UPPSC 2023 Prelims Q139: With reference to E. V. Ramaswami Nayakar, which of the

Q: What is the answer to UPPSC 2023 Prelims Q139?

C. Correct — C, Both 1 and 2. E. V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' joined the Indian National Congress in 1919 and actively took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement — including leading the Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25 against caste-based restrictions on temple-entry roads in Kerala — so statement 1 is correct. He resigned from the Congress in 1925 after it declined to endorse his demand for communal representation (reservations for non-Brahmins), and that same year launched the Self-Respect Movement — so statement 2 is also correct. Hence both statements are true.

UPPSC 2023 Prelims GS Paper-I · Question 139 of 150

Verified against the official question paper. Answer as per the official UPPSC answer key.

With reference to E. V. Ramaswami Nayakar, which of the following statement/s is/are correct? (1) He participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement. (2) He left the Congress in 1925. Select the correct answer using the code given below - Code -

(a)Neither 1 nor 2
(b)Only 2
(c)Both 1 and 2
(d)Only 1

Answer

Why

Correct — C, Both 1 and 2. E. V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' joined the Indian National Congress in 1919 and actively took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement — including leading the Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25 against caste-based restrictions on temple-entry roads in Kerala — so statement 1 is correct. He resigned from the Congress in 1925 after it declined to endorse his demand for communal representation (reservations for non-Brahmins), and that same year launched the Self-Respect Movement — so statement 2 is also correct. Hence both statements are true.

Why the others are wrong

(a)Neither 1 nor 2 — Both statements are historically correct — Periyar did take part in the Non-Cooperation Movement and did leave the Congress in 1925 — so 'neither' is wrong.
(b)Only 2 — It wrongly rejects statement 1. Periyar was very much part of the Congress-led Non-Cooperation Movement before his break, so statement 1 is also true.
(d)Only 1 — It wrongly rejects statement 2. Periyar did resign from the Congress in 1925, so statement 2 is true as well.

Concept

E. V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' (1879-1973) began as a Congress worker in the Tamil region, joining in 1919 and taking part in the Non-Cooperation and temperance (anti-liquor) agitations. Disillusioned by the Congress's refusal to back communal representation for non-Brahmins, he quit in 1925 and founded the Self-Respect Movement, championing rationalism, self-respect and social equality; he later revived the Justice Party, which became the Dravidar Kazhagam in 1944.

This is a two-statement 'is it correct' question about a single leader's biography. Both facts — his participation in the Non-Cooperation Movement and his 1925 exit from the Congress — are well documented, so the answer is 'both correct'. The temptation is to assume a founder of the anti-Congress Dravidian movement could not have been a Congressman, but he was, until 1925.

Key facts

Periyar joined the Congress in 1919 and took part in the Non-Cooperation Movement.
He led the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) against untouchability-based road restrictions near a temple in Kerala.
He resigned from the Congress in 1925 over its refusal to endorse communal representation (reservations).
In 1925 he launched the Self-Respect Movement; he later led the Justice Party → Dravidar Kazhagam (1944).

Black-and-white portrait of E. V. Ramasamy Periyar with white hair and beard, round spectacles and a shawl — The leader named in the question — a Congress worker in the Non-Cooperation Movement who left the Congress in 1925 and founded the Self-Respect Movement.Image: Lakshmi, Tamil monthly / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain)

Study next

The Self-Respect Movement and the Dravidian movement in South IndiaVaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) and anti-untouchability strugglesJustice Party and Dravidar KazhagamNon-Cooperation Movement (1920-22) and its regional leadersSocial-reform and anti-caste movements in colonial India

Common traps

Assuming Periyar was never a Congressman because he later opposed the Congress — he was, until 1925
Mixing up the year he left the Congress (1925) with the founding of the later Dravidar Kazhagam (1944)

UPSC/UPPSC ask this as statement-based 'which is/are correct', 'who founded the Self-Respect Movement', or by matching Periyar to the Vaikom Satyagraha / Dravidian movement.

Related PYQs

UPSC_2025_GS1_Q782025Open & attempt →

Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?

(a) 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker
(b) Dr. B. R. Ambedkar
(c) Bhaskarrao Jadhav
(d) Dinkarrao Javalkar

Answer(a) 'Periyar' E. V. Ramaswamy Naicker

Same person — Periyar, who launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925, the same year he broke from the Congress referenced in this question.

UPSC_2019_GS1_Q62019Open & attempt →

Consider the following pairs (Movement/Organization : Leader): All India Anti-Untouchability League : Mahatma Gandhi; All India Kisan Sabha : Swami Sahajanand Saraswati; Self-Respect Movement : E. V. Ramaswami Naicker. Which of the pairs given above is/are correctly matched?

(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 2 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer(d) 1, 2 and 3

Same leader — pairs Periyar with the Self-Respect Movement, testing the same biographical association as this question.

Practice

practice — not a real PYQ
E. V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' founded which movement in 1925?
- (a)Self-Respect Movement
- (b)Satyashodhak Samaj
- (c)Aravippuram Movement
- (d)Prarthana Samaj
Answer(a) Self-Respect Movement — launched by Periyar in 1925 after he left the Congress.
practice — not a real PYQ
Periyar led which 1924-25 satyagraha against caste-based restrictions on roads near a temple in Kerala?
- (a)Vaikom Satyagraha
- (b)Bardoli Satyagraha
- (c)Guruvayur Satyagraha
- (d)Nagpur Satyagraha
Answer(a) Vaikom Satyagraha — for which Periyar earned the title 'Vaikom Veerar' (Hero of Vaikom).