Periyar E. V. Ramasamy: Life, Family, Caste and the Man Behind the Self-Respect Movement

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy remains one of the most influential social reformers in South Indian history — the founder of the Self-Respect Movement and a lifelong campaigner against caste discrimination. But beyond his political legacy, many readers come looking for something more specific: who exactly was Periyar's family, what was his caste, and what does the name "Periyar" actually mean? Here's a complete look at both his personal background and his public life.

What Is Periyar's Full Name?

Periyar was born Erode Venkata Ramasami Naicker on 17 September 1879, in the town of Erode, then part of the Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency. "Erode" refers to his birthplace, "Venkata" honors his father's name, and "Naicker" was his caste surname — which he later dropped entirely in 1929 as a symbolic rejection of caste identity. He is also widely known by the initials E. V. Ramasamy or E. V. R.

Who Was Periyar's Father? (Erode Venkata Naicker)

Periyar's father was Venkatappa Naicker, commonly referred to simply as Venkata Naicker or Erode Venkata Naicker. He was a wealthy and successful merchant in Erode, trading in goods such as brass vessels, hardware, and agricultural produce. Venkata Naicker was also known as a devout, orthodox Hindu of the Vaishnavite tradition, and it was in his household that a young Periyar first grew up surrounded by religious discourses and traditional practices — an upbringing he would later react strongly against.

Who Was Periyar's Mother?

Periyar's mother was Chinna Thayammal, also known by the alias Muthammal. She managed the household in Erode while Periyar's father ran the family business. Periyar had one elder brother, Krishnaswamy, and two sisters, Kannamma and Ponnuthoy.

What Caste Did Periyar Belong To?

Periyar was born into a Balija Naicker family — a prosperous, Kannada-speaking merchant community. The Balija community traces its origins to the Nayak chiefs of the Vijayanagara Empire, which had strong Telugu roots, which is why the caste is sometimes discussed in connection with Telugu-speaking communities such as the Perika Balija (Perika Naidu) caste found in Andhra Pradesh today — both trace back to a broader shared Balija/Naidu lineage, though they are considered distinct sub-communities.

Importantly, Periyar was not a Brahmin — in fact, his lifelong political and social campaign was built specifically around opposing Brahminical dominance and advocating for the rights of non-Brahmin communities in Tamil Nadu. In 1929, he formally dropped his caste surname "Naicker" from his name altogether as a public statement rejecting caste hierarchy.

Was Periyar Telugu? What Was His Mother Tongue?

Periyar could fluently speak three Dravidian languages: Kannada, Tamil, and Telugu. His actual mother tongue was Kannada, reflecting his family's Kannada-speaking Balija background, even though he spent his life and built his movement in Tamil-speaking Tamil Nadu, and predominantly used Tamil in his public life and writings. His caste's historical Telugu-Vijayanagara ancestry is why the "was Periyar Telugu" question comes up, though his direct native language was Kannada, not Telugu.

What Does "Periyar" Mean?

"Periyar" is a Tamil word meaning "respected one" or "elder." It was a title given to him in honor of his social work, and it's the name by which he became known to the wider world, distinct from his birth name. He is often referred to with the honorific "Thanthai Periyar," meaning "Father Periyar."

Periyar's Wife and Family Life

Periyar married his first wife, Nagammal, in 1898 when he was 19 years old. The couple had a daughter who lived for only a few months and passed away in infancy; they had no other children, meaning Periyar did not have a surviving son or daughter. Nagammal passed away in 1933. In July 1948, Periyar remarried — his second wife, Maniammai, worked closely alongside him in his social reform activities and continued leading his movement after his death in 1973.

Early Life and the Turning Point at Kashi

Periyar joined his father's trade at the age of 12 after five years of schooling. In 1904, he undertook a pilgrimage to Varanasi (Kashi) to worship at the famous Kashi Vishwanath temple. When he tried to enter a free-lunch hall meant only for Brahmins by disguising himself as one, he was discovered and turned away — only to later learn that the hall had actually been funded by a Dravidian (non-Brahmin) merchant's donation. This experience of caste discrimination at a place he had imagined would treat all Hindus equally became the turning point of his life, transforming him from a believing Hindu into a committed rationalist and anti-caste reformer.

Freedom Movement and the Congress Party (1919–1925)

Periyar joined the Indian National Congress in 1919, giving up his business and resigning from public posts, including the chairmanship of Erode Municipality. He threw himself into the constructive programme — promoting Khadi, picketing toddy shops, boycotting foreign cloth, and campaigning against untouchability. He was imprisoned in 1921 for picketing toddy shops in Erode, and was later arrested again during the Non-Cooperation and Temperance Movements. In 1922, he was elected President of the Madras Presidency Congress Committee. After his push for caste-based reservation in government jobs and education was rejected by the party, he resigned from Congress in 1925.

The Vaikom Struggle (1924–1925)

Periyar played a leading role in the Vaikom Satyagraha in the princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala), which fought for the right of all castes to access temple roads. As President of the Madras Presidency Congress Committee, he led the agitation after other leaders were arrested, and was himself arrested for his refusal to back down. Mahatma Gandhi later joined negotiations with the Queen of Travancore, resulting in an agreement to remove police restrictions on lower castes using the roads. In 1925, the Madras Presidency Congress formally honored Periyar with the title "Vaikom Veerar" (Vaikom Hero) for his contribution to the struggle.

The Self-Respect Movement (1925–1939)

After leaving Congress, Periyar and his followers dedicated themselves to campaigning for social equality, even as other nationalist leaders focused primarily on political independence from Britain. He was also an outspoken advocate for women's rights and education, criticizing the ways in which women of his era were confined to domestic roles, and pushed hard for their access to education and independence.

UNESCO Recognition

On 27 June 1970, UNESCO honored Periyar with the title "Prophet of the New Age, Socrates of South East Asia, Father of the Social Reform Movement, and Arch-Enemy of Ignorance, Superstitions, Meaningless Customs and Base Manners," presented by India's Union Education Minister Dr. Triguna Sen.

Legacy

Periyar passed away on 24 December 1973, having spent his entire life and personal wealth on social reform — he gave away his property to the public rather than leaving an inheritance. A university in Tamil Nadu, Periyar University, is named in his honor, and he remains one of the most significant figures in the history of India's anti-caste and social justice movements.