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Q78 (IAS/2025) History & Culture › National Movement (1857–1947) › Social reform movements Answer Verified

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

Result
Your answer: —  ·  Correct: A
Explanation

The Self-Respect Movement was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, a Balija Naidu, in the[1] mid-1920s. Known as Periyar (the respected), he started the self-respect movement in 1925[2] and the movement aimed at nothing short of a rejection of the brahminical religion and culture which Naicker felt was the prime instrument of exploitation of the lower castes.[1] He was famous for his anticaste struggle and rediscovery of Dravidian identity, and was initially a worker of the Congress party.[2] He sought to undermine the position of brahmin priests by formalising weddings without brahmin priests.[1] The movement was a significant socio-cultural reform initiative in Tamil Nadu that focused on social change and challenged the existing caste hierarchy. Therefore, option A is the correct answer as Periyar E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker was indeed the founder of the Self-Respect Movement.

Sources
  1. [1] Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Self-Respect Movement > p. 226
  2. [2] Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Regional Aspirations > Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh > p. 116
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Don’t just practise – reverse-engineer the question. This panel shows where this PYQ came from (books / web), how the examiner broke it into hidden statements, and which nearby micro-concepts you were supposed to learn from it. Treat it like an autopsy of the question: what might have triggered it, which exact lines in the book matter, and what linked ideas you should carry forward to future questions.
Q. Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'? [A] 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker [B] Dr. B. R. Ambedkar […
At a glance
Origin: Books + Current Affairs Fairness: Low / Borderline fairness Books / CA: 2.5/10 · 7.5/10
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This is a 'bread and butter' question found verbatim in Spectrum and NCERT Class XII. It is a high-fairness Sitter. Missing this indicates a gap in basic Modern History memorization. The strategy is simple: master the 'Movement-Founder-Region' table for all socio-religious reforms.

How this question is built

This question can be broken into the following sub-statements. Tap a statement sentence to jump into its detailed analysis.

Statement 1
Was 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker the founder of the Self-Respect Movement?
Origin: Direct from books Fairness: Straightforward Book-answerable
From standard books
Politics in India since Independence, Textbook in political science for Class XII (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 7: Regional Aspirations > Union Territories of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh > p. 116
Presence: 5/5
“E.V. Ramasami Naicker (1879-1973): Known as Periyar (the respected); strong supporter of atheism; famous for his anticaste struggle and rediscovery of Dravidian identity; initially a worker of the Congress party; started the self-respect movement (1925); led the anti-Brahmin movement; worked for the Justice party and later founded Dravidar Kazhagam; opposed to Hindi and domination of north India; propounded the thesis that north Indians and Brahmins are Aryans.”
Why this source?
  • Explicitly names E.V. Ramasami Naicker (Periyar) and states he 'started the self-respect movement (1925)'.
  • Connects Periyar's identity (anti-caste, Dravidian leader) with launching the movement, making authorship clear.
Rajiv Ahir. A Brief History of Modern India (2019 ed.). SPECTRUM. > Chapter 9: A General Survey of Socio-Cultural Reform Movements > Self-Respect Movement > p. 226
Presence: 5/5
“This movement was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, a Balija Naidu, in the mid-1920s. The movement aimed at nothing short of a rejection of the brahminical religion and culture which Naicker felt was the prime instrument of exploitation of the lower castes. He sought to undermine the position of brahmin priests by formalising weddings without brahmin priests.”
Why this source?
  • Directly states the movement 'was started by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker' and locates its origin in the mid-1920s.
  • Describes the movement's aims under Naicker, reinforcing his founding role.
Themes in world history, History Class XI (NCERT 2025 ed.) > Chapter 5: Changing Cultural Traditions > TIMELINE IV (с. 1700 то 2000) > p. 132
Presence: 5/5
“• DATES: 1900-10; ASIA: Japanese navy defeats Russian fleet (1905); SOUTH ASIA: • DATES: 1910-20; ASIA: Balfour Declaration promises homeland for Jews in Palestine (1917); SOUTH ASIA: • DATES: 1920-30; ASIA: ; SOUTH ASIA: Non-Cooperation Movement (1921) launched by Mahatma Gandhi; E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker launches the Self- Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu (1925) • DATES: 1930-40; ASIA: Opening of British oil pipeline from Iraq to Syria (1934); SOUTH ASIA: Alam Ara by Ardeshir Irani (1931) is the first Indian talkie. Berlin-Baghdad Railway linking Baghdad to Istanbul begins operation (1940) • DATES: 1940-50; ASIA: USA drops atom bombs on Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki* (1945) killing approximately 120,000 civilians.”
Why this source?
  • Timeline entry records E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker launching the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu (1925).
  • Provides a clear date and action verb ('launches') linking Periyar to the movement's origin.
Statement analysis

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Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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Statement analysis

This statement analysis shows book citations, web sources and indirect clues. The first statement (S1) is open for preview.

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SIMILAR QUESTIONS

CDS-II · 2021 · Q42 Relevance score: 4.91

The Self-Respect Movement was initiated by

CDS-I · 2022 · Q52 Relevance score: 1.53

Who among the following was the founder of the Virashaiva Movement in Karnataka ?

NDA-I · 2014 · Q22 Relevance score: 1.36

E.V. Ramaswami Naicker was associated with 1. reforming Brahminism 2. the Self-Respect Movement 3. the Low Caste Movement 4. the Communist Movement Select the correct answer using the code given below.

NDA-I · 2013 · Q25 Relevance score: 1.34

Consider the following statements about Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy: 1. He was a politician, social activist and an important figure in the Dravidian movement in South India. 2. He championed the cause of caste upliftment, nationalism and the rights of women, 3. He was contemporary of the Maharashtran anti-caste reformer, Jyotiba Phule. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?