Explain E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker and Dravidian Mobilisation.

E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, commonly known as Periyar, was a prominent social reformer and political leader in South India who spearheaded the Dravidian movement in the early 20th century. Dravidian mobilization, under Periyar's leadership, sought to assert the rights and interests of the Dravidian people, challenge Brahminical dominance, and promote social justice, rationalism, and linguistic pride.

Periyar's Dravidian mobilization was rooted in a critique of Brahminical hegemony and caste-based discrimination, which he saw as perpetuating social inequality and oppression in Tamil Nadu and the broader Dravidian region. He advocated for the empowerment of non-Brahmin castes, particularly the lower castes, and called for the abolition of caste-based discrimination and untouchability.

Moreover, Periyar championed the cause of linguistic nationalism, promoting Tamil language and culture as symbols of Dravidian identity and pride. He argued that the imposition of Sanskrit and Hindi by upper-caste elites was a form of cultural imperialism aimed at suppressing Dravidian culture and heritage. Periyar called for the promotion of Tamil language and literature in education, administration, and public life, asserting the rights of Dravidian people to their linguistic and cultural heritage.

Furthermore, Periyar's Dravidian mobilization was characterized by a commitment to rationalism, atheism, and social reform. He rejected religious superstitions, rituals, and orthodoxy, advocating for a rational and scientific approach to social, political, and religious issues. Periyar campaigned against religious obscurantism and Brahminical rituals, calling for the eradication of caste-based practices and the promotion of reason, logic, and humanism.

Periyar's Dravidian movement had a significant impact on Tamil Nadu politics and society, mobilizing support among non-Brahmin castes, Dalits, and women and challenging the dominance of Brahminical elites in politics and administration. The Dravidian movement eventually led to the formation of political parties such as the Dravidar Kazhagam (DK) and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which championed the cause of social justice, linguistic pride, and regional autonomy in Tamil Nadu.

In summary, E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker's Dravidian mobilization was a multifaceted movement that sought to assert the rights and interests of the Dravidian people, challenge Brahminical dominance, and promote social justice, rationalism, and linguistic pride in Tamil Nadu and the broader Dravidian region. Periyar's advocacy for the empowerment of non-Brahmin castes, promotion of Tamil language and culture, and commitment to rationalism and social reform had a profound impact on Tamil Nadu politics and society, shaping the trajectory of Dravidian politics in the 20th century.