An Equal Stage

The Dravidian Movement used novels, plays, films and even politics to spread its ideology

- Perumal Murugan

THANTHAI Periyar launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925 after quitting the Congress. It later evolved into the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and then the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). The All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) was also a continuation of that legacy.

It is now nearly a 100 years since the movement was launched, and about 60 years since it first came to power. Today, the DMK, which rules Tamil Nadu, identifies its governance as the “Dravidian Model”.

The reason this century-old movement continues to remain so strong is the support and influence of the people. Through its ideology and its actions, the Dravidian philosophy has reached all sections of society ranging from scholars to ordinary citizens. How did this widespread reach happen?

In the latter half of the 19th century, a consciousness about gaining freedom from British rule began to emerge in India. When movements and protests for independence started rising, the British countered them with the argument that “Indians were not fit to govern themselves; they have no such historical tradition”. This claim was repeatedly asserted and propagated. As a response, A strong awareness arose among Indian scholars about their own history. It can be said that this period was, in every sense, a fertile moment for the formation of Indian history.