Imagine a scene from nearly a century ago: a wedding ceremony devoid of mantra chanting, sacred fire circumambulations, or the presence of priests or pundits. Instead, the groom and bride simply exchanged garlands and took their vows in Tamil to become life partners.

This marked the beginning of a new rational marriage system, founded in 1929 by social revolutionary E.V. Ramasamy 'Periyar.' This marriage practice was not just a rebellion against religious orthodoxy but also a powerful strike against caste systems, extravagance, and religious superstitions. Overseen by W.P.A. Sundar Pandian and Periyar, it was named the "Self-Respect Marriage." This new marriage system was an integral part of Periyar’s broader "Self-Respect Movement."

The key initiatives of the Self-Respect Movement were born from Periyar’s personal experiences. The issue of inter-caste marriage was closely tied to women’s liberation. His inspiration came from an incident in his youth. A young man from the Vellala caste approached Periyar seeking employment. Periyar appointed him as a clerk in his shop. After some time, the young man’s mother requested Periyar to arrange his marriage.

Periyar chose a bride from the Naidu family, who faced allegations of being an illegitimate child. The wedding, attended by Periyar’s friends, local leaders, and government officials, was celebrated with great pomp. This was the first marriage conducted under Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement, sparking widespread discussion and spreading news of his rebellious nature far and wide.

Another key initiative in the realm of women’s liberation was his encouragement of widow remarriage. Having witnessed numerous widows in Banaras and other religious sites forced to leave their homes after their husbands’ deaths, this experience motivated him to promote such unions.

What Is a Self-Respect Marriage?

The Self-Respect Marriage stood in stark contrast to traditional Hindu weddings. All religious rituals and Brahminical mantra chanting were strictly prohibited during these ceremonies. For the newlyweds, exchanging garlands and reciting their marriage vows in their mother tongue (Tamil) were sufficient. Extravagance had no place, as the ceremony was conducted with utmost simplicity.

This marriage system required only the consent of the bride and groom, with no need for parental approval. It was not viewed as a sacred, lifelong bond but as a mutual agreement between two equals, which either party could terminate at will. Marriages were determined not by divine or heavenly decree but by the mutual consent and agreement of two individuals on earth. At its core, the Self-Respect Marriage affirmed the complete equality of men and women.

Periyar incorporated these principles into his reformed marriage system, making it entirely secular. People of any religion could participate in such weddings. The only requirements were for the bride and groom to exchange garlands and declare each other as husband and wife.

Regarding widow remarriage, Periyar’s observations of widows displaced after their husbands’ deaths in Banaras and other religious sites further fueled his advocacy for this cause.

What Is Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement?

The Self-Respect Movement, known in Tamil as "Suyamariyathai Iyakkam," rallied under the slogan: "No God, no religion, no Gandhi, no Congress, and no Brahmin." The movement’s name was derived from the Tamil term "Suyamariyathai," meaning self-respect. Author Omprakash Kashyap notes in his article "Periyar’s Self-Respect Movement: The Proclamation of Dravidian Identity" that the movement began in December 1925, with its formal launch in early 1926. Its goal was to foster public awareness against religion, caste, and priestly dominance.

On May 10-11, 1930, Periyar organized the second provincial Self-Respect Conference in Erode, chaired by Mr. M.R. Jayakar. The event included youth conferences, women’s conferences, prohibition conferences, and Tamil music conferences. Periyar actively supported a bill to abolish the Devadasi system, introduced by Dr. Muthulakshmi Reddy in the Madras Legislative Council.

The third provincial Self-Respect Conference took place in Virudhunagar in 1931, chaired by R.K. Shanmugam. Periyar also spread his ideas internationally, addressing a massive gathering of 50,000 workers in England on June 20, 1932, where he elucidated his principles of rationality and socialism.

Key demands of the Self-Respect Movement included:

• No discrimination between individuals in society.

• Elimination of economic inequalities.

• Equitable distribution of land and resources based on social justice.

• Eradication of all discrimination between men and women.

• Complete removal of societal misconceptions about caste, religion, nation, class, and God.

• Ensuring individuals receive the full benefits of their labor.

• Preventing anyone from being enslaved under any circumstances.

• Granting individuals the freedom to live according to their knowledge, reason, emotions, and beliefs.

Wife’s Cremation Followed by an Interfaith Self-Respect Marriage Ceremony

On May 11, 1933, Periyar’s wife Nagammal passed away. The very next day, immediately after her cremation, he departed for Tiruchirappalli to organize an interfaith (Christian) Self-Respect Marriage ceremony. During this event, he violated Section 144 and was arrested.

In 1933, the British government banned the Tamil weekly "Kudi Arasu." In response, Periyar launched another magazine, "Puratchi" (Revolution). In 1935, he began supporting the Justice Party more actively. The party started publishing the Tamil weekly "Viduthalai" on June 1, 1935, with Periyar taking charge. He transformed it into a Tamil daily starting January 1, 1937.

The Self-Respect Marriage, initiated by Periyar, remains prevalent in Tamil Nadu today, standing as a lasting legacy of his vision for equality, rationality, and social justice.