CBSE Class 8 Answered

E. V. Ramaswamy was known as ‘Periyar’. He hailed from a middle class family. He had studied Sanskrit scriptures in his childhood. He later joined Congress but left it when he saw separate seating arrangements for members according to their castes in one of the feasts organised by the party. He started the Self-Respect Movement. He contended that the untouchables were the original inhabitants of the land and upholders of the Dravidian culture and have been systematically suppressed by the Brahmins. He asked the lower castes to free themselves of all caste shackles and strive for social equality.

Periyar criticised Ramayana, Bhagvad Gita and the Codes of Manu. According to him, these texts were used for establishing the authority of the Brahmins over the people of lower castes.