Who among the following was the founder of the ‘Self-Respect Movement’? 

• Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker   
• Dr. B. R. Ambedkar   
• Bhaskarrao Jadhav   
• Dinkarrao Javalkar   

Answer: (a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker 

Self-Respect Movement

E. V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) (1879–1973) was a prominent social reformer and political leader from Tamil Nadu, widely regarded as the father of the Dravidian movement. He strongly opposed caste hierarchy, Brahminical dominance, and social inequality prevalent in South Indian society.

Periyar was a vocal critic of the caste system and religious orthodoxy. He advocated social justice, rationalism, women’s rights, and the upliftment of non-Brahmin communities. A firm believer in atheism and rational thinking, he rejected traditional religious practices that he believed reinforced caste discrimination.

In 1925, Periyar founded the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu. The movement aimed to:

• Promote self-respect and dignity among non-Brahmin communities
• Challenge Brahminical social dominance and caste-based oppression
• Encourage rationalism and oppose superstition and social orthodoxy
• Advocate women’s rights, including widow remarriage and equal social status
• Promote Self-Respect marriages, which rejected Brahmin priests and caste rituals

The Self-Respect Movement played a crucial role in shaping the Dravidian socio-political movement, which later influenced major regional political parties such as the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) in Tamil Nadu.

Thus, the Self-Respect Movement (1925) was founded by E. V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar).

Dr. B. R. Ambedkar

Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar was the foremost leader of the Depressed Classes (Dalits) and a powerful advocate of social equality, political representation, and the abolition of caste discrimination.

Major Movements and Initiatives:

• Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924): Founded to promote education, socio-political awareness, and economic upliftment of the Depressed Classes.
• Mahad Satyagraha (1927): A historic movement asserting the right of untouchables to draw water from the public Chavdar Tank in Mahad (Maharashtra). It symbolized the struggle for equal civic rights.
• Temple Entry Movements: Ambedkar led several campaigns demanding equal access of Dalits to Hindu temples, including the Kalaram Temple Entry Movement (1930) in Nashik.
• Independent Labour Party (1936): A political organisation formed to represent the interests of workers, peasants, and marginalized communities.
• All India Scheduled Castes Federation (1942): Established to secure political rights and representation for Scheduled Castes.

These movements formed the foundation of Dalit political assertion and social justice movements in modern India.

Bhaskarrao Jadhav

Bhaskarrao Jadhav was an important non-Brahmin leader and social reformer from Maharashtra, associated with the Non-Brahmin Movement.

Major Movement:

• Non-Brahmin Movement in Maharashtra: This movement aimed to challenge Brahmin dominance in administration, education, and social institutions.

Objectives included:

• Promoting education among non-Brahmin communities
• Increasing political representation for backward classes
• Opposing social hierarchy based on caste

Bhaskarrao Jadhav also worked closely with the Justice Party and other non-Brahmin political organisations advocating social reform and equality.

Dinkarrao Javalkar

Dinkarrao Javalkar was a social reformer, writer, and activist from Maharashtra, associated with the anti-caste and non-Brahmin movements.

Associated Movements:

• Non-Brahmin Movement: Javalkar actively supported the struggle against caste hierarchy and Brahminical dominance.
• Satyashodhak tradition revival: His ideas were influenced by Jyotiba Phule’s Satyashodhak Samaj, which promoted social equality, rationalism, and education for oppressed communities.

He used writings, journalism, and public campaigns to mobilise people against social discrimination and caste oppression.