Stalin Unveils Periyar’s Portrait At Oxford, Highlights Global Relevance Of His Ideals — Video

<p>Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday inaugurated a portrait of social reformer E.V. Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar, at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. The ceremony marked a rare international recognition of the icon who pioneered rationalist and anti-caste movements in the state.</p>
<h3>’Not Just History, But Guiding Tomorrow’: Stalin</h3>
<p>Taking to X, Stalin said, “#SelfRespectMovement – A revolution that redefined freedom! Chains fell, dignity rose! Thanthai Periyar&rsquo;s Self-Respect Movement shattered fundamentalisms, awakened dignity, nurtured scientific temper, and made us a guiding light of social transformation.”</p>
<p>”At Oxford, I spoke with pride as an heir to Periyar&rsquo;s legacy, honouring the revolution that turned centuries of subjugation into the eternal anthem of Self Respect. We aren&rsquo;t just celebrating history; we are guiding tomorrow,” he said.&nbsp;</p>
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<p dir=”ltr” lang=”en”><a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/SelfRespectMovement?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#SelfRespectMovement</a> – A revolution that redefined freedom! Chains fell, dignity rose!<br /><br />Thanthai Periyar&rsquo;s Self-Respect Movement shattered fundamentalisms, awakened dignity, nurtured scientific temper, and made us a guiding light of social transformation.<br /><br />At <a href=”https://twitter.com/hashtag/Oxford?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>#Oxford</a>, I spoke&hellip; <a href=”https://t.co/ESFq8VLcJF”>pic.twitter.com/ESFq8VLcJF</a></p>
&mdash; M.K.Stalin (@mkstalin) <a href=”https://twitter.com/mkstalin/status/1963783894265692519?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw”>September 5, 2025</a></blockquote>
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<p>Addressing the gathering at Oxford, Stalin underlined the timeless and universal relevance of Periyar&rsquo;s philosophy. He said the social reformer&rsquo;s fight against caste oppression and gender inequality in Tamil Nadu could be seen in the larger context of global struggles for human dignity and freedom.</p>
<p>Periyar, who launched the Self-Respect Movement in 1925, campaigned against Brahminical supremacy and fought for the empowerment of marginalised communities. Through his writings in the journal <em>Kudi Arasu,</em> he argued for rational thinking, women&rsquo;s rights, and an egalitarian social order, eventually shaping the Dravidian political discourse that transformed Tamil Nadu&rsquo;s social fabric.</p>