The most overrated person is E.V Ramasamy aka Periyar.
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If you ask any Tamilian what Periyar did? It would be a long answer and one among the answer would be bringing women’s rights in Tamil Nadu. Did he really bring any women rights? Let me narrate you few instances.
At the age of 72 he married Maniammai who was 28 at that time. It was Periyar’s second marriage. But few years after marrying Maniammai, he said before huge crowd that his late first wife, Nagaammai was a prostitute(Dasi).
Periyar once brought group of prostitutes to his home to have fun and asked his wife (Nagaammai) to cook food for them.
After marrying Maniammai, which was opposed by Anna, he formed new political party called ‘DMK’. Anguished Periyar called Anna a son of prostitute (dasi-magan).
Periyar also stated that Khadi(dress) price raised because of Dalit women wearing blouse to cover their breast.
When Periyar was once invited for marriage he started his speech saying that thaali (Mangal sutra) worn by women is a license for doing prostitution. No wonder that he was beaten by women with their slippers.
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Periyar has very bad history. But what sorrows me is how Tamil people are still considering him as a great revolutionist. Still there are lot of Dravidian parties canvasing people (mainly Hindu people) in Periyar’s name just for vote sake.
For reference read books named “Tamilar Thalaivar Periyar”, “Periyar Marupakkam’ and “Dravida Maayai”. Thank you.