Periyar: Difference between revisions

| birth_place        = [[Erode]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]<br />{{smaller|(present-day [[Tamil Nadu]], [[India]])}}

'''Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy''' (17 September 1879&nbsp;– 24 December 1973), revered as '''Periyar'''{{Efn|'Respected one' or 'elder' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].}} or '''Thanthai{{Efn|'Father' or 'father figure' in [[Tamil language|Tamil]].}} Periyar''', was an Indian [[social activist]] and politician who started the [[Self-Respect Movement]] and [[Dravidar Kazhagam]]. He is known as the 'Father of the [[Dravidian movement]]'.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/statue-wars-who-was-periyar-and-why-does-he-trigger-sentiment-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/63200079.cms?from=mdr|title=Statue wars: Who was Periyar and why does he trigger sentiment in Tamil Nadu?|date=2018-03-07|work=The Economic Times|access-date=2019-03-28}}</ref> He rebelled against [[Brahminical|Brahminical dominance]] and gender and caste inequality in [[Tamil Nadu]].<ref>{{cite book|title=Political Ideas in Modern India: thematic explorations|author=Mehta, Vrajendra Raj|author2=Thomas Pantham|year=2006|publisher=Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks|page=48|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KJejtAaonsEC|isbn=978-0-7619-3420-2}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Political Theory and Political Thought|author=Arora, N.D.|author2=S.S. Awasthy|year=2007|publisher=Har-Anand Publications: New Delhi|pages=425|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=szBpnYfmH0cC|isbn=978-81-241-1164-2}}</ref><ref name="Thakurta-1">Thakurta, Paranjoy Guha; Shankar Raghuraman (2004). ''A Time of Coalitions: Divided We Stand''. Sage Publications. New Delhi. p. 230. {{ISBN|0-7619-3237-2}}.</ref> Since 2021, the Indian state of [[Tamil Nadu]] celebrates his birth anniversary as 'Social Justice Day'.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-09-06|title=TN govt will celebrate Periyar’s birth anniversary as social justice day, says CM Stalin|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/tn-govt-celebrate-periyars-birth-anniversary-social-justice-day-7491947/|access-date=2021-09-08|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref>

Ramasamy joined the [[Indian National Congress]] in 1919, but resigned in 1925 when he felt that the party was only serving the interests of [[Brahmin]]s. He questioned the subjugation of non-Brahmin Dravidians as Brahmins enjoyed gifts and donations from non-Brahmins but opposed and discriminated against non-Brahmins in cultural and religious matters.<ref name="Kandasamy">{{cite book|title=Fuzzy and Neutrosophic Analysis of E.V. Ramasamy's Views on Untouchability|author=Kandasamy, W.B. Vansantha|author2=Florentin Smarandache|author3=K. Kandasamy|year=2005|publisher=HEXIS: Phoenix|page=106|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=hgb-MKcsSR0C|isbn=978-1-931233-00-2}}</ref> In 1924, Ramasamy participated in non-violent agitation ([[satyagraha]]) in [[Vaikom]], [[Travancore]].<ref>{{Cite news|last=Athiyaman|first=Pazha|date=2019-12-24|title=Periyar, the hero of Vaikom|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/periyar-the-hero-of-vaikom/article30383014.ece|access-date=2021-08-09|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> From 1929 to 1932 Ramasamy made a tour of [[British Malaya]], [[Europe]], and [[Soviet Union]] which influenced him.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/blogs/tracking-indian-communities/as-tamil-nadu-celebrated-periyars-birthday-on-september-17-we-recall-the-impact-of-his-foreign-trips/ | title=As Tamil Nadu celebrated Periyar's birthday on September 17, we recall the impact of his foreign trips | publisher=[[The Times of India]] | work=G Olivannan | date=20 September 2016 | access-date=4 September 2020}}</ref> In 1939, Ramasamy became the head of the [[Justice Party (India)|Justice Party]], and in 1944, he changed its name to ''Dravidar Kazhagam''. The party later split with one group led by [[C. N. Annadurai]] forming the [[Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (DMK) in 1949.<ref name="Pandian">Pandian, J., (1987). ''Caste, Nationalism, and Ethnicity''. Popular Prakashan Private Ltd.: Bombay. pp. 62, 64. {{ISBN|0861321367}}.</ref> While continuing the Self-Respect Movement, he advocated for an independent [[Dravida Nadu]] (land of the Dravidians).<ref name="Chatterjee">Chatterjee, Debi [1981] (2004) ''Up Against Caste: Comparative study of Ambedkar and Periyar''. Rawat Publications: Chennai. pp. 40-42. {{ISBN|978-81-7033-860-4}}</ref>

Erode Venkata Ramasamy was born on 17 September 1879 to a [[Kannada]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/statue-wars-who-was-periyar-and-why-does-he-trigger-sentiment-in-tamil-nadu/articleshow/63200079.cms?from=mdr|title=Ramasamy Periyar &#124; Tamil Nadu: Statue wars - Who was Periyar and why does he trigger sentiment in Tamil Nadu?|via=The Economic Times}}</ref> [[Balija]] merchant family<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GEPYbuzOwcQC&pg=PA401|title=Women and Social Reform in Modern India: A Reader|last1=Sarkar|first1=Sumit|last2=Sarkar|first2=Tanika|date=2008|publisher=Indiana University Press|isbn=9780253352699|pages=401|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ifuwDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA100|title=The Caste of Merit: Engineering Education in India|last=Subramanian|first=Ajantha|date=2019|publisher=Harvard University Press|isbn=9780674987883|pages=100|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1IS0AAAAIAAJ|title=Women and Politics|last=Mahapatra|first=Subhasini|date=2001|publisher=Rajat Publications|isbn=9788178800233|pages=211|language=en}}</ref> in [[Erode]], then a part of the [[Coimbatore district]] of the [[Madras Presidency]].<ref name="Allahabad P.175">Journal of Indian history, Volume 54, University of Allahabad, p. 175</ref> Ramasamy's father was Venkatappa Nayakar (or Venkata), and his mother was Chinnathyee, Muthammal. He had one elder brother named Krishnaswamy and two sisters named Kannamma and Ponnuthoy.<ref name="Periyar">{{cite web|title=About Periyar: A Biographical Sketch from 1879 to 1909|url=http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_bios_eng1.asp|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050710000455/http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_bios_eng1.asp|archive-date=10 July 2005|access-date=4 January 2015|publisher=Dravidar Kazhagam}}</ref><ref name="Allahabad P.175"/> He later came to be known as "Periyar" meaning 'respected one' or 'elder' in the [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref name="Periyar" /><ref>{{Cite book|title=Periyar|last=Muthukumar|first=R.|publisher=Kizhaku Pathipakam|year=2008|isbn=9788184930337|location=Tamilnadu|pages=15}}</ref><ref name=Arooran-1>{{cite book | last = Arooran| first = K. Nambi |title = Tamil renaissance and Dravidian nationalism, 1905–1944| year = 1980| page = 152}}</ref><ref name="Vicuvanātan-1">{{cite book | last = Vicuvanātan| first = Ī. Ca|title = The political career of E.V. Ramasami: a study in the politics of Tamil Nadu, 1920–1949| year = 1983| page = 23}}</ref><ref name="balija">Merchant Caste of Telugu Ancestry who descended from the migrant commanders of [[Vijayanagar Empire]]</ref>

In 1929, Ramasamy announced the deletion of his caste title ''Naicker'' from his name at the First Provincial Self-Respect Conference of [[Chengalpattu]].<ref name="Saraswathi-1">[[#Saraswathi|Saraswathi]], p. 6.</ref> He could speak two [[Dravidian language]]s: Kannada and [[Tamil language|Tamil]].<ref name="tamilnation.co">{{cite web|url=http://tamilnation.co/books/Politics/venkatesan.htm|title=E V Ramasamy Naickarin Marupakkam - M Venkatesan|publisher=tamilnation.co|access-date=4 January 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306182513/http://tamilnation.co/books/Politics/venkatesan.htm|archive-date=6 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="periyar">{{cite web|url=http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_sayings_eng.asp|title=Periyar.org|publisher=periyar.org|access-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141220050209/http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_sayings_eng.asp|archive-date=20 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="google">{{cite book|title=Periyar: A Political Biography of E.V. Ramaswamy|author=Jeyaraman, B.|date=2013|publisher=Rupa Publications India Pvt. Ltd|isbn=9788129132260|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKSeAwAAQBAJ|access-date=4 January 2015}}</ref><ref name="hindustantimes">{{cite web|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/nm10/tamil-pride-what-s-that/article1-93594.aspx|title=Tamil pride: What?s that? - Hindustan Times|publisher=hindustantimes.com|access-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929182708/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news-feed/nm10/tamil-pride-what-s-that/article1-93594.aspx|archive-date=29 September 2014}}</ref><ref name="Periyar-3">{{cite web|url= http://www.Periyar.org/html/ap_sayings_eng.asp|title= About Periyar: Revolutionary Sayings|access-date= 30 November 2008|publisher= Dravidar Kazhagam|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20081226131628/http://www.periyar.org/html/ap_sayings_eng.asp|archive-date= 26 December 2008|df= dmy-all}}</ref> Ramasamy attended school for five years after which he joined his father's trade at the age of 12. He used to listen to Tamil [[Vaishnavite]] [[guru]]s who gave discourses in his house enjoying his father's hospitality. At a young age, he began questioning the apparent contradictions in the [[Hindu mythology|Hindu mythological]] stories.<ref name="Periyar" /> As Ramasamy grew, he felt that people used religion only as a mask to deceive innocent people and therefore took it as one of his duties in life to warn people against superstitions and priests.<ref name="Veeramani2-1">[[#Veeramani1992|Veeramani 1992]], Introduction – xi.</ref>

According to the prevalent caste system in Kerala and the rest of India, low-caste Hindus were denied entry into temples. In Kerala, they were denied permission to walk on the roads that led to the temples also. (Kerala state was formed in 1956; earlier it was broadly divided into Malabar (North Kerala), Cochin and Travancore kingdoms).

 

In the Kakinada meet of the Congress Party in 1923, T K Madhavan presented a report citing the discrimination faced by the depressed castes in Kerala. That session decided to promote movements against untouchability.

In Kerala, a committee was formed comprising people of different castes to fight untouchability in the region. The committee was chaired by K Kelappan; the rest of the members were T K Madhavan, Velayudha Menon, Kurur Neelakantan Namboodiripad and T R Krishnaswami Iyer. In February 1924, they decided to launch a ‘Keralaparyatanam’ to gain temple entry and also the right to use public roads for every Hindu irrespective of caste or creed.

In Vaikom, a small town in Kerala state, then [[Travancore]], there were strict laws of [[untouchability]] in and around the temple area. [[Dalits]], also known as [[Harijans]], were not allowed into the close streets around and leading to the temple, let alone inside it. Anti-caste feelings were growing and in 1924 Vaikom was chosen as a suitable place for an organised ''[[Satyagraha]].'' Under his guidance a movement had already begun with the aim of giving all castes the right to enter the temples. Thus, agitations and demonstrations took place. On 14 April, Ramasamy and his wife Nagamma arrived in Vaikom. They were immediately arrested and imprisoned for participation. In spite of Gandhi's objection to non-Keralites and non-Hindus taking part, Ramasamy and his followers continued to give support to the movement until it was withdrawn. He received the title ''Vaikom Veeran'', given by his followers who participated in the [[Satyagraha]].<ref>[[#Diehl|Diehl]], pp. 22–24</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Kent, David |title=Periyar |publisher=ACA |url=http://www.atheist-community.org/library/articles/read.php?id=710 |access-date=21 June 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100615212743/http://atheist-community.org/library/articles/read.php?id=710 |archive-date=15 June 2010}}</ref><ref name="rereadingperiyar">{{cite news|title=Re-reading Periyar|author=Ravikumar|date=2 March 2006|url=http://www.countercurrents.org/dalit-ravikumar020306.htm|publisher=Countercurrents|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201142502/http://countercurrents.org/dalit-ravikumar020306.htm|archive-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>

The movement gained all-India prominence and support came from far and wide. The Akalis of Punjab lend their support by setting up kitchens to provide food to the Satyagrahis. Even Christian and Muslim leaders came forward for support. This was shunned by Gandhiji who wanted the movement to be an intra-Hindu affair. On advice from Gandhiji, the movement was withdrawn temporarily in April 1924. After the talks with caste-Hindus failed, the leaders resumed the movement. Leaders T K Madhavan and K P Kesava Menon were arrested. Ramasamy came from Tamil Nadu to give his support. He was arrested.

 

On 1 October 1924, a group of [[Savarna (Hinduism)|Savarnas]] marched in a procession and submitted a petition to the Regent Maharani Sethulakshmi Bai of Travancore with about 25000 signatures for temple entry to everyone. Gandhiji also met with the Regent Maharani. This procession of savarnas was led by Mannath Padmanabhan Nair. Starting with about 500 people at Vaikom, the number increased to about 5000 when the procession reached Thiruvananthapuram in November 1924.

Ramasamy and his followers campaigned constantly to influence and pressure the government to take measures to remove social inequality (abolish untouchability, manual scavenging system etc.), even while other nationalist forerunners focused on the struggle for political independence. The Self-Respect Movement was described from the beginning as "dedicated to the goal of giving non-Brahmins a sense of pride based on their Dravidian past".<ref name="Diehl-3">[[#Diehl|Diehl]], pp. 77-78</ref>

Between 1929 and 1935, under the strain of the [[Great Depression]], political thinking worldwide received a jolt from the spread of international communism.<ref name="Saraswathi-1.1555">[[Periyar#Saraswathi|Saraswathi]], p. 54.</ref> Indian political parties, movements and considerable sections of leadership were also affected by inter-continental ideologies. The Self-Respect Movement also came under the influence of the leftist philosophies and institutions. Ramasamy, after establishing the ''Self-Respect Movement'' as an independent institution, began to look for ways to strengthen it politically and socially. To accomplish this, he studied the history and politics of different countries, and personally observed these systems at work.<ref name="Saraswathi-1.1555"/>

====DMK And AIADMK====

{{Main|Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}} {{Main|All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}

In 1949, Ramasamy's chief lieutenant, [[Conjeevaram Natarajan Annadurai]], established a separate association called the ''Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam'' (DMK), or Dravidian Progressive Federation.<ref name="Pandian"/> This was due to differences between the two, while Ramasamy advocated a separate independent Dravidian or Tamil state, Annadurai compromised with the Delhi government, at the same time claiming increased state independence.<ref>[[#Diehl|Diehl]], p. 29.</ref> Ramasamy was convinced that individuals and movements that undertake the task of eradicating the social evils in the Indian sub-continent have to pursue the goal with devotion and dedication without deviating from the path and with uncompromising zeal. Thus, if they contest elections aiming to assume political power, they would lose vigour and a sense of purpose. But among his followers, there were those who had a different view, wanting to enter into politics and have a share in running the government. They were looking for an opportunity to part with Ramasamy.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} Thus, when Ramasamy married Maniammai on 9 July 1948, they quit the ''Dravidar Kazhagam'', stating that Ramasamy married Maniammayar who was the daughter of Kanagasabhai when he was 70 and she 32. Those who parted company with Ramasamy joined the DMK.<ref name="periyar_tamilnation"/> Though the DMK split from the ''Dravidar Kazhagam'', the organisation made efforts to carry on Ramasamy's Self-Respect Movement to villagers and urban students. The DMK advocated the thesis that the Tamil language was much richer than [[Sanskrit]] and [[Hindi]] in content, and thus was a key which opened the door to subjects to be learned.<ref name="Pandian"/> The ''Dravidar Kazhagam'' continued to counter Brahminism, Indo-Aryan propaganda, and uphold the Dravidians' right of [[self-determination]].<ref name="Geetha">Geetha, V.; S.V. Rajadurai, (1987). ''Towards a Non-Brahmin Millennium: From Iyothee Thass to Periyar''. M. Sen for SAMYA: Calcutta, p.&nbsp;481. {{ISBN|978-81-85604-37-4}}.</ref> In 1972, Ramaswami's devotee [[M.G.Ramachadaran]] launched [[All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]].

Ramasamy spent over fifty years giving speeches, propagating the realisation that everyone is an equal citizen and the differences on the basis of caste and creed were man-made to keep the innocent and ignorant as underdogs in the society. Although Ramasamy's speeches were targeted towards the illiterate and more mundane masses, scores of educated people were also swayed.<ref name="Gopalakrishnan-8">[[#Gopalakrishnan|Gopalakrishnan]], pp. 59-60.</ref> Ramasamy viewed reasoning as a special tool. According to him, all were blessed with this tool, but very few used it. Thus Ramasamy used reasoning with respect to subjects of social interest in his presentations to his audiences.<ref name="Gopalakrishnan-8"/> Communal differences in [[Tamil people|Tamil society]] were considered by many to be deep-rooted features until Ramasamy came to the scene.<ref name="Gopalakrishnan-15">[[#Gopalakrishnan|Gopalakrishnan]], pp. 45–49.</ref>

Ramasamy was a radical advocate of [[anti-Brahmanism]]. Ramasamy's ideology of anti-Brahmanism is quite often confused as being anti-Brahmin. Even a non-Brahmin who supports inequality based on caste was seen as a supporter of brahmanism. Ramasamy called on both Brahmins and non-Brahmins to shun brahmanism.

According to the booklet "Gandhi and Periyar", Ramasamy wrote in his paper ''Kudi Arasu'' in 1925, reporting on the fact that Gandhi was ousted from the [[Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha|Mahasabha]] because he opposed resolutions for the maintaining of caste and Untouchability Laws which would spoil his efforts to bring about [[Hindu-Muslim unity]]. From this, Gandhi learned the need for pleasing the Brahmins if anything was to be achieved.<ref name="Diehl-17">[[#Diehl|Diehl]], pp. 86–88</ref>

Ramasamy was generally regarded{{by whom|date=April 2019}} as a [[pragmatism|pragmatic]] propagandist who attacked the evils of religious influence on society, mainly what he regarded as Brahmin domination. At a young age, he felt that some people used religion only as a mask to deceive innocent people and regarded it as his life's mission to warn people against superstitions and priests.<ref name="Veeramani2-1"/> Anita Diehl explains that Ramasamy cannot be called an atheist philosopher. Ramasamy, however, qualified what the term "atheist" implies in his address on philosophy. He repudiated the term as without real sense: "....the talk of the atheist should be considered thoughtless and erroneous. The thing I call god... that makes all people equal and free, the god that does not stop free thinking and research, the god that does not ask for money, flattery and temples can certainly be an object of worship. For saying this much I have been called an atheist, a term that has no meaning".

Ramasamy openly suggested to those who were [[marginalised]] within the Hindu [[communities]] to consider [[converting]] to other faiths such as [[Islam]], Christianity, or [[Buddhism]]. On Islam, he stated how it was good for abolishing the disgrace in human relationship, based on one of his speeches to railway employees at [[Tiruchirapalli]] in 1947. Ramasamy also commended Islam for its belief in one invisible and formless God; for proclaiming equal rights for men and women; and for advocating social unity.<ref name="Diehl6">[[#Diehl|Diehl]], p. 52</ref>

Apart from Islam and Christianity, Ramasamy also found in Buddhism a basis for his philosophy, though he did not accept that religion. It was again an alternative in the search for self-respect and the object was to get [[liberty|liberation]] from the discrimination of Hinduism.<ref name="Saraswathi-3.9">

</ref> The fact that Buddha denied the classical Hindu concepts of Brahman, “god” and Atman soul, appealed to Periyar and so also the fact that Buddha-Bodhi could be interpreted as wisdom, sense and that early Buddhism thus advocated reason or enlightenment. Periyar linked this interpretation with his rationalist concepts.<ref>Diehl, ''E.V. Ramasamy Naiker-Periyar'', p. 53.</ref> Periyar found in Buddism a basis for his philosophy though he did not accept that religion as self-respect movement. The search for basis began in the course of the movement and was intensified soon after independence. It was again an experiment in the search for self-respect and the object was to get liberation from the shudrahood of Hinduism. Periyar stated that what he was propagating could be found in the teachings of Buddha given 2000 years ago and wanted to revive them as an independent movement. Ramasamy claimed that Buddha Vihars at Srirangam, Kanchi, Palani and Tirupati were converted into Hindu temples.<ref>

[[#Saraswathi|Saraswathi]], p. 125.

</ref>

Over the years, Ramasamy influenced Tamil Nadu's political party heads such as [[C.N. Annadurai]]<ref name="periyar_tamilnation"/> and [[M. Karunanidhi]]<ref name=Karunanidhi>{{cite web |title=Periyar's philosophy relevant even today: Karunanidhi |work=The Hindu |date=9 August 2007 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/08/09/stories/2007080961180800.htm |access-date=17 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227183950/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/08/09/stories/2007080961180800.htm |archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> of the ''Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam''' (DMK), [[M. G. Ramachandran]] And [[J. Jayalalithaa]] of ''All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam'' (AIADMK),  [[V. Gopalswamy]]<ref name="Vaiko">{{cite web |url=http://www.vaiko-mdmk.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040524180540/http://www.vaiko-mdmk.com/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=24 May 2004 |title=Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam |access-date=16 December 2008 |publisher=Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam}}</ref><ref name="Vaiko2">{{cite web|title=POTA misuse will be main poll issue: Vaiko |date=8 February 2004 |url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/08/stories/2004020805710400.htm |access-date=17 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227125347/http://www.hindu.com/2004/02/08/stories/2004020805710400.htm |work=[[The Hindu]] |archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> founder of the [[Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam]] (MDMK), [[S. Ramadoss]]<ref name=Ramadoss>{{cite web |title=Busts of Marx, Periyar, Ambedkar opened |work=The Hindu |date=19 September 2007 |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091953220300.htm |access-date=17 December 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227110805/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2007/09/19/stories/2007091953220300.htm |archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> founder of the [[Pattali Makkal Katchi]] (PMK), [[Thirumavalavan|Thol. Thirumavalavan]], founder of the [[Dalit Panthers of India]] (DPI), and ''Dravidar Kazhagam's'' K. Veeramani.<ref name="veeramani_tamilnation">{{Cite web|author=Veeramani, K. |title=International Convention for Solidarity with Eelam Tamils of Sri Lanka, 1997 – Nothing but, Genocide |publisher=TamilNation.org |url=http://www.tamilnation.org/conferences/India97/veeramani.htm |access-date=17 December 2008 |year=1997}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref> Nationally, Ramasamy is main ideological icon for India's third largest voted party, [[Bahujan Samaj Party]]<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/report/no-law-prevents-me-from-installing-statues-mayawati/20100316.htm|title=No law stops me from installing statues: Mayawati|work=Rediff|date=16 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/states/uttar-pradesh/story/19950930-ties-between-mayawati-and-bjp-hit-new-low-as-kalyan-singh-attacks-her-government-808202-1995-09-30|title=Ties between Mayawati and BJP hit new low as Kalyan Singh attacks her government|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref> and its founder [[Kanshi Ram]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19951015-kanshi-ram-retains-his-fire-despite-periyar-mela-failure-807820-1995-10-15|title=Kanshi Ram retains his fire despite 'Periyar' Mela's failure|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref> Other political figures influenced by Ramasamy were former Congress minister [[K. Kamaraj]],<ref name="periyar_tamilnation"/> former [[Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh]] [[Mayawati]].<ref name=DNAIndia>{{cite web |author=IANS |title=Mayawati pursuing another dream – Periyar statue in Lucknow |publisher=DNA India |date=28 July 2007 |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1112254 |access-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227051620/http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1112254 |archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> Ramasamy's life and teachings have also influenced writers and poets such as [[Kavignar Inkulab]], and [[Bharathidasan]]<ref>[[#Diehl|Diehl]], p. 81.</ref> and actors such as [[Kamal Haasan]]<ref name=Indiaglitz*>{{cite web |title='Periyar' Audio Launch |publisher=indiaglitz |date=25 December 2006 |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/events/11200.html |access-date=16 December 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090104173111/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/gallery/Events/11200.html |archive-date=4 January 2009}}</ref> and [[Sathyaraj]].<ref name=CineSouth>{{cite web|title=Sathyaraj gets Periyar Award|work=Cine South|date=30 December 2006|url=http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/30122006-2.shtml|access-date=17 December 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090227114900/http://www.cinesouth.com/masala/hotnews/new/30122006-2.shtml|archive-date=27 February 2009}}</ref> Noted Tamil Comedian [[NS Krishnan|N. S. Krishnan]] was a close friend and follower of Ramasamy.<ref name="www.kalaivanar.com">{{cite web|title=Kalaivanar and his Contemporaries |publisher=www.kalaivanar.com |year=2009|url=http://www.kalaivanar.com/kalaivanar-contemporaries.html|access-date=6 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100823042357/http://www.kalaivanar.com/kalaivanar-contemporaries.html|archive-date=23 August 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Ravindran|first=Gopalan|title=Remembering Theena Muna Kana, N.S.Krishnan and the Camouflaged Narrative Devices of Tamil Political Cinema|url=http://blogs.widescreenjournal.org/?p=1592|work=Wide Screen Journal|access-date=6 July 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705160107/http://blogs.widescreenjournal.org/?p=1592|archive-date=5 July 2010}}</ref> [[W. P. A. Soundarapandian Nadar]] was a close confidant of Ramasamy and encouraged Nadars to be a part of the Self-Respect Movement.<ref name="The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India">{{cite book | title=The Modernity of Tradition: Political Development in India| year=1984| publisher=University of Chicago| isbn=978-0-226-73137-7|page=48| author8=Lloyd I. Rudolph and Susanne Hoeber Rudolph}}</ref><ref name="India's Silent Revolution">{{cite book | title=India's Silent Revolution: The Rise of the Lower Castes in North India|author=Jaffrelot, Christophe | year=1984| publisher=Hurst & Co.| isbn=978-1-85065-670-8|page=167}}</ref> A writer from [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Lalai Singh Yadav]] translated Ramasamy's notable works into [[Hindi]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/these-unsung-dalit-writers-fuelled-bsps-culture-politics/articleshow/55151155.cms|title=These unsung Dalit writers fuelled BSP's culture politics|last=Ghosh|first=Avijit|date=31 October 2016|work=The Economic Times|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forwardpress.in/2016/09/lalai-singh-yadav-fiery-hero-of-rebel-consciousness/|title=Lalai Singh Yadav: Fiery hero of rebel consciousness|date=24 September 2016|work=Forward Press|access-date=11 July 2018|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.modernrationalist.com/2010/november/page06.html|title=PERIYAR REMEMBERED IN PATNA|website=www.modernrationalist.com|access-date=11 July 2018}}</ref>

[[Sathyaraj]] and [[Khushboo Sundar]] starred in a government-sponsored film ''[[Periyar (2007 film)|Periyar]]'' released in 2007. Directed by [[Gnana Rajasekaran]], the film was screened in [[Malaysia]] on 1 May 2007 and was screened at the Goa International Film Festival in November that year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Periyar premiere in Malaysia. |date=30 April 2007 |work=IndiaGlitz.com |url=http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/30835.html |access-date=28 November 2008 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228053437/http://www.indiaglitz.com/channels/tamil/article/30835.html |archive-date=28 February 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Periyar and Ammuvagiya Naan at the International Film Festival |date=19 October 2007 |work=Chennai365.com |url=http://www.chennai365.com/news/periyar-and-ammuvagiya-naan-at-the-international-film-festival/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080105071624/http://www.chennai365.com/news/periyar-and-ammuvagiya-naan-at-the-international-film-festival/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=5 January 2008 |access-date=28 November 2008}}</ref> [[Sathyaraj]] reprised his role as Ramasamy in the film ''[[Kalavadiya Pozhudugal]]'' directed by [[Thangar Bachan]] which released in 2017.<ref name="sify">{{cite web|url=http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14900379|title=Kalavadiya Pozhudugal|access-date=4 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090722090934/http://sify.com/movies/tamil/fullstory.php?id=14900379|archive-date=22 July 2009}}</ref>