Periyar E. V. Ramasamy Quotes

39 Sourced Quotes

The number of those who do selfless public service and those who serve without expecting any return, should increase. Their sterling qualities should show the way to the people at large. Their life would be a model to show how man should conduct himself in public life.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
The Brahmins are making you fools in the name of god. He makes you have faith in superstitions. He leads a very comfortable life condemning you as untouchable. He bargains with you to offer prayers to god on your behalf. I strongly condemn this brokerage business and warn you not to believe such Brahmins anymore.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
You cannot expect any rational thought from a religious man. He is like a rocking log in water.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Any opposition not based on rationalism or science or experience will one day or other, reveal the fraud, selfishness, lies and conspiracies.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
People are talking high of Thiruvalluvar. But in practice they do not respect his teachings. They act against him and disregard him.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Aryans made the Dravidians to celebrate the Deepavali festival, Rama's birthday, Krishna's birthday. Similarly the Northerners made the Dravidians celebrate August 15th as the Independence Day. That is all. There is no other benefit or laudable reason.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
There is no Brahmin or Sudra (Backard Caste) or Pariah (the Untouchables) in England. In Russia you do not have Varnasrama (Casteism) dharma or fate.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
I want to say a word to the Brahmins, In the name of God, religion, sastras you have duped us. We were the ruling people. Stop this life of cheating us from this year. Give room for rationalism and humanism.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
It gave me extraordinary pleasure to fling at the pundits their own contradictions and Thus perplex Them. It also gave me the reputation, among our neighbours of being a clever speaker. I believe that it was this experience which deprived me of faith in castes and communities, in religion, in "puranas", in "sastras" and in god.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
If we have a girl at home who has attained puberty, some one should come and ask for alliance. Otherwise the girl will have to remain a virgin only. But in a Brahmin's house if there is a girl who has attained puberty the Brahmin will go from door to door seeking a bridegroom. This is the difference between the Aryan and the Dravidian customs.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
There should be no differentiation amongst the people. All should be treated as equals. On this basis the Brahmin must give up his false prestige. In the interest of the society. I say that the blind beliefs should be given up. If the newspapers Hindu and the Swadesamitran carry on false propaganda that I am communal, I am not responsible for that.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
While all men are born as equals, to say that Brahmins alone are the highest and all others are low as Pariah (the Untouchables) or Panchama is sheer nonsense. It is roguish to say so. It is a big hoax played on us

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Brahmins cannot hope to claim a high and superior status forever. Times are changing. They have to come down. Then only they could survive with dignity. Otherwise they will one day be forfeiting their high status. It will not be by force. It will be just laws of the land and the people.

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Wisdom lies in thinking. The spear-head of thinking is rationalism,

Periyar E. V. Ramasamy