Archive · 20 Sep 2026
Annamalai Rejects Periyar’s Atheism and Anti-Brahmin Ideology, Praises Reforms
K Annamalai spoke about the ideas of Periyar, an important Tamil social reformer.
He said Periyar helped women’s rights and worked against caste discrimination.
However, Annamalai said he disagreed with Periyar’s atheism and criticism of Brahmins.
He also said Periyar’s views on Hindi and political parties changed over time.
Annamalai promised to move some statues with anti-religious messages away from Hindu temple entrances if his party wins.
He said this would respect people who visit temples as believers.
His volunteers also cleaned a large section of the Vaigai river.
The group said it had many members and had planted more than one million saplings.
K Annamalai rejected Periyar’s atheism and anti-Brahmin ideology while acknowledging his advocacy for women’s liberation and caste eradication.
Annamalai cited alleged contradictions in Periyar’s positions on Hindi opposition and support for political leaders.
He pledged to relocate statues with atheistic inscriptions outside Hindu temples if the BJP comes to power in Tamil Nadu.
Volunteers reportedly removed 163 tonnes of waste from 33 acres of the Vaigai river over seven weeks.
Annamalai said his movement had 20 lakh verified members and had planted more than 10.17 lakh saplings across Tamil Nadu.
- Who
- K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP president, addressed volunteers from the ‘We the Leaders’ movement and discussed E V Ramasamy ‘Periyar’.
- What
- Annamalai rejected Periyar’s atheistic and anti-Brahmin positions while praising his views on women’s liberation and caste eradication; he also discussed temple statues, river cleanup, membership and tree planting.
- When
- Sunday, September 20; the river cleanup began on August 3 and lasted seven weeks.
- Where
- Madurai, Tamil Nadu, including a 33-acre stretch of the Vaigai river.
- Why
- Annamalai said he opposed atheistic inscriptions outside Hindu temples and argued that grassroots action was needed for political transformation and environmental improvement.
Annamalai’s Position
Periyar’s Legacy
Social reform and ideology
Annamalai’s Position
Annamalai accepts Periyar’s advocacy for women’s liberation and caste eradication but rejects his atheism and anti-Brahminism.
Periyar’s Legacy
Periyar is presented through his stated or attributed reform positions, including advocacy related to women and caste, alongside atheistic and anti-Brahmin views.
Statues near temples
Annamalai’s Position
Annamalai says statues carrying atheistic inscriptions outside Hindu temples should be respectfully relocated to other public spaces if the BJP forms the Tamil Nadu government.
Periyar’s Legacy
The report does not provide a response from Periyar’s supporters or other opponents to the proposed relocation.
Political consistency
Annamalai’s Position
Annamalai argues that Periyar’s positions contained contradictions, citing his statements on Hindi and his support for K Kamaraj rather than consistently backing the DMK.
Periyar’s Legacy
The article does not include a separate defense or explanation from Periyar’s supporters regarding these historical claims.
- Speaker
- K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP president
- Periyar positions acknowledged
- Women’s liberation and caste eradication
- Periyar positions rejected
- Atheism and anti-Brahminism
- River cleanup
- 163 tonnes of waste removed from 33 acres over seven weeks
- Movement membership
- More than 20 lakh verified members since June 5
- Saplings planted
- More than 10.17 lakh across Tamil Nadu since August
- Government funding cited
- Annamalai said an estimated Rs 1,400 crore was provided by the Central government between 2014 and 2019 for Madurai sanitation