Periyar E. V. Ramasamy
Erode Venkata Ramasamy , affectionately called Periyar or E. V. R. by his followers, was an Indian social activist, freedom fighter and politician who started the SelfRespect Movement or the Dravidian Movement. He was also the founder of the Dravidar Kazhagam political party.
E.V.Ramasamy was born in Erode, Madras Presidency to a wealthy family of Balijas. At a young age, he witnessed numerous incidents of caste and gender discrimination. E.V.Ramasamy married when he was 19, and had a daughter who lived for onlymonths. His first wife, Nagammai, died in 1933. E.V.Ramasamy married for a second time in July 1948. His second wife, Maniammai, continued E.V.Ramasamys social work after his death in 1973, but still his thoughts and ideas were being spread by Dravidar Kazhagam.
Source: Wikipedia