Why in news?
The year 2025 marks the centenary of the Self‑Respect Movement, launched in 1925 in present‑day Tamil Nadu. Commemorations and discussions in September renewed interest in this radical social reform campaign against caste oppression and patriarchal customs.
Origins and goals
The movement was founded by social activist E.V. Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar. Influenced by earlier reformers such as Iyothee Thass and Jyotirao Phule, Periyar sought to challenge Brahmanical dominance, promote rationalism and improve the status of women. The movement began in the Tamil weekly Kudi Arasu and was initially supported by the Justice Party.
Main features
- Self‑respect marriages: Weddings were conducted without Brahmin priests, Sanskrit hymns or caste rituals, asserting equality and rejecting religious hierarchy.
- Women’s rights: The movement supported widow remarriage, divorce, property rights and reproductive freedom. It opposed dowry and promoted education for girls.
- Rationalism: Periyar championed scientific thinking and criticised superstition. He questioned religious orthodoxy and encouraged people to think independently.
- Dravidian identity: The movement emphasised pride in Dravidian heritage and language, challenging north‑centric and religion‑tinged nationalism.
Legacy and significance
The Self‑Respect Movement empowered non‑Brahmin communities by affirming their dignity and right to self‑determination. It laid the ideological groundwork for Dravidian politics, which has shaped Tamil Nadu’s welfare‑oriented governance and emphasis on social justice. A century later its messages of rationalism, gender equality and caste annihilation continue to influence public discourse.