Self-respect movement
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The Self-Respect Movement is an atheistic movement that was called by Thanthai Periyar in Tamil Nadu state of India.
[edit] History
The movement had its roots in overthrowing caste-based suppression. Periyar's movement calls for all lower castes to reject caste-based submission. It also calls on the upper castes to integrate fully with the lower castes by accepting the equality of man.
The movement is sometimes percieved as a movement against Brahmins, and more generally as an anti-Hindu movement. Apart from neo-Buddhist Dalits, this movement had the support of the land-owning castes, which led to such a perception, as the Brahmins were the only ones not to support, or be part of the movement. The movement resulted in some amount of reverse discrimination against Brahmins such as increased reservations(affirmative action) for the lower castes.
Sociologists believe that this movement traditionally had the support of the Shudras and thus attempts to gain equality from the upper castes. Earlier this movement had not incorporated the Dalits. However after realising that Dalits would form another pillar in the struggle against caste-based oppression through democratic sanction, Dalits too were accepted in the movement.
This movement further declares that Hinduism is merely a group of superstitions and encourages atheism.
[edit] Periyar's sayings on self-respect
- Man must remove by himself his feeling of inferiority, the feeling that he is lesser born than other beings, and attain self-confidence and self-respect.
- We are fit to think of self-respect only when the notion of superior and inferior caste is banished from our land.
- He who does not care for dignity, is no better than to a prostitute, however highly educated he is. His education will only endanger those that care for dignity.
- The aim of genuine Self-respect movement is to change whatever appears to be adverse to man's feelings of self-respect.
- Man must remove by himself his feelings of inferiority, the feeling that he is lesser born than other beings, and attain self-confidence and self-respect.
- Man must hold his personal respect and dignity as precious as his life.
[edit] See also
| South Indian Society | |||
| Languages | Kannada - Kodava Takk - Malayalam - Tamil - Telugu - Tulu | ||
| Script | Kannada script - Malayalam script - Tamil script - Telugu script - Tulu script | ||
| Literature | Kannada literature - Malayalam literature - Tamil literature - Telugu literature - Tulu literature | ||
| People | Kannada people - Kodava people - Malayali people - Tamil people - Telugu people - Tulu people | ||
| Music | Carnatic Music - Ancient Tamil music | ||
| States | Andhra Pradesh - Karnataka - Kerala - Tamil Nadu | ||
| Related | South India - South Indian culture - Self-respect movement | ||
