📘 Question (IAS Prelims 2025 | GS-I)

Who among the following was the founder of the Self-Respect Movement?

(a) ‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
(d) Dinkarrao Javalka

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✅ Correct Answer

(a) ‘Periyar’ E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker

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🎯 Theme of the Question

Modern India | Social reform movements | Dravidian movement | Anti-caste ideology

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🧠 Classroom Explanation

The Self-Respect Movement was a radical social reform movement launched in South India to challenge entrenched caste hierarchies, Brahminical dominance, and religious orthodoxy. UPSC frames such questions to test whether aspirants can correctly identify founders of regional reform movements and understand their ideological orientation.

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👤 E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker (“Periyar”)

Periyar (1879–1973) was:

• A pioneering social reformer, rationalist, and political thinker from Tamil Nadu
• Regarded as the father of the Dravidian movement

He strongly opposed:

• The caste system
• Brahminical social dominance
• Religious superstition and ritualism

He consistently advocated:

• Rationalism and atheism
• Gender equality
• Social justice for non-Brahmin and oppressed communities

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🔥 Self-Respect Movement (1925)

• Founded: 1925
• Founder: Periyar
• Region: Tamil Nadu

Core objectives included:

• Instilling self-respect among oppressed castes
• Promoting social equality and human dignity
• Encouraging inter-caste and self-respect marriages (without Brahmin priests)
• Questioning the authority of religious texts that legitimised inequality

The movement emphasised:

• Reason over blind faith
• Social reform over ritual reform

It rejected the idea that social hierarchy was divinely ordained.

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🏛️ Long-Term Political Impact

The Self-Respect Movement provided the ideological foundation for:

• Dravidar Kazhagam (DK)
• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)

These organisations later reshaped the political and social landscape of Tamil Nadu.
Periyar came to be revered as “Thanthai Periyar” (Father Periyar).

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❌ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar → Leader of Dalit emancipation and constitutionalism, not founder of the Self-Respect Movement
• Bhaskarrao Jadhav → Associated with non-Brahmin movements in Maharashtra
• Dinkarrao Javalka → Non-Brahmin activist, but not the founder

👉 Self-Respect Movement (1925) = Periyar

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🧩 One-Line Ready Recall

Self-Respect Movement → Periyar → 1925 → Tamil Nadu → Dravidian ideology

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🧠 Prelims Strategy Insight

Dravidian ideology
👉 Think Periyar, not pan-Indian reformers

Regional reform movements are often asked via founder-based MCQs

If the question mentions:

Anti-caste

Rationalism