Periyar E. V. Ramasamy quotes - page 2

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)
Thirkukkural was written to show a good path to the people to create values in life and to develop a good order in the society. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
The enormous privileges given to Brahmins by the Vedas were sacrosanct only as long as they went unchallenged. The challenge rose in the Tamil country like a whirlwind spearheaded by an iconoclast who questioned the Vedas and the gods as well. He took apparently extremist positions on some issues, but the fundamental nature of the social revolution he wrought was clear even to its victims. The political perspectives of Tamil Nadu and with it much of India, were altered with as seeming finality by Ramaswamy Naicker. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
If you ask a Christian or a Moslem about their God, they say their God is good and benevolent. They say their God has no physical form. Why don't you people have such a God? View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
What is not there in English which can be found in Tamil Language?”. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
The only language that ought to replace Tamil is English. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
When Dravidanadu was a victim to Aryan deceit, Thirukkural was written by a great Dravidian Thiruvalluvar to free the Dravidians. View quote
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. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
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)
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. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
When the purpose of clearly exposing the differences between the Aryan and the Tamil culture, civilization, conduct and creed Thirukkural was written. I am of that firm view. View quote
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. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
I am accused of ruining the world. What is it I am going to gain by ruining the world? I do not understand what the Brahmin devotees actually feel. Will anyone carry on propaganda to ruin the world? I hope they would soon think with reason. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
If god is the root cause for our degradation destroy that god. If it is religion destroy it. If it is Manu Darma, Gita, or any other Mythology (Purana), burn them to ashes. If it is temple, tank, or festival, boycott them. Finally if it is our politics, come forward to declare it openly. View quote
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. View quote
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. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Periyar was accepted and acclaimed as the leader by a significant section of the Tamil population in spite of all his contempt for Tamil and disdain for Tamils only because he was perceived to be a genuine individual, a rarity among those in public life. There was no shade of hypocrisy in him and he never attempted sophistry while propounding his social philosophy. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
It is an irony that the religious discourses which were intended to Kindle piety and religiosity in all listeners produced the opposite effect on Ramasami. As he grew up, he became convinced that some people used religion only as a mask to deceive innocent people. That was why he took it as one of the duties in his life to warn people against superstitious and priests. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Whomsoever I love or hate, my principle is the same. That is, the educated, the rich and the administrators should not suck the blood of the poor. (Periyar E. V. Ramasamy)
What for is marriage? It is to unite a man and a woman to enjoy a natural life with happiness. It is to find solace after hard work. Most of the people do not realize that marriages are for sharing pleasures of the wedded life. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Buddha, Jesus and Mohamed Nabi have been reformers. If world needs peace, unity and tranquility all religions must be decimated. Yet, with existence of a religion if the world can get peace, then in my opinion, it is Islam. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Tomorrow if Russia invades India, I would rather support Russia and get shot or jailed than to support India on patriotic grounds, not even a minute. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
To destroy caste discrimination burn the pictures of Nehru and Gandhi and also the Constitution of India. If all these methods fail to give us results, then we should start beating and killing the Brahmins; we should start burning their houses. View quote
Periyar E. V. Ramasamy