More Dangerous Than Ever: Periyar’s Legacy in Contemporary Politics

Abstract

This paper critically examines the ideals and activism of Erode Venkata Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, with particular attention to his anti-religious iconoclasm, critique of nationalism, and proto-feminist advocacy, emphasizing their relevance to current discourses on secularism, caste and gender justice. It explores the philosophical foundations of Periyar’s thought, his line of activism and the enduring impact of his relentless crusade against social inequality in the colonial and postcolonial India.   Highlighting Periyar’s atheistic rationalism and his uncompromising commitment to egalitarianism, this paper contends that his movement represents one of the most audacious and transformative confrontations to religious, patriarchal, and nationalist ideologies in modern Indian history. In today’s India, where reason is suppressed and dissent silenced, Periyar’s legacy stands as a bold and enduring testament to fearless resistance against oppressive power. Shunning the path of compromising reformists, Periyar launches a fierce and uncompromising revolt against religious, caste and gender orthodoxies- offering a radically new vision for social reconstruction and equality. As religious orthodoxy and pseudoscience reshape social discourse and history is selectively erased, reclaiming Periyar’s legacy affirms the enduring power of informed resistance. This study, through a multidisciplinary lens, interrogates the legacy, contradictions, and relevance of Periyar’s thought as a bold challenge to entrenched religious, social and political orthodoxies. This paper concludes that Periyar’s crusade against social inequality remains a foundational chapter in India’s pursuit of social equity and reform.