycheckind/status/1304106874187309056
2. Periyar, saying he threatened to kill brahmins to get Rajaji govt to withdraw elementary education bill
" If Kulakalvi scheme is not withdrawn in a month, I asked (people) to stab every and any Paapaan and Paapaathi (TB man and woman). Buy petrol and matchsticks and set fire to all Agraharams. In our protest, if we shoot 10, 20 people and are h*ng for it, what's wrong with it? That's why we took this effort. It materialized somewhat. All TBs got afraid and complained to Rajaji that 'Because of your bad decision, all our Agraharams are in danger. We are afraid to go for our jobs alone. Our women are scared to walk the streets alone' Which is why Rajaji resigned in 1954 (as CM) and ran away."
https://x.com/realitycheckind/status/1308417174789394433
Periyar’s speech on Tamil Nadu’s famous loved poet and social activist Bharathi
1. He made fun of a Bharathiyar's patriotic poem, saying - "On hearing Senthamizhnaadu, honey does not flow in one's ears, but onion. It feels like a scorpion stinging the ear"
https://x.com/labstamil/status/1833358766198140965
Periyar also said that “all non-brahmin Hindus (he calls them Shudras) as prostitutes’ sons.”
1. 19-12-1973 speech
https://x.com/realitycheckind/status/1573165627547996162
Conclusion
Although Periyar is revered today by a large section of Tamilians, he was an extremely controversial figure even when he was alive. While he claimed that he was against Brahmins, not Brahminism, his statements and actions proved otherwise. His hate for so-called Brahminism, in turn ended up as hatred for Brahmins.
Another issue was that Periyar considered all non-brahmins as victims, including the rich landlord castes. He completely ignored that fact that the oppressing classes most often belonged to these these non-brahmin castes themselves. Even today, the atrocity rate is high in Tamil Nadu but 97.2% of the population in Tamil Nadu is SC/ST/OBC. In all reported cases of atrocity, the accused belong to the rich landlord (OBC) castes. This itself is a proof that the Periyarist movement against discrimination has not turned out to be as successful as being projected.
Also, his viewpoints on women, Hindu religion, other prominent leaders at that time are crude and derogatory.
In conclusion, while he is considered a social-activist and a reformer, his activism and viewpoints are not beyond reproach.
References:
1. https://x.com/labstamil/status/1698963299097026693?t=ZNYNfCtfk1Fr_qwRdFHxig&s=08
2. Thoughts of EVR, compiled by Anaimuthu
3. Periyar EVR Sinthanaigal, Vol 1-3, edited by Anaimuthu
4. Viduthalai from 24 August - published by Veeramani, leader of DK
5. பெரியார் சிந்தனைத் திரட்டு - பாகம் -1 (Periyar's Collection of Thoughts - Part-1), published by Dravidar Kazhagam
6. Kudiyarasu (3/11/1929)
7. Periyar’s speech in 1947
8. Maraikkapadum Ee Ve Ra by Ma Venkatesan
9. Book "Irudhi Perurai"
10. Book "EVR அறிவுரை பெண்களுக்கு" (Periyar’s advice for women) compiled by K. Veeramani, leader of DK
11. https://swarajyamag.com/politics/10-reasons-why-ambedkar-would-not-get-along-very-well-with-periyar
12. https://x.com/total_woke_/status/1627668199914479619
13. Collected Works of Periyar EVR, foreword, page 34
14. https://indiankanoon.org/doc/122642/?s=08
15. https://swarajyamag.com/politics/10-reasons-why-ambedkar-would-not-get-along-very-well-with-periyar
17. Saraswathi, S. (2004). Towards Self-Respect. Madras: Institute of South Indian Studies.
18. Nalankilli, Thanjai (1 January 2003). "History: A Chronology of Anti-Hindi Agitations in Tamil Nadu and What the Future Holds". Tamil Tribune.
19. EVR's biography by R. Muthukumar
20. Interview EVR gave to Ananda Vikatan on 11-4-1965 where EVR literally defended learning Hindi immaterial of it being subtly mandated for Central Govt jobs
21. https://velivada.com/2019/05/09/the-historic-meeting-of-ambedkar-jinnah-and-periyar/