Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Tamil Nadu Leaders Honor Periyar on 148th Birth Anniversary
Tamil Nadu marked the 148th birth anniversary of Periyar on September 17.
Periyar was a social reformer who worked against caste discrimination and unfair treatment.
The state calls this day Social Justice Day.
Leaders from several political parties paid respect to him.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay led a tribute and a pledge at the state Secretariat.
M K Stalin also led a pledge and placed a garland on Periyar’s statue in Chennai.
Leaders said Periyar supported equality, self-respect and rational thinking.
They encouraged people to continue working for a society where everyone is treated with respect.
Political leaders across party lines paid tribute to social reformer E V Ramasamy, known as Thanthai Periyar, on September 17.
Tamil Nadu observes Periyar’s birth anniversary as Social Justice Day, emphasizing equality, self-respect and rationalism.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay said Periyar fought caste and religious discrimination and administered a Social Justice Day pledge at the Secretariat.
DMK President M K Stalin led a pledge and garlanded Periyar’s statue near the Omandurar Government Estate in Chennai.
AIADMK, Congress, Left, VCK, BJP, PMK and Dravidar Kazhagam leaders also urged people to uphold Periyar’s social-justice principles.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu political leaders, including C Joseph Vijay, M K Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami, paid tribute to E V Ramasamy, known as Periyar.
- What
- Leaders commemorated Periyar’s 148th birth anniversary and observed Social Justice Day through tributes, a pledge and statements supporting his principles.
- When
- September 17, described as Thursday in the article.
- Where
- Across Tamil Nadu, including the Chennai Secretariat and Periyar’s statue near the Omandurar Government Estate on Anna Salai in Chennai.
- Why
- To honor Periyar’s work promoting equality, self-respect, rationalism, social justice and opposition to caste and religious discrimination.
- Occasion
- Periyar’s 148th birth anniversary
- Date
- September 17
- State observance
- Social Justice Day
- Core principles
- Equality, self-respect, rationalism and social justice
- State ceremony
- C Joseph Vijay administered the Social Justice Day pledge at the Chennai Secretariat.
- DMK observance
- M K Stalin led a pledge and garlanded Periyar’s statue near the Omandurar Government Estate.