Question

Self Respect movement was led by:
A.Kamaraj
B.C.N Annadurai
C.Periyar
D.Dr T.M Nair

Answer 1

Hint: It was also known as the Dravidian movement and the one who led this movement is regarded as " Father of the Dravidian Movement ".

Complete Step by Step answer: Social movements are not an organised effort like a political party or a pressure group but it leads to masses turning out in support of a social cause or resistance to a specific action or policy of the government. The Self respect movement was one such social movement that started in Tamil Nadu in 1921. The basis was resistance against the domination of Brahmins as the superior class and hence, encouraged the facilitation of self-respect and equality for those belonging to the so-called lower and backward castes in India.

Let's look at the options one by one:
Option A: is incorrect. K.Kamaraj was the 3rd Chief Minister of the Madras State from 1954 to 1963 and the founder of Indian National Congress (Organisation).
Option B: is incorrect. C.N Annadurai served as the first Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and the fifth and last Chief Minister of Madras State. He was a part of the Dravidian Movement until he split and formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam in 1949.
Option C: is correct. E.V Ramaswamy popularly known as Periyar was the founder of the Self Respect Movement and is regarded as the “father of the Dravidian Movement”.
Option D: is incorrect. Dr T.M Nair co-founded the Justice party in 1916 and was a part of the Dravidian Movement.

Note: The self-respect movement aimed to do away with the social structure of caste in India which unequally marginalises and degrades based on caste hierarchy. Brahmin hegemony has existed and pushed casteism for a long time in India to ensure that those born in an upper-caste family are treated with the privilege and provided all opportunities while those born in lower castes are discriminated against in all aspects.