Launched in 1925 by E.V. Ramasamy, widely known as Periyar, the Self-Respect Movement emerged as a bold crusade against caste hierarchy, religious orthodoxy, and social inequality. Centered on the ethic of “suyamariyathai”—self-respect—it advocated dismantling Brahminical privilege, promoting rational thought, and ensuring women's rights, including widow remarriage, equal property, and divorce.

The movement’s influence extended beyond Tamil Nadu, inspiring reform in regions with Tamil diasporas and laying ideological foundations for Dravidian politics, including DMK and AIADMK. It introduced progressive concepts like self-respect marriages legalized in 1967 that bypassed Brahmin priests and rituals.

Emboldened by Periyar’s vision, communities rejected rituals and symbols reinforcing caste supremacy, fought for communal representation, and advanced secular, egalitarian values. Even a century later, the movement’s legacy continues to shape Tamil society—its social reforms, feminist ethos, and rationalist critique remain a bulwark against modern cultural homogenization and resurgence of caste-based authority.