{"id":2893,"date":"2026-04-23T08:06:45","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T02:36:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/?p=2893"},"modified":"2026-04-23T08:06:47","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T02:36:47","slug":"who-among-the-following-was-the-founder-of-the-self-respect-movement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/upsc\/prelims\/who-among-the-following-was-the-founder-of-the-self-respect-movement","title":{"rendered":"Who among the following was the founder of the \u2018Self-Respect Movement\u2019?\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list mcq\">\n<li>Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dr. B. R. Ambedkar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Bhaskarrao Jadhav\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dinkarrao Javalkar\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Answer: (a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker&nbsp;<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h5 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"selfrespect-movement\"><strong>Self-Respect Movement<\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>E. V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) (1879\u20131973)<\/strong>&nbsp;was a prominent&nbsp;<strong>social reformer and political leader from Tamil Nadu<\/strong>, widely regarded as the&nbsp;<strong>father of the Dravidian movement<\/strong>. He strongly opposed&nbsp;<strong>caste hierarchy, Brahminical dominance, and social inequality<\/strong>&nbsp;prevalent in South Indian society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Periyar was a&nbsp;<strong>vocal critic of the caste system and religious orthodoxy<\/strong>. He advocated&nbsp;<strong>social justice, rationalism, women\u2019s rights, and the upliftment of non-Brahmin communities<\/strong>. A firm believer in&nbsp;<strong>atheism and rational thinking<\/strong>, he rejected traditional religious practices that he believed reinforced caste discrimination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In&nbsp;<strong>1925<\/strong>, Periyar founded the&nbsp;<strong>Self-Respect Movement<\/strong>&nbsp;in Tamil Nadu. The movement aimed to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Promote self-respect and dignity among non-Brahmin communities<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Challenge Brahminical social dominance and caste-based oppression<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Encourage rationalism and oppose superstition and social orthodoxy<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Advocate women\u2019s rights<\/strong>, including widow remarriage and equal social status<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Promote\u00a0<strong>Self-Respect marriages<\/strong>, which rejected Brahmin priests and caste rituals<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Self-Respect Movement played a crucial role in shaping the&nbsp;<strong>Dravidian socio-political movement<\/strong>, which later influenced major regional political parties such as the&nbsp;<strong>Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)<\/strong>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<strong>All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)<\/strong>&nbsp;in Tamil Nadu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Thus, the&nbsp;<strong>Self-Respect Movement (1925)<\/strong>&nbsp;was founded by&nbsp;<strong>E. V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar)<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dr-b-r-ambedkar\">Dr. B. R. Ambedkar<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr.&nbsp;<strong>Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar<\/strong>&nbsp;was the foremost leader of the&nbsp;<strong>Depressed Classes (Dalits)<\/strong>&nbsp;and a powerful advocate of&nbsp;<strong>social equality, political representation, and the abolition of caste discrimination<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Major Movements and Initiatives:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924):<\/strong>\u00a0Founded to promote\u00a0<strong>education, socio-political awareness, and economic upliftment of the Depressed Classes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Mahad Satyagraha (1927):<\/strong>\u00a0A historic movement asserting the\u00a0<strong>right of untouchables to draw water from the public Chavdar Tank in Mahad (Maharashtra)<\/strong>. It symbolized the struggle for\u00a0<strong>equal civic rights<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Temple Entry Movements:<\/strong>\u00a0Ambedkar led several campaigns demanding\u00a0<strong>equal access of Dalits to Hindu temples<\/strong>, including the\u00a0<strong>Kalaram Temple Entry Movement (1930)<\/strong>\u00a0in Nashik.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Independent Labour Party (1936):<\/strong>\u00a0A political organisation formed to represent the interests of\u00a0<strong>workers, peasants, and marginalized communities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>All India Scheduled Castes Federation (1942):<\/strong>\u00a0Established to secure\u00a0<strong>political rights and representation for Scheduled Castes<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These movements formed the foundation of&nbsp;<strong>Dalit political assertion and social justice movements in modern India<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"bhaskarrao-jadhav\">Bhaskarrao Jadhav<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Bhaskarrao Jadhav<\/strong>&nbsp;was an important&nbsp;<strong>non-Brahmin leader and social reformer from Maharashtra<\/strong>, associated with the&nbsp;<strong>Non-Brahmin Movement<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Major Movement:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Non-Brahmin Movement in Maharashtra:<\/strong>\u00a0This movement aimed to\u00a0<strong>challenge Brahmin dominance in administration, education, and social institutions<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Objectives included:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Promoting\u00a0<strong>education among non-Brahmin communities<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Increasing\u00a0<strong>political representation for backward classes<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Opposing\u00a0<strong>social hierarchy based on caste<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Bhaskarrao Jadhav also worked closely with the&nbsp;<strong>Justice Party and other non-Brahmin political organisations<\/strong>&nbsp;advocating social reform and equality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h6 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dinkarrao-javalkar\">Dinkarrao Javalkar<\/h6>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Dinkarrao Javalkar<\/strong>&nbsp;was a&nbsp;<strong>social reformer, writer, and activist from Maharashtra<\/strong>, associated with the&nbsp;<strong>anti-caste and non-Brahmin movements<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Associated Movements:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Non-Brahmin Movement:<\/strong>\u00a0Javalkar actively supported the\u00a0<strong>struggle against caste hierarchy and Brahminical dominance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Satyashodhak tradition revival:<\/strong>\u00a0His ideas were influenced by\u00a0<strong>Jyotiba Phule\u2019s Satyashodhak Samaj<\/strong>, which promoted\u00a0<strong>social equality, rationalism, and education for oppressed communities<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He used&nbsp;<strong>writings, journalism, and public campaigns<\/strong>&nbsp;to mobilise people against&nbsp;<strong>social discrimination and caste oppression<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Leader<\/th><th>Major Movement<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>E. V. Ramasamy (Periyar)<\/strong><\/td><td>Self-Respect Movement (1925)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dr. B. R. Ambedkar<\/strong><\/td><td>Mahad Satyagraha, Temple Entry Movements, Dalit rights movements<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Bhaskarrao Jadhav<\/strong><\/td><td>Non-Brahmin Movement in Maharashtra<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Dinkarrao Javalkar<\/strong><\/td><td>Non-Brahmin \/ Satyashodhak-inspired social reform movement<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Answer: (a) Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker&nbsp; Self-Respect Movement E. V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar) (1879\u20131973)&nbsp;was a prominent&nbsp;social reformer and political leader from Tamil Nadu, widely regarded as the&nbsp;father of the Dravidian movement. He strongly opposed&nbsp;caste hierarchy, Brahminical dominance, and social inequality&nbsp;prevalent in South Indian society. Periyar was a&nbsp;vocal critic of the caste system and religious&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"_kad_post_classname":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3,1],"tags":[42],"years":[63],"class_list":["post-2893","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-prelims","category-upsc","tag-modern-history","years-63"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":3,"label":"Prelims"},{"value":1,"label":"UPSC"}],"post_tag":[{"value":42,"label":"Modern History"}],"years":[{"value":63,"label":"2025"}]},"featured_image_src_large":false,"author_info":{"display_name":"LotusArise","author_link":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/author\/team-lotusarise"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":3,"name":"Prelims","slug":"prelims","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":3,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":1,"count":1251,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":3,"category_count":1251,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Prelims","category_nicename":"prelims","category_parent":1},{"term_id":1,"name":"UPSC","slug":"upsc","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":1,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":1269,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":1,"category_count":1269,"category_description":"","cat_name":"UPSC","category_nicename":"upsc","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":[{"term_id":42,"name":"Modern History","slug":"modern-history","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42,"taxonomy":"post_tag","description":"","parent":0,"count":87,"filter":"raw"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2893","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2893"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2893\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2893"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2893"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2893"},{"taxonomy":"years","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lotusarise.com\/qna\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/years?post=2893"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}