100 Years of Tamil Nadu’s Self-Respect Movement: A Legacy of Equality

Speedy Summary:

• The Self-Respect Movement, marking its centenary this year, considerably altered Tamil Nadu’s political and social discourse. Though recorded to have started in 1925, its origins were more ideological and gradual than singular.
• Social reformer ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy formally began the movement after leaving the Indian National Congress in November 1925 and addressing a Justice Party special conference to advocate militant non-Brahminism.
• Periyar launched the Tamil weekly Kudi arasu, which became an extension of the Self-Respect Movement focusing on radical caste and gender politics as well as reforming Hindu society.
• research highlights Kudi Arasu as a pivotal platform challenging elite-dominated journalism while opposing gandhi-led Congress nationalism for its perceived caste biases.
• Authors like N.K. mangalamurugesan note that while earlier movements addressed elite non-Brahmins’ needs, Periyar’s efforts engaged lower-caste masses with reforms such as self-respect marriages, property rights for women, inter-caste marriages, divorce rights, widow remarriage advocacy, abortion rights promotion among others.
• observers highlight that in today’s era of Hindutva politics and cultural homogenization attempts, the century-old movement may need to redefine itself.

Indian Opinion Analysis:
The centenary party of the Self-Respect Movement underscores its lasting relevance in combating caste hierarchy and promoting gender equality within Indian society. Historically rooted in empowering marginalized communities beyond elite interests-an inadequacy observed even within the Justice Party-it radically questioned entrenched systems through progressive reforms like self-respect marriages or advocating women’s property rights.

While celebrating these achievements is significant today amidst evolving sociopolitical landscapes shaped by growing religious nationalism (e.g.,Hindutva),redefining how these principles apply contemporarily could allow it to address new challenges like identity consolidation or polarization threats effectively without compromising inclusivity goals long inherent values base!

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