Why Periyar's influence in Tamil Nadu politics will never die

Udhayanidhi Stalin, Tamil Nadu minister and son of DMK chief MK Stalin, sparked a massive controversy with his remarks on Sanatana Dharma. During that speech and a day later, while countering the backlash, he name-dropped Periyar.

"We, the followers of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar, would fight forever to uphold social justice and establish an egalitarian society," Udhayanidhi said.

Periyar has been a constant on the lips of Udhayanidhi Stalin or, for that matter, most Tamil Nadu politicians. No party can hope to succeed in Tamil politics unless it swears by Periyar.In April, Udhayanidhi said that even 50 years after Periyar’s death, his name and speeches still determine Tamil Nadu’s politics.

Who is Periyar and why is he a political imperative to Tamil politics?

PERIYAR QUIT CONGRESS OVER ‘BRAHMINISM’

Periyar EV Ramasamy is revered as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'.

Born on September 17, 1879, in Erode, a part of the then Madras Presidency, Periyar was a radical advocate against Brahminical dominance and caste and gender inequality. His birth anniversary is celebrated as 'Social Justice Day' in Tamil Nadu since 2021.

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He joined the Indian National Congress in 1919 but resigned in 1925, feeling that the party was primarily serving the interests of Brahmins.

In 1926, Periyar founded the Self-Respect Movement, aimed at creating a rational society devoid of caste, religion, and god. The movement's objectives included the abolition of Brahminical authority, employment equity for women and underrepresented groups, and the revival of Dravidian languages such as Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil.

In contrast to the Indian identity supported by the Congress, Periyar recreated the Tamil identity as an egalitarian ideal that was initially untarnished by the caste system.

He said that Aryan Brahmins, who spoke Sanskrit and originated from Northern India, brought caste to the Tamil region. Periyar also led a strong rebellion against the imposition of Hindi as a compulsory subject, viewing it as an attempt to establish “North Indian imperialism”.

In 1939, Periyar became the head of the Justice Party, which he renamed as Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. The party was later split by CN Annadurai, leading to the formation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.

Udhayanidhi is a third-generation leader of the DMK. His grandfather, M Karunanidhi, was a five-time chief minister of Tamil Nadu. MK Stalin, Udhayanidhi’s father, is the current chief minister of the state and head of DMK.