UPSC Prelims 2025 Q78: Modern History – Social & Religious Reform Movements
- (a) ‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
- (b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
- (c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
- (d) Dinkarrao Javalkar
Answer: (a) ‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
Explanation
Self-Respect Movement — Founder and Context
| Founder | 'Periyar' E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (EVR) |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1925 |
| Location | Tamil Nadu (then Madras Presidency) |
| Alternative name | Suya Mariyathai Iyakkam (Tamil) |
E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (1879–1973):
| Attribute | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy Periyar |
| Title | 'Periyar' = 'great man/elder' in Tamil |
| Core mission | Eradicate caste discrimination + Brahminism + superstition in Tamil society |
| Against | Child marriage, temple entry bans, untouchability, Hindi imposition |
| Influence | Inspired Dravidian movement, Tamil politics, Dravidar Kazhagam (DK), DMK, AIADMK |
| Key idea | Self-respect marriages (no Brahmin priest) - registered or conducted by couple themselves |
| Quote | "God does not exist; the one who created God is a fool; the one who propagates God is a scoundrel." |
Other Reform Movements (distinguish from Self-Respect):
| Leader | Movement | Region |
|---|---|---|
| Periyar | Self-Respect Movement | Tamil Nadu (1925) |
| Dr. B.R. Ambedkar | Dalit emancipation, conversion to Buddhism | Maharashtra |
| Bhaskarrao Jadhav | Satyashodhak Samaj (related) | Maharashtra |
| Jyotiba Phule | Satyashodhak Samaj | Maharashtra |
Answer: (a) ‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) CORRECT. 'Periyar' E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker founded the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 in Tamil Nadu. It was a radical social reform movement against Brahminical dominance and caste hierarchy.
- (b) Incorrect. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar led the Dalit emancipation movement, converted to Buddhism in 1956, and championed constitutional rights. He did not found the Self-Respect Movement.
- (c) Incorrect. Bhaskarrao Jadhav was associated with the Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth-Seekers' Society) founded by Jyotiba Phule in Maharashtra — a different movement, different region.
- (d) Incorrect. Dinkarrao Javalkar was associated with Maharashtrian social reform, not Tamil Nadu's Self-Respect Movement.
Key point
Self-Respect Movement = Periyar (1925, Tamil Nadu). Its radical aims: abolish caste, Brahminism, superstition, and introduce self-respect marriages without priests.
Remember
Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker founded the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu in 1925. Goal: abolish caste, Brahminism, and superstition. Inspired all Dravidian political parties.
Common mistakes
- Confusing Periyar's Self-Respect Movement (TN) with Ambedkar's Dalit movement (Maharashtra) — both challenged caste but in different contexts.
- Mixing up the Dravidian movement's leaders — Periyar inspired later leaders like Annadurai (DMK), but the Self-Respect Movement was specifically Periyar's own founding.
- Not knowing Periyar's radical rationalism — he attacked religion, God, and caste simultaneously, going further than most reformers of his time.
Exam tip
Self-Respect Movement = Periyar = Tamil Nadu = 1925. Other TN facts: Periyar → C.N. Annadurai (his disciple) → founded DMK. Periyar left Congress over Hindi imposition. His movement = anti-caste + anti-religion + pro-rational thinking.
Sources
- NCERT Class VIII — Social and Political Life III (Social Reform Movements)
- Rupa Publications — 'Periyar EVR: A Political Biography'