Self-Respect Movement

Periyar, a head of the Movement in Tamil Nadu

The Self-Respect Movement is a popular human rights movement originating in South India aimed at achieving social equality for those oppressed by the Indian caste system,[1] advocating for lower castes to develop self-respect.[2] It was founded in 1925 by S. Ramanathan[3] who invited E. V. Ramasamy (also known as Periyar by his followers) to head the movement in Tamil Nadu, India against Brahminism. The movement was extremely influential not just in Tamil Nadu, but also overseas in countries with large Tamil populations, such as Sri Lanka, Burma, Malaysia and Singapore. Among Singapore Indians, groups like the Tamil Reform Association, and leaders such as Thamizhavel G. Sarangapani were prominent in promoting the principles of the Self-Respect Movement among the local Tamil population through schools and publications.

A number of political parties in Tamil Nadu, such as Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) owe their origins to the Self-Respect Movement;[4] the latter had a breakaway from the DMK in 1972. Both parties are populist with a generally social democratic orientation.[5]

  1. ^ N.D. Arora/S.S. Awasthy (2007). Political Theory and Political Thought. Har-Anand Publications. ISBN 978-81-241-1164-2. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  2. ^ Thomas Pantham; Vrajendra Raj Mehta; Vrajendra Raj Mehta (2006). Political Ideas in Modern India: thematic explorations. Sage Publications. ISBN 978-0-7619-3420-2. Archived from the original on 18 September 2023. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  3. ^ "Self-respect and socialism". Frontline. 6 December 2017. Archived from the original on 27 September 2020. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
  4. ^ Shankar Raghuraman; Paranjoy Guha Thakurta (2004). A Time of Coalitions: Divided We Stand. Sage Publications. p. 230. ISBN 978-0-7619-3237-6. Self-respect movement DMK AIADMK.
  5. ^ Christopher John Fuller (2003). The Renewal of the Priesthood: Modernity and Traditionalism in a South Indian Temple. Princeton University Press. p. 118. ISBN 978-0-691-11657-0. Archived from the original on 6 September 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2016.

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