Quotes & Sayings About Periyar

You cannot expect any rational thought from a religious man. He is like a rocking log in water . — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

It is absurd to quote religion or God or religious doctrines to render the people as lowest castes. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Politics does not concern itself who should rule us. It is about what kind of rule people should have. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

The word 'Sudra' which means 'Son of prostitute' should not find a place even in the history hereafter. We will not allow it to find a place in the dictionary or encycl — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Any opposition not based on rationalism or science or experience will one day or other, reveal the fraud, selfishness, lies and conspiracies. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Man is equal to man. There should not be exploitation. One should help the other. No one should harm anybody. Generally there should be no room for grievance or complaint from anybody. Everyone should live and let others live, with a national spirit. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Money lending is a horrible profession. If we are to call it otherwise it is lawful plundering. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

There is no use of simply acquiring titles or amassing wealth if one has no self-respect and scientific knowledge . — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Marriages should culminate on account of the wishes of the couple. It is their knitting of the hearts that should lead to marriages — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Because our ladies mostly attend Kalatshepams, (Religious discourses) they have fallen prey to the superstitions, blind beliefs, and immorality by the false and fictituous propaganda of the Brahmins — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Even those, who some time ago believed all the stories about God, that is who believed that divine power exists, have now come to be so ashamed of their own belief, hiding their ignorance, they are now struggling hard to prove those stories as scientifically true. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

People are talking high of Thiruvalluvar. But in practice they do not respect his teachings. They act against him and disregard him. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Decide for yourselves as to what you should thing of those who say there is God, that he is the preserver of justice and that he is the protector of all, even after seeing the practice of untouchablity in the form of man being banned from human sight and contact, from walking into the streets, from entering the temples and drawing water from a tank, is rampant in the land, and yet that land is not spared from being razed by an earthquake, burnt by the fiery lava of a volcano, engulfed in a deluge from the ocean, submerged in the chasm of the earth, or fragemented by thunder-storm. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

When the purpose of clearly exposing the differences between the Aryan and the Tamil culture, civilization, conduct and creed Thirukkural was written. I am of that firm view. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

I am a plain person. I have merely spoken out my mind. I do not say you should believe what I have said because it alone is certain. Accept such ideas as can be accepted, with the help of your reason, after a sound inquiry. Reject the rest. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

If god is the root cause for our degradation destroy that god. If it is religion destroy it. If it is Manu Darma, Gita, or any other Mythology (Purana), burn them to ashes. If it is temple, tank, or festival, boycott them. Finally if it is our politics, come forward to declare it openly. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Those who still believe the Brahmins should take a serious not of the changing times and start leading an awakened life. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

In the Kural there is a chapter on invocation to God. But there is no place in it for principle of idol worship. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

We do not need to explain how the Aryans entered and settled in the Dravidian country, and subjugated and oppressed the Dravidians. Nor do we need to explain how before the Aryans entered the Dravidian country, the Dravidian country had a civilization and arts of the highest rank. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

There's no god. He who created god was a fool; he who spreads his name is a scoundrel and he who worships him is a barbarian. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

We see morality in speeches and writings. We do not find it in practice. We are having different regulations for the males and the females. Our code of conduct is unfair to women. Child marriage is abolished. If there is right to divorce, right for widows to remarry and if women are now given certain rights, we will not see prostitution in the country. It will gradually disappear. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

I want to say a word to the Brahmins: In the name of God, religion, sastras you have duped us. We were the ruling people. Stop this life of cheating us from this year. Give room for rationalism and humanism. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Man treats woman as his own property and not as being capable of feelings, like himself. The way man treats women is much worse than the way landlords treat servants and the high-caste treat the low-caste. These treat them so demeaningly only in situations mutually affecting them; but men treat cruelly and as slaves, from their birth till death. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

I want the Brahmins to realize that the Dravidian people today are very much hating those who cunningly cheated them with absurdities. They are now aware of the particular community making a living by spreading the foolishness. People have begun to hate god, religion, caste, mythologies (puranas) and so on. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

I talked with my rustic customers and fellow merchants. I also spoke with the pious devotees and priests. These conversations generally gave shape to my anti-religion, anti-shastra, anti-purana and atheist policies. They formed the basis for my views on caste, God and religion. I also developed a general distaste for Brahminism. - Periyar, on his childhood days — Bala Jeyaraman

The terms 'Husband' and 'Wife' are inappropriate. They are only companions ad partners. One does not slave for other. They both have equal status. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Only education, self-respect and rational qualities will uplift the down-trodden. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Religious devotion is for the individual. Character is for all. There is no loss if there is no devotion. Everything is lost if there is no character. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

A male has the right to wander about as he pleases. He has the right to marry any number of girls. This practice has led to prostitution. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Our thoughts of literary renaissance should always center themselves on the removal of superstition, meanness, indignity and ignorance. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

I will not subject you to a restraint, in the manner of scriptures and ancient works, by stating that you should trust what I say, that my words are apocalyptic; and that if you do not believe me, you will become atheists and go to hell. If what I say is not agreeable to your instinct, knowledge, experience and inquiry, reject it. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

By helping the poor, we must be able to remove their poverty. But extending help to one here and one there in the form of providing food will not remove poverty. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Women in India experience much worse suffering, humiliation and slavery in all spheres than even the untouchables. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables ) or Panchama is sheer nonsense. It is roguish to say so. It is a big hoax played on us — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Foreigners are sending messages to the planets. We are sending rice and cereals to our dead fore-father through the Brahmins. It is a wise deed? — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Many crores of rupees are squandered in this country by way offering gratitude to God and bribing Him to gain greater and greater wealth. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Without any reason or basis, untouchability has been created as a result of caste. It is foolish to think of abolishing untouchability, in the face of the continuance of caste. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Every one has the right to refute any opinion. But no one has the right to prevent its expression. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Village reform is not merely cleaning the roads, constructing schools and worshipping monasteries. It is not mere celebration of festivals. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Till the end of my life, I shall never canvas for a vote. I shall not even expect a word of praise from any quarter. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

The number of those who do selfless public service and those who serve without expecting any return, should increase. Their sterling qualities should show the way to the people at large. Their life would be a model to show how man should conduct himself in public life. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

The duty and the responsibility of a rationalist is to thoughtfully and promptly carry out his actions, in fraternal affection, without considering country, language, God, religion and caste. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Wisdom lies in thinking. The spear-head of thinking is rationalism — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

There is no god, there is no god, there is no god at all. He who invented god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who worships god is a barbarian. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

To discard what is unwanted, and to retain what is needed, is what reform means. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

The proper task of social reform is to remove poverty from society and to ensure that people do not sell their conscience to make a living. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Whomsoever I love and hate, my principle is the same. That is, the educated, the rich and the administrators should not suck the blood of the poor. — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Why should anyone, in the name of caste, be considered lowly or be made to do a mean job?. If all in the country are given education, can there exist a caste for doing mean work? It is not because of lack of education that those people are constrained to do contemptible work and are considered lowly? — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy

Capitalists control the machineries. They create difficulties to the workers. Consequently rationalism , which has to lead the way for peaceful life to all, has resulted in causing poverty and worries to the people because of dominating forces — Periyar E.V. Ramasamy