Periyar E. V. Ramasamy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
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| Born | 17 September 1879 |
| Died | 24 December 1973 (aged 94) |
| Other names | Periyar, Thanthai Periyar |
| Awards | UNESCO (1970) |
Erode Venkata Ramasamy (born September 17, 1879 – died December 24, 1973) was an important Indian leader. People also called him Periyar, Thanthai Periyar, or E. V. R.. He was a businessman, politician, and a strong activist for social change. Periyar started the Self-Respect Movement. This movement worked to make sure everyone was treated equally. He also founded the Dravidar Kazhagam, a group that spread his ideas.
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Periyar's Early Life
Periyar was born in Erode, a town in what was then called Madras Presidency. His family was wealthy and spoke the Kannada language. Even when he was young, Periyar saw many unfair things happening around him. He saw people being treated differently because of their background or gender. These experiences made him want to fight for fairness.
Periyar got married when he was 19 years old. He had a daughter who sadly lived for only five months. His first wife, Nagammai, passed away in 1933. Later, in 1948, Periyar married Maniammai. After Periyar died in 1973, Maniammai continued his important social work. His ideas kept spreading through the Dravidar Kazhagam organization.
Fighting for Equality
Periyar believed that everyone should be treated with respect. He worked hard to end unfair treatment based on a person's social group or beliefs. He was against certain traditional practices that he felt caused inequality.
He strongly supported the Tamil language and the rights of the Tamil people. Periyar fought for these rights throughout his life.
The Self-Respect Movement
Periyar started the Self-Respect Movement to encourage people to be proud of themselves. This movement aimed to create a society where everyone had equal dignity. It challenged old ideas that led to discrimination.
He also suggested creating an independent state called Dravida Nadu. This proposed state would include the southern parts of India.
Anti-Hindi Protests
In 1938, Periyar organized protests against the Hindi language. This was because the government wanted to make Hindi a required language in schools. Periyar believed this was unfair to people who spoke Tamil and other languages. He wanted to protect the importance of the Tamil language.
Periyar's Legacy
Periyar continued to fight for the rights of the Tamil people until he passed away. Today, many people around the world, especially those who speak Tamil, are interested in his ideas. They learn about his work for the Tamil language and its history. His thoughts and actions continue to inspire people who seek fairness and equality.
Images for kids
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B. R. Ambedkar with Ramasamy when they met in connection with a Buddhist conference in Rangoon, Myanmar in 1954.
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Ramasamy statue at Vaikom town in Kottayam, Kerala
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Ramasamy during the early years of Self-Respect Movement
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Periyar Thidal at Vepery, where Ramasamy's body was buried.
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Ramasamy on postal stamp of India, issued in 2009
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Ramasamy with Muhammad Ali Jinnah and B. R. Ambedkar
