Who was Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy?
- Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy was a prominent social reformer in India who strongly opposed caste discrimination. He was also known as Periyar.
Founding of the Self-Respect Movement:
- Periyar founded the Self-Respect Movement to advocate for the rights and dignity of untouchables—people who were treated very poorly in society because of their caste.
Goals of the Movement:
- The main goal was to promote the self-respect of untouchables by ensuring they were treated as equals in society.
- The movement also aimed to challenge and critique Hindu scriptures that justified caste discrimination.
Critique of Hindu Scriptures:
- Periyar criticized texts like the Manusmriti and other Hindu scriptures which he believed supported the social hierarchy that kept lower castes oppressed.
- He argued that these texts were used by upper castes to maintain their power and control over lower castes.
Vision for Social Equality:
- Periyar promoted a vision of society where everyone regardless of caste could live with dignity and have equal opportunities.
- He believed in a society free from religious sanctions that justified inequality.
Impact of the Movement:
- The Self-Respect Movement was instrumental in raising awareness about the need for social reform concerning caste and untouchability in India.
- It inspired many people from lower castes to fight for their rights and contributed to the broader struggle for social justice in India.
