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Prelims 2025 · Q78 · Reform movements & early nationalism

Who among the following was the founder of the 'Self-Respect Movement'?

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Answer: A. The Self-Respect Movement was started by E. V. Ramasamy 'Periyar' in Tamil Nadu in 1925. It fought caste hierarchy and Brahminical dominance and promoted rational thinking and self-respect among non-Brahmin communities.

Watch for: Several non-Brahmin leaders of Maharashtra are listed to confuse with Periyar's Tamil movement.

Why the other options are wrong
  • B. Ambedkar led movements such as the Mahad Satyagraha, but did not found the Self-Respect Movement.
  • C. Bhaskarrao Jadhav was a leader of the non-Brahmin movement in Maharashtra, not founder of the Self-Respect Movement.
  • D. Dinkarrao Javalkar was a non-Brahmin writer-activist in Maharashtra, not the founder of this movement.

Source to check: NCERT Class 8 'Our Pasts III' (Women, Caste and Reform); Spectrum 'A Brief History of Modern India'.

Answer from the official UPSC key. Written and fact-checked by AI against the official key. Spotted a mistake? Report it.