Udhayanidhi Stalin, the Tamil Nadu minister and the son of DMK chief MK Stalin, has stirred up significant controversy with his comments on Sanatana Dharma. Notably, he invoked the name of Periyar both during that speech and in his subsequent response to the backlash.
He proclaimed, "We, as adherents of Periyar, Anna, and Kalaignar, are committed to an enduring struggle for the promotion of social justice and the establishment of an egalitarian society."
It's worth noting that Periyar holds a prominent place in the discourse of Udhayanidhi Stalin and many other politicians in Tamil Nadu. In fact, it is virtually impossible for any political party to gain traction in Tamil politics without acknowledging the influence of Periyar.
In April, Udhayanidhi made a statement emphasizing that even five decades after Periyar's passing, his name and speeches continue to shape the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.
Periyar EV Ramasamy is hailed as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement.' Born on September 17, 1879, in Erode, which was a part of the then Madras Presidency, Periyar emerged as a fervent advocate against Brahminical dominance, as well as caste and gender inequalities. Since 2021, his birthday has been celebrated as 'Social Justice Day' in Tamil Nadu.
In 1919, Periyar joined the Indian National Congress but resigned in 1925, citing his belief that the party predominantly served Brahmin interests. Subsequently, in 1926, he initiated the Self-Respect Movement, aimed at forging a rational society free from the shackles of caste, religion, and the concept of God. The objectives of this movement included dismantling Brahminical authority, advocating for gender equality and employment equity for marginalized groups, and fostering the resurgence of Dravidian languages like Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, and Tamil.
In contrast to the concept of Indian identity promoted by the Congress, Periyar reconstructed the Tamil identity as an egalitarian ideal that remained untainted by the caste system.
He argued that Aryan Brahmins, originating from Northern India and speaking Sanskrit, introduced caste into the Tamil region. Periyar also led a staunch resistance against the compulsory imposition of Hindi, viewing it as an endeavor to establish "North Indian imperialism."
In 1939, Periyar assumed leadership of the Justice Party, subsequently renaming it as Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944. This later splintered, leading to the formation of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in 1949.
Udhayanidhi is the third-generation leader of the DMK, with his grandfather, M Karunanidhi, having served as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on five occasions. His father, MK Stalin, presently holds the position of chief minister and leads the DMK.
Similarly, the AIADMK, another dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics, also draws its political foundations from Periyar's movement. The AIADMK's inception followed the expulsion of MG Ramachandran, popularly known as MGR, from the DMK by Karunanidhi.
Periyar's legacy continues to cast a significant influence on the political landscape of Tamil Nadu. His principles, encompassing rationalism, self-respect, gender equality, and the eradication of caste, resonate strongly in contemporary politics, as does his stance against the imposition of Hindi.
Periyar and his supporters garnered attention through their provocative actions, such as burning posters and portraits of Hindu deities, a practice that began in the 1950s. Additionally, he encouraged his followers to defile idols of deities like Ganesha. These acts of protest persisted until the 1970s, according to some accounts.
Periyar saw conversion to other religions as a means for lower-caste Hindus to escape Brahmin oppression.
The Periyar movement effectively eroded the influence of Brahmins in Tamil Nadu, making it unlikely that the state will see a Brahmin chief minister in the near future. A significant portion of the Brahmin population has migrated out of Tamil Nadu over the past few decades, partly driven by the rise of the IT and financial services sectors.
The burning of portraits and images was one of the most controversial aspects of Periyar's movement. In recent times, some critics have characterized his methods as excessively radical.
In 2020, superstar Rajinikanth publicly criticized Periyar, referring to an incident in 1971 when Periyar organized a rally featuring unclothed images of Lord Sri Ramachandramoorthy and Sita adorned with sandals. Rajinikanth's comments drew significant attention, and despite pressure from Dravidian parties, who often rally around Periyar's legacy, he refused to apologize.
One aspect of Periyar's legacy that has been widely employed by Tamil Nadu parties is his staunch opposition to Hindi. Each year, Tamil Nadu observes Language Martyrs Day, commemorating those who sacrificed their lives during the anti-Hindi agitation in the state.
