In News:

In a significant event for both Kerala and Tamil Nadu, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin are set to reunite at Vaikom, to inaugurate the extensively renovated memorial dedicated to Tamil reformist E.V. Ramasami Naicker, popularly known as Thanthai Periyar. This marks a historic occasion over a year and a half after they jointly inaugurated the centenary celebrations of the Vaikom Satyagraha.

Key Highlights:

Memorial History and Significance:

• Established: January 1994
• Location: 70-cent property near Valiyakavala Junction, Vaikom
• Ownership: Tamil Nadu Government
• Periyar Statue: Installed in 1985 on 84 cents of land provided by Kerala government; remains the centerpiece.
• Historical Neglect: The memorial suffered from years of neglect before the renovation.

Role of Periyar in Vaikom Satyagraha:

• Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–1925):
  • First organized movement for the rights of the ‘untouchable’ communities in India.
  • Led by prominent leaders like T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, and K. Kelappan.
  • Periyar, alongside his wife Nagamma, joined the movement, seeking access to public roads leading to the Sri Mahadeva Temple in Vaikom.
  • Periyar’s Contribution:
    • Was imprisoned twice for his participation in the movement.
    • Honored with the title Vaikom Veeran for his leadership.
• Impact: The movement played a crucial role in securing social equality for all sections of society.

Periyar’s Legacy:

• Self-Respect Movement: Founded by Periyar to promote social equality and eliminate caste-based discrimination.
• Dravidar Kazhagam: A political and social organization founded by Periyar, advocating for the rights of the Dravidian people.
• Father of the Dravidian Movement: Periyar’s philosophy and activism laid the foundation for the Dravidian political ideology and social reforms in Tamil Nadu.