SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENT - A BACKWARD CLASS MOVEMENT

A movement that took place in southern region of India to uplift the backward classes from the oppressed level and to bring them equal with the high castes in the society, who were enjoying all the privileges, can be proudly said as self-respect movement. This movement led by Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy in Tamil Nadu.

CONTEXT

This movement took place in Tamil Nadu in 1925, pre-independence era. When entire nation with nationalists were focusing on political freedom in form of independence from British, Periyar stressed the importance of upbringing the backward class and to enhance social reform in the society and believed that without attaining it, any other revolution or reform can be possible.

ORIGIN

It started with Periyar’s way out of congress party and joining Justice Party in the view of social reform. Latter became Dravidian Federation in 1945 and in 1949 it got split into Dravidian Progressive Federation. Both were focusing on self-respect movement and followed its ideology.

MAGNITUDE OF THE PROBLEM

It reached a large group of people not just Tamil Nadu but also other southern states like Kerala and countries like Malaysia, Singapore and Burma. It reached mass people when it became a non-brahmin movement including the commoners.

CAUSES

When Brahmin and non-brahmin boys were made to sit separately and eat in the school run by V.V.S.Iyer, a congress member and the explanations and solution given by the party members were not agreeable, Periyar started the self-respect movement.

COLLECTIVE MOBILISATION

A large group of non-brahmin supported this as it focused on them and by kindling the notion of self-respect. He was very much successful in mobilizing people through this mean.

GOAL

Ø  To demand more concessions and privileges in form of sanctions and reservations to surpass Brahmins in education and social status by the ‘backward classes’

Ø  To achieve “Swayam maryada” or “Self-respect”

Ø  To inculcate and disseminate the knowledge of political education

Ø  To abolish the existing evil social practices

IDEOLOGY

            A magic word of self-respect and dignity made the movement possible. It was simple and functioned better. Kindle the rational thinking of common man, agitate him/her for self-respect, it’ll take care the rest part. Stressed on self- respect to ignite the spirits of the people.

LEADERSHIP

            Primarily lead by Periyar E.V.Ramaswamy and his life partner Mrs. Nagammaiyar Ramaswamy. Later his followers Messer. S.Ramanathan, Pattukottai Alagirisami, C.N. Annadurai, Maniammaiyar Ramaswamy, Kalaignar Karunanidhi and many others led this movement.

STRATEGY

Went to the streets where untouchables and shudras were living and mobilized them towards the movement. Created awareness through journals, dailies, weeklies like Kudiarasu, Revolt, The Modern Rationalist, Viduthalai, Justice, Puratchi both in tamil and English. Propagandas and agitations were the weapons for the movement.

COURSE OF THE MOVEMENT

The movement was started as a backward class movement but in course time it also looked at women’s liberation and emancipation and self respect marriages (marriage without mangal sutra and Brahmin priest and rituals). Foundation of religion should be shattered to wither away the caste from the society

OUTCOMES OF THE CONSEQUENCES

The consequences of the movement were very severe from upper castes. They stoned at people of the conference, fired the conference pandal, greeting with old & worn-out chappals. But Periyar at any point did not leave the movement and continued it till getting the desired result out of it.

SOCIAL CHANGE

The self-respect movement had positive social change in Tamil Nadu. Some of them being: removal of caste surnames, encouraging inter-caste marriages and self-respect marriages, importance to language than to religion, atheism was openly accepted, third gender was officially recognized, women empowerment and above all reservation was sanctioned to the backward class people.