Periyar E.V. Ramasamy, in his later years, pushed for Tamil script simplification to remove Sanskrit influences and promote equality. His provocative stances, including mourning Independence Day and burning national symbols, highlighted tensions between Dravidian ideals and national unity. These efforts shaped Tamil Nadu’s distinct political identity ahead of the 2026 elections.
Tamil Nadu remains a stronghold of regionalism, resisting national parties like Congress in 1967 and BJP in recent elections from 2014 to 2024. This series by TR Jawahar explores the state’s unique political culture through Periyar’s legacy. In his final decade, Periyar targeted the Tamil script, viewing it as embedded with a 'Sanskritic Trojan Horse.' He proposed simplifying the alphabet by removing complex characters like ணை, ணா, and லை to ease typesetting and learning, aiming to democratize literacy and strip elitist barriers.
Periyar’s 'Periyar Tamil' rejected Manipravalam, the Sanskrit-infused style, favoring punchy prose for workers and farmers. This reform sought de-Sanskritization to restore Tamil’s glory and simplification to end punditry. In 1943, he called for burning Kamba Ramayana and Periya Puranam, sparking a split with Saivites like Marai Malai Adigal, who saw it as vandalism of Tamil heritage.
On August 15, 1947, Periyar declared Independence a 'Day of Mourning,' stating, 'It is just a swap of masters... from British boots to Brahmin brains.' He envisioned Dravida Nadu free from Hindi hegemony. In 1950, he burned the Indian Constitution, calling it a 'tool to enslave the non-Brahmins.' In 1957, he urged burning Gandhi’s pictures, claiming, 'We were cheated by Gandhi... his non-violence was merely a shroud for the preservation of the Varna order.'
Nehru wrote to Chief Minister K. Kamaraj, describing Periyar’s words as those of a 'criminal or a lunatic' and suggesting sedition charges or asylum. Kamaraj ignored this, valuing Periyar’s role. Periyar spent his last years traveling in a van, delivering speeches from a wheelchair, and died on December 24, 1973, at age 94. His state funeral underscored the irony of an atheist becoming idolized, with statues across towns.
Periyar pioneered Dravidian progress, breaking caste barriers and advancing education and welfare. Critics note his slurs against Brahmins veered into racism and his tone-deaf remarks on women. His protégé Anna built on this foundation, though predeceasing him. Periyar’s influence persists in quota debates and federal tensions.