Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
![](/Images/godic/202502/02/Young_Periyar3537.JPG")
![E.V.Ramasamy statue at Vaikom town in Kottayam, Kerala](/Images/godic/202502/02/EVR_Statue,_Vaikom3537.JPG")
![Periyar during the early years of Self-Respect Movement](/Images/godic/202502/02/Periyar_during_Self_respect_movement3537.JPG")
![Periyar Thidal at Vepery, where Periyar's body was buried.](/Images/godic/202502/02/Periyar_memorial_Chennai3537.jpg")
Erode Venkata Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), affectionately called Periyar or E. V. R. by his followers, was an Indian social activist, freedom fighter and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement or the Dravidian Movement. He was also the founder of the Dravidar Kazhagam political party.