PERIYAAR

POLITICAL LIFE:

• He was elected the chairman in 1918 to Erode Mu- nicipality.
• He joined in congress party in the year 1919.
• He participated in the Non Co-operation move- ment during the year 1920.
• During 1921, he conducted agitations against Li- quor shops in Erode.
• And also in Thaththampatti he cut 500 coconut tree – and protested against Liquor shops.
• He was elected as a President to Madras state Con- gress Committee in the year 1922 – 1923.
• 1922 – In coimbatore prison, he thought to estab- lish the magazine ‘Republic’ with his friend Thangaperumal.
• In 1924 he conducted a movement in Vaikom Kerala which enabled the backward class people to enter the Hindu Temples. Hence he was called as ‘Vaikom Veerar’. George Joseph took him to Vaikom. (He was fondly called “Rosaappu Durai” by the people of Madurai)
• During 1925 he oppossed the untouchability sys- tem followed in ‘Cheranmahadevi Ashram’ run by V.V.S lyyer.
• In 1925, he demanded “communual representa- tion” in the congress party during the State con- gress meet held in Kanchipuram under the Lead- ership of Thiru Vi.Ka. Since the party people op- posed his demand he resigned from congress party.
• He started Self Respect Movement in the year 1925.
• Its first state level meet was conducted at chengalpet in the year 1929.
• Here he terminated his caste surname.
• He released a book named ‘Family planning’ in the year 1930.
• He was an eminent tool to enact the bill on Devadasi system (On October 9, 1947 it was en- acted)
• In 1936, Periyar got Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s Annihi- lation of Caste translated into Tamil immediately after it was written.
• 1937, 1948, 1952, 1965 – Hindi Agitation.
• 1938 He was awarded with the title ‘Periyar’ in the Women’s Congress held at Chennai under the Chairmanship of Neelambikai, daughter of Maraimalai Adigal. The title was given by Dr. Dharmambal.
• He was sworn in as a leader of Justice party in the year 1938 and demanded separate Dravidan coun- try in the year 1939.
• In 1944 Justice Party renamed as “Dravidar Kazhagam” as proposed by Annadurai.
• 1947 August 15 – He announced it the Mourning day of Dravidas.
• 1949 He married Maniammai (28) at his age of 70.
• 1953 Protested against Rajaji’s educational Program
• 1970 Got UNESCO Award.
• 1973 – Union Government released Postal Stamp.

Periyar, a Feminist

• Periyar was critical of patriarchy.
• He condemned child-marriage and the devadasi sys- tem (institution of temple girls).
• Periyar had been emphasising women’s right to divorce and property.
• Periyar objected to terms like “giving in marriage”. instead of using that he used “Life Partner” taken from Thirukkural.
• Peiyar’s most important work on this subject is “Why the Woman is Enslaved”
• He welcomed equal rights for males and females in property, guardianship and adoption.
• He was a strong champion of birth control and contraception, and said that motherhood was a bur- den to women.
• The Hindu Succession Tamil Nadu Amendment Act of 1989, which ensured the equal rights to ances- tral property for women in inheritance.

Periyar on Religion

• Periyar wanted religion to be replaced by ratio- nalism. ‘Religion means you accept superstitious beliefs’, he asserted.
• Periyar spent his entire life campaigning against superstitions through Thinkers or Rationalists Fo- rums he had formed.
• Periyar objected to the hereditary priesthood in temples.
• He encouraged the people to boycott the Brah- min priests and their Vedic rituals. He advocated inter-caste and Self-Respect Marriages devoid of any such rituals.
• Periyar argued that whoever had the right religious knowledge, even if they are common people, can become priests.

Bournals of Periyar

1. Kudiarasu (1925) The Magazine became the mouthpiece of the Movement.
2. Revolt (1928) English Journal –

3. Revolution (1933)

4. Pagutharivu (1934)- With this newspaper he brings tamil Language reforms, he used Roman number system

5. Viduthalai (1935)
6. Dravidan – He used to write a Editor with the sur- name ‘Chithiraputhiran’ in Justice Party Journal.

7.Unmai (Truth) – 1970.

SPECIAL NAMES

1. Siraiparavai (He was imprisoned 23 times in 15 years
2. Vaikom Hero
3. Pogutharivu Pagalavan
4. Russo of TamilNadu
5. Puthulaga Tholainokkalar
6. South Indian Socrates

Puthuluga Tholainokkalar & Socrates of South India (Honoured by UNESCO).