Compiled by : Dr. K.

Veeramani

A Publication of
DRAVIDAR KAZHAGAM
Periyar Thidal, Vepery, Chennai - 600 007.
PERIYAR 1000
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
(All about Periyar E.V.Ramasamy)
Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani
Translated by: Prof. S.F.N. Chelliah
Pages : 240 (1/8 Demmy)
Donation (Minimum) : Rs.50/- Rs.60/- Rs.70/- Rs.80/- Rs.90/- Rs.100/-
First Edition : 2013
Published by
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U
nlike world's other thinkers, Thanthai Periyar was an original thinker.
The enrichment of his thoughts is the seed of social development and
a weapon for social revolution.
In addition to this; his rationalistic thoughts are totally based on scientific
thinking. That is why we feel proud of calling him a 'rare social scientist'.
What is Science?
And who is a Scientist?
What is scientific temperament?
Even the teachers of science, do not seem to know the real meaning of science.
They only know science as 'a subject', 'a study', nothing more.
We are puzzled why they are not interested to know or to understand the real
meaning of science and to teach the students.
Science is not a subject like history or Civics. It is an evolutionary process. There
is no end to this process. It is a continuation. This is the basic difference between
the historical facts and scientific truths.
'Alexander came with his army and defeated the king Porus'. This is a historical
fact. This historical fact remains unchanged. But the scientific truth will not remain
the same. It is a continuous process. There is no finality. This scientific process will
never hesitate to replace the old by the new concepts and findings.
We can see in the field of research that a hypothesis will exist unchanged
until new source materials arrive. If the new one comes, the old one disappears.
Though the theory of 'Centre of Gravity' was Isaac Newton's, it was
confirmed and established by the researches of Mathematicians.
Before the advent of the theory of Evolution of Charles Darwin, there existed
Lamarckian theory and Scientists believed and accepted it.
But in course of time, Lamarckian theory lost its hold and was invalidated.
On the contrary Darwinian Theory of Evolution occupied the minds of the
people. And today we find the next stage of development of Darwinism, i.e the
development of the theory of Genes and Chromosomes.
 iv FOREWORD

Development is taking place in every department of science as in Newton's

theory of Centre of Gravity', and Albert Einstein's Theory of Relativity.
No more explanation is needed here. Thanthai Periyar said, 'Today you
call me a revolutionary; but after a couple of centuries, a stage may come to
call me 'a backward thinking man'.
What a splendid person he was!
This foresightedness of Thanthai Periyar clearly indicates his scientific
approach to everything.
Knowledge and science have no boundaries! Thoughts expressed by
the people who thought on the basis of science would be a shock to the
society in the beginning. They had to face the tempest of opposition. Then
the opposition slowly raged itself out. After the rage out of opposition the
influence and success of their ideologies would enhance.
As Karl Marx said, 'change is alone unchangeable. Periyar said, 'I have no
love for anything. But I love knowledge, I love development, and progress,
I love humanity'.
The doors of development are open only because of man's rationalistic
thinking. The donkey is kicking with its back legs for so many centuries. Is there
any change in the kicking of donkey? The barbarian was armed with bow and
arrow, but now man is carrying AK47-Automatic Machine Guns! Can anyone
deny this? The development of weapons like rockets is not an ordinary process
Thanthai Periyar has expressed the above idea only with this view.
If you want progress and development you must ask the questions 'Why,
How, By Whom, Which' often and often. Asking these questions quite often,
knowing the reasons and answers and then coming to a clear understanding
alone will help us to be scientific.
Keeping this background in mind, go through the 'new world' thoughts
of Thanthai Periyar and have a deep study. Like a calm and clear stream of
water, it will reveal truths.
That is why the world is getting ready to honour the 'brain' of Thanthai
Periyar. 'Vast world experience' and 'the affairs of day to day life' - are the
books, Periyar had studied.
Periyar knew human nature very well; so with his conviction he stood
firmly. He never cared for opposition, the mockery or insult inflicted on him'
 FOREWORD v

People believed that non-formal education will lead to ignorance and illiteracy
and that the intelligent people who had college and university education would
invent new things. Thanthai Periyar invalidated this concept throughout his life.
As Dr. B.R. Ambedkar observed they are only learned; but not intellectuals
who spoke for humanity at large.
Periyar was much worried about the self-respect of human beings. Dignity,
equality and equal rights of human beings were his goal. Periyar stood like
a volcano, like a tempest, like a cyclone, to break the barriers to achieve his
goal. This is the way of his life.
Self-respect, honour, dignity, and rationalistic thinking are precious
gifts from Periyar to humanity. This noble leader who lived for the sake of
others left his own property and the wealth he received from the public to
the people themselves.
The younger generation must know the philosophy of Periyar, the horrible
incidents that he faced in his life, his public service, his tour to spread his
ideology and follow his foot steps. It is just like taking medicines; Why do
we take medicine? Is it to satisfy the inventor or doctor or medicine sellers?
No, Just for our health and cure. So also to listen to Periyar and follow him is
to reform ourselves.
With this aim the book 'Periyar - 1000 Questions and Answers (All about
Periyar E.V.Ramasamy)' is released as a compilation.
Learned scholars of Periyarism have taken much care and enthusiasm to
complete this work. Not only Dravidar Kazhagam but the entire humanity
will be grateful to them.
A lecture delivered by Periyar in 1942 called ‘The World to Come’ and the
life sketch of Thanthai Periyar are also annexed to this compilation.
Steps have been taken to publish this rare book in Hindi and in many other
languages. It is a very good weapon of knowledge to see the 21st century as
Periyar's century.
Learn this carefully
Without errors, and doubts,
Then follow the foot steps of
Thanthai Periyar!
K. VEERAMANI
Chennai, President,
14.01.2013. Dravidar Kazhagam.
A Note from
the Translator

N o doubt, this compilation is very exhaustive in

specific details and accurate informations on
everything about Periyar. The multiple choice method
is both absorbing and interesting. For those who want
to have a detailed thorough knowledge of Periyar’s
public and private life, his achievements and struggles,
the compliments and accusations he received are all
chronologically and topicwise classified. The 9 chapters
craftily assigned, have an academic structure to educate
the reader, whether literate or illiterate. This is surely a
very useful and purposeful attempt on the biographical
sketch of Periyar sufficiently highlighting his struggles,
achievements, performances and public recognition.
I strongly recommend this book for an authentic
enlightenment on Periyar’s greatness
Chennai,
14.01.2013. Prof. S.F.N.Chelliah
A Note of
Appreciation

I whole heartily congratulate our scholars who have

compiled this volume of questions and answers about
Thanthai Periyar. It is true, it is a marvellous work! Those
who read this book, certainly will come to know the
history of Madras Presidency, especially the history of
the Non-Brahmin movement. Moreover this book gives
enormous source materials to the researchers of Dravidian
Movement
As our beloved leader Dr. K. Veeramani said, “the
scholars have taken much care and enthusiasm to
complete this work. Not only Dravidar kazhagam,
but the entire humanity will be grateful to them”. And
Prof. S.F.N. Chelliah deserves congratulations for this
wonderful translation. I appeal to the Vice-Chancellors of
Tamil Nadu universities to recommend this compilation
which contains accurate and authentic information, to
their students as a text book
Erode,
14.01.2013. Dr. P. Kalimuthu
viii PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

1 HIS FAMILY AND HIS OWN HISTORY ................................................. 1

Prof. P.Subramanian, M.Sc., M.Ed.,

2 VAIKOM - CHERANMADEVI – KANCHIPURAM.............................. 23

Dr. P.Rajadurai, M.A., Ph.D

3 PERIYAR AND PUBLIC LIFE ................................................................. 45

Prof. N.Srinivasan, M.A, M.Phil.,

4 THE ADVENT OF SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENTITS

EVOLUTION 1925 - 1931 ......................................................................... 61
Mr.S.Arivukkarasu, M.A., M.Phil.,

5 PHILOSOPHY, THOUGHTS AND OBJECTIVES................................. 86

Prof. G.V.K.Aasaan, M.A., B.L.

6 LITERATURE .......................................................................................... 114

Prof. N.Vetrialagan, M.A., B.Ed.,

7 PARTY STRUCTURES AND INSTITUTIONS .................................... 133

Mr. Durai.Chakravarthi, M.A.

8 THE CONTEMPORARIES .................................................................... 149

Prof. A.Iraiyan, B.A., B.T.

9 PHOTO INFORMATIONS..................................................................... 168

Poet Kali.Poongunran

10 ANNEXURE -I ........................................................................................ 193

The World to Come

11 ANNEXURE -II ....................................................................................... 204

Periyar E.V.Ramasamy - A Biographical Sketch
 CHAPTER - I

HIS FAMILY AND HIS OWN

HISTORY
z Prof P. Subramanian M.Sc., M.Ed.,

1) Periyar was born on 17th September, in the year?

a) 1869 b) 1879
c) 1901 d) 1885
2) The name of Periyar’s father is
a) Krishnasamy Naicker b) Venkatappa Naicker
c) Venkatta Naicker d) Ramasamy Naicker
3) The name of Periyar’s mother is
a) Chinna Thayammal b) Kannammal
c) Ponnuthayammal d) Nallammal
4) If you mention ‘Naicker’ in Erode in 1880s it would denote
only
a) Krishnasamy Naicker b) Venkatappa Naicker
c) Velu Naicker d) Ramasamy Naicker
 2 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

5) The order of Periyar among the children of his parents is

a) First b) Second
c) Seventh d) Tenth
6) The city that takes the pride of Periyar having been born in is
a) Tiruchirappalli b) Vaikom
c) Erode d) Dharmapuri
7) As Ramasamy was given in his tender age adoption to his
father’s aunt, he grew
a) Uncontrollable
b) Very quietly
c) Grew independently with his own original thinking
d) Showing a lot of interest in studies
8) The number of years Periyar spent in schooling is
a) 5 years b) 10 years
c) 8 years d) Intermediate
9) When Periyar was a small boy, his father was engaged in
a) Agriculture b) Stone worker
c) Teaching d) Commerce
10) The reason for Venkata Naicker becoming wealthy after having
suffered in poverty was
a) Receiving properties from his mother-in-law
b) Hard work and his wife’s support
c) He found a treasure on breaking stones in the field
d) He received huge amount from the Britishers for having
been loyal to them
11) The milk consumed by Periyar in his childhood
a) Cow's Milk b) Mother's Milk
c) Goat's Milk d) Buffalo's Milk
12) The most favourite child for his parents was
a) E.V.Ramasamy b) E.V.Kannammal
c) E.V.Krishnasamy d) E.V.Ponnuthai
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 3

13) The reason for Periyar being chained in both his legs when he
was ten years old
a) Playing at the top of trees
b) Mixing up with the untouchables and eating their
eatables
c) Running away from the town quite often
d) Not showing due respect to the elders and his teachers
14) The Explanation Periyar offered when the board was made to
fall on Ramanath Iyer’s head, so that he could teach a lesson
for his oft-quoted ‘fate’ for any happening was
a) Sorry. I knocked it by mistake
b) This is also your fate
c) I did not knock it, it fell because of the wind
d) It fell because the supporting rod was broken
15) Periyar’s age when he married Nagammai was
a) 19 b) 15 c) 24 d) 21
16) Nagammai’s age when she married Periyar was
a) 18 b) 17 c) 13 d) 19
17) The device which Periyar used to stop his wife from going to
the temple was
a) Fighting
b) Setting rogues to threaten her
c) Taking her to public meetings
d) Did none of these
18) The two principles of Periyar’s wife Nagammai, pointed out
by Samy Chithambaranar are
a) Fasting and serving the husband in all his needs
b) Supporting Periyar in all his endeavours
c) Feeding the Brahmins and conducting religious
discourses
d) Doing service to the father-in-law and mother-in-law,
and doing the household chores
19) When Periyar renounced and went to Benares he was
a) 24 b) 26 c) 25 d) 23
 4 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

20) The reason for the two Brahmins, who were accompanying
Periyar to Benares, but leaving him later was
a) They went to their relative’s houses
b) They went to the temples as they knew religious prayers
(manthras)
c) Only the Brahmins were fed in all the inns
d) They did not tolerate Periyar’s stubbornness
21) Periyar went to Benares with a hope that he would find life
perfect and neat. He found
a) Benares was a holy place
b) Benares was perfect and neat
c) Benares was full of people of good conduct and honesty
d) Benares was filled with wickedness and prostitution
22) Periyar was from a wealthy family. But he was so helpless,
looking for food from cast away leaves. This was because
a) He had distributed all his wealth
b) He gave up his family orthodoxy
c) He lived the life of a mendicant
d) He was driven out by the family
23) Periyar staunchly denied god, but he continued to be the head
of several Devasthanams (religious organisations.) It was
because
a) He worshipped god in secret
b) He was afraid of offending god
c) He accepted it on the insistence of his father
d) He received good income from it
24) The year in which Periyar’s father died was
a) 1911 b) 1912 c) 1919 d) 1949
25) An apt illustration for Periyar’s human benevolence is
a) He founded hospitals in many towns
b) He respected even the devotees
c) He constructed good , many drinking water centres
through his followers
d) When a lot of people died due to the disease Blake,
Periyar carried many of the dead bodies on his shoulders
to be buried
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 5

26) What was the social status of Periyar when he was elected
Chairman of Erode Municipality?
a) He was in office of about 29 service organisations
b) He was an ordinary citizen
c) He was the owner of a thousand acre land
d) He was a labourer in breaking stones in utter poverty
27) The year in which Periyar was the Chairman of Erode
Municipality was
a) 1905 b) 1910 c) 1919 d) 1925
28) When Periyar was the Chairman of Erode Municipality,
Rajagopalachari was the Chairman of Salem Muncipality.
Quite impressed with Periyar’s administrative acumen,
Rajagopalachari requested Periyar for a favour. It was
a) Periyar himself should be the Chairman also for Salem
b) A request to lend the services of his Sanitary Inspector to
Salem Municipality
c) A request to transfer the Administrative Manager of
Erode Municipality to Salem Municipality
d) A request to Periyar that he himself should personally
supervise the administrative reforms in Salem
29) The title recommended Periyar when he was the Chairman of
Erode Municipality
a) Rao Bahadur b) Rao Saheb
c) Doctor d) Sir
30) The total number of workers in the Madras State Income Tax
Office, when Periyar was its member was
a) 15 b) 7 c) 9 d) 3
31) The food that Periyar offered to Singampatti Zamindar in his
honour when he visited Erode was
a) Non-Vegetarian
b) High class Vegetarian
c) Ordinary hotel food
d) Ordinary food prepared at home
 6 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

32) An incident at home that deeply affected Periyar was

a) Offerings to the Brahmins
b) Discourses
c) Caste distinctions
d) His niece's widowhood at a tender age
33) Periyar is a person who proclaimed that women are not
inferior to men. Based on this, he conducted a remarriage of
a widow in 1909. She was
a) His sister b) His sister’s daughter
c) His daughter d) His brother’s daughter
34) How many children were born to Periyar who propagated
family planning and Nagammai?
a)13
b) None
c) A girl baby was born but died in five months
d) 2 boys and one girl
35) Periyar complimented on Nagammai that she lived and desired
to live, not for her sake but for his sake. She died in
a) 1933 b) 1961
c) 1947 d) 1952
36) Which magazine in Singapore published the self respect call
of Nagammai in Malaysia?
a) Ina Murasu b) Munnetram
c) Kaalaikathir d) Thamizh Murasu

37) The decision that Periyar took at the demise of Nagammai was
a) Denouncing the worldly life
b) He felt he had become an orphan
c) He felt he had now more time to spend in public service
d) He decided not to participate in Mangala (Happy)
occasions, as he had become a widower

38) Defying the 144 Preventive Act, Periyar conducted a Christian

marriage, the very next day of Nagammai’s death. It was in
a) Thanjavur b) Salem
c) Tiruchirappalli d) Karaikudi
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 7

39) The Venkata Naicker Charity Hospital that is functioning even

today was started by
a) Chinnathai Ammal b) Venkata Naicker
c) Krishnasamy Naicker d) E.V.Ramasamy Naicker
40) When Chinnathai, mother of Periyar died, she was
a) 95 b) 60 c) 90 d) 85
41) The title offered to E.V.Ramasamy in 1938, at the Women’s
Conference in Chennai was
a) Vaikom Hero
b) Periyar
c) Lion of Erode
d) Venthadi Vendar (while bearded king)
42) The magazine in which Thiru.Vi.Ka. wrote about Periyar was
a) Kudi Arasu b) Dravidan
c) Navasakthi d) Navamani
43) The address made as a result of the meeting of the three great:
Periyar, Muhamad Ali Jinnah and Ambedkar in Bombay in
08.01.1940 was on
a) Hindu Muslim Unity
b) Eradication of caste differences
c) The division of the nation
d) Destroying god
44) The name that Periyar suggested to be given to India, when
Gandhi died was
a) Hindu Desam
b) Mahatma Desam
c) Gandhi Desam
d) Ahimsai (Non-violence) Desam
45) Between 1934 and 1959, for a period of 25 years Periyar never
failed to attend the function he had agreed to participate. But
he could not attend only one function. It was because
a) He was ill, admitted in a hospital
b) His wife died
c) His car was damaged
d) The police did not permit him
 8 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

46) The day Periyar was rumored to have been shot dead was
a) 14-7-1949 b) 5-8-1961
c) 31-10-1984 d) 30-1-1948
47) The real name of Maniammai who was later named Arasial
Mani (Political Mani) was
a) Shanthimathi b) Gandhimathi
c) Banumathi d) Chandramathi
48) The reason for Periyar marrying Maniammai at 70 was
a) To beget heirs
b) To enjoy conjugal pleasures
c) To look after him at old age
d) An arrangement to legally safeguard the movement and
its properties
49) After listening to Periyar’s speech on equality and communism,
a person in the gathering asked Periyar what he had to say if
he (that person) wanted to marry Periyar’s wife Nagammai.
At this
a) Periyar was agitated
b) Periyar replied that she was to be asked
c) Periyar set rowdies on him and beat him up
d) He expressed disagreement
50) It was said, “He is the public property for the Tamils. He should
not be deserted like a public property, but everyone should
preserve him as his own property.” This was
a) On Arignar Anna by Periyar
b) Maniammai about Periyar
c) Kamaraj about Periyar
d) Periyar about Nagammai
51) The lady who protected Periyar with maternal love and looked
after his health till he died at 95 was
a) Nagammai b) Chinnathai
c) Maniammai d) Kannammal
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 9

52) The country to which Periyar travelled along with Maniammai

to participate in the World Buddhist Conference is
a) Russia b) Burma
c) China d) Singapore
53) The person who succeeded Periyar immediately after his death
to lead Periyar’s movement was
a) Kuthoosi Gurusamy b) Annadurai
c) K.Veeramani d) Maniammai
54) The day on which 'Ravanaleela' was conducted in Chennai
under the leadership of Maniammai was
a) 10-8-1971 b) 5-6-1944
c) 6-8-1998 d) 25-12-1974
55) The day on which Maniammai, who spearheaded the Self-
respect Movement started by Periyar, died was
a) 16-3-1978 b) 12-3-1978
c) 8-1-1978 d) 10-3-1978
56) The year in which Periyar conducted the procession for
breaking the idols of 'Vinayaka' was
a) 1953 b) 1948 c) 1965 d) 1921
57) The year in which Periyar in protesting against the caste based
educational system proposed by Rajagopalachariar and came
out successful was
a) 1949 b) 1960 c) 1954 d) 1965

58) The North Indian University in which Periyar addressed in

1958 is
a) Nalanda University b) Calcutta University
c) Lucknow University d) Benares University

59) The party of North India which invited Periyar to speak on

the eradication of caste in 1959 is
a) Congress party
b) Communist Party
c) All India Republican Party
d) All India Backward Class Party
10 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

60) The person who never visited Periyar's residence in Erode is

a) Lal Bahadur Sastry b) Jayaprakash Narayan
c) Mahatma Gandhi d) C.Rajagopalachari
61) Periyar was the personification of frugality. One of his
followers asked him why he was travelling in III class Rail.
His reply was
a) He had no money
b) He intended to meet more people
c) There was no fourth class rail
d) He could not get I class ticket
62) Periyar himself was a great leader. He admitted another great
as his leader. It was
a) Gandhi b)Socrates
c) Gnaniar Adigal d) None
63) The town that offered 76 sovereign gold on his 76th Birthday
was
a) Kancheepuram b) Salem
c) Nagapattinam d) Tanjore
64) The 'Thirukkural' which Periyar condemned was
a) There cannot be good times or bad times for those who
toil to improve their society
b) Think deeply before plunging into action
c) Learn everything properly and then act according to
what you have learnt
d) She, who worships her husband without worshipping
god will bring in rain at her word
65) The reason for Periyar often quoting 'Thirukkural' in his
meetings was
a) It was a common conduct code for all humanity
b) He wanted to strengthen his arguments
c) There were many principles in 'Thirukkural' acceptable
to Periyar
d) Everyone accepts 'Thirukkural'
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 11

66) Periyar denied both religion and caste, but he sported beard
like the religious sage. It was because
a) The Russian thinkers grew beard
b) He wanted to save time and money
c) He wanted people to revere him as a great man
d) He wanted to look handsome

67) “I have no wife or children. The only person who will cry at
my death is Periyar. These are the words of
a) Kamarajar b) Poet K.Imayavaramban
c) Thiru Vi.Ka d) Muthu Ramalinga Devar

68) Though he was against many principles of Periyar, he still

cherished a very deep friendship with Periyar. It was
a) Rajagopalachariar b) Rajaram Mohanroy
c) U.V.Saminatha Iyer d) Srinivasa Sastry

69) The revolutionary poet Bharati Dasan gave up singing about

god and religion after listening to the speech of Periyar. This
took place in
a) Tiruchirappalli b) Mayiladuthurai
c) Thanjavur d) Chidambram

70) Periyar often referred to “Onion” in his speeches. It was

because
a) He liked onions very much
b) He ran an onion depot
c) Onion was very pungent
d) Onion becomes nothing after peeling

71) “Periyar does not depend on quotations, but stands on his

own legs with his principles.” This was said by
a) Rajagopalachariar
b) Neelakanta Sastriar
c) Justice A.S.P.Iyer.
d) A.S.K
12 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

72) Periyar strongly condemned the appointment of a Brahmin as

the head of Untouchability Movement and Harijan Seva Sangh
during the Congress regime. In order to make an effective
impression, Periyar used a proverb. It was
a) I shall cry incessantly; you beat me up painless
b) Appointing fox to keep watch on the fried crab
c) On seeing a snake and a Brahmin at the same time, leave
the snake but beat the Brahmin
d) Applying mud on the person while having gone to bathe

73) The first town that offered to Periyar silver equal to his weight
was
a) Tiruchirappalli b) Salem
c) Erode d) Thanjavur

74) The parable that Periyar used to effectively explain his social
service was
a) Like bending the sky like a bow
b) Like spinning a rope out of sand
c) Pulling the mountain with hair tied to it. If it succeeds
the mountain is won or the hair is lost
d) Like carrying the earth on one’s head

75) Periyar who practiced severe frugality compared spending

more than earning to
a) Agriculture
b) Prostitution
c) Commerce
d) Selling illicit liquor

76) Periyar said that it is more cruel than killing a person as

starving him. It is
a) Not to offer education to a person
b) To live an orphan’s life
c) The child labour practice
d) To keep a widow alone without allowing her to die
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 13

77) A person listening to Periyar that Hindu religion should

be eradicated, asked him what the alternative he proposed.
Periyar replied
a) Join Buddhism
b) I have said there is a dirty object in the house. I ask you
to remove and clean the house. If you ask me for an
alternative, what can I say?
c) Join Islam
d) You all can join 'The Self-Respect Movement'
renouncing all religions

78) The phrase that Periyar often used was

a) The one who is well known as a Brahmin needs no
sacred thread
b) The country ruled by a Brahmin is a country inhabited
by ferocious tigers
c) Even the cheetah changes its spots; the Brahmin will not
shed his inborn evils
d) If you see a Brahmin and a snake at the same time, beat
the Brahmin first

79) A person once asked Periyar what he would do if god came

before him? Periyar replied
a) I will ask proof from him whether he is god
b) I shall accept in god, if he turns up
c) I shall ask for pardon from him
d) I will chase him out thrashing him

80) Periyar condemned all religions, but he picked Hindu religion

for severe attack. It was because
a) Most of the Indians follow Hindu religion
b) The people of the world did not accept Hindu religion
c) Hindu religion did not render any service in the field of
education
d) The evil of man humiliating man is practiced only in
Hindu religion
14 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

81) The explanation given by Periyar to erase the boards that

contained ‘Brahmanal Hotel’ was a
a) ‘Brahmins’s Hotel is not Tamil
b) He did not like the Brahmins
c) If one writes in a house in a street “This is the house of a
virtuous woman” what would it imply on the neighbours?
d) The Brahmins should not gain prominence in Tamil Nadu
82) The solution that Periyar offered to eradicate illiteracy was
a) A three month imprisonment for those who did not
learn to sign their name in 6 months
b) Schools should be started in every street
c) Education for adults should be started in all schools
d) The teachers should be encouraged with higher salaries
83) Who said “Both Periyar and the Daily ‘Viduthalai’ are my
loving enemies”?
a) Karunanidhi b) Kamarajar
c) Sankarachariyar d)Rajagopalachariar
84) Which is the city which has got the glory of erecting the full
size Statue of Periyar?
a) Chennai b) Erode
c) Tiruchirappalli d) Thanjavur
85) The award given to Periyar in 1970 was
a) Padma Bushan Award b) Chavaliere Award
c) UNESCO Award d) Nobel Prize
86) The honour given to Periyar in Salem in 1971
a) Presenting a silver throne
b) Presenting a van
c) Giving silver equal to his weight
d) Offering gold equal to his weight
87) During the funeral of Rajagopalachari, Periyar was seated on
a chair because of his illness. But out of respect for the visiting
President of India Periyar got down from the chair to sit down.
The President of India was
a) Neelam Sanjeevi Reddy b) V.V.Giri
c) Dr.Radhakrishnan d) Rajendra Prasad
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 15

88) Periyar used a phrase whenever he condemned Manudharma

that prescribed different justice for each caste. It was
a) There is one god; and one caste only
b) The daunting wife and a mat
c) Soap nut not for head; soap nut not for beard
d) Even if the gun lizard (udumbu) slips, it is enough if the
hands are let free
89) The sentence that is not connected with Periyar is
a) There is no god, no god, no god at all
b) Those who believe in god will not be deserted
c) Honour and reason are jewels of man
d) The life of self respect alone is pleasant
90) Periyar spoke non-stop in Mayiladuthurai on 8-9-1956 for
a) 2 Hours and 30 minutes b) 4 Hours and 30 minutes
c) 3 Hours and 25 minutes d) 2 Hours and 48 minutes
91) In 1944, a chappal (footwear) was thrown at Periyar in
Cuddalore. In the same venue, Periyar’s statue was erected in
1972. Poet Karunanandam wrote a poem. It was
a) The Chappal of Raman ruled the country
b) The stout hearted hero who uprooted the aggressors
c) The king who uprooted the bunch of thorns
of superstitions
d) If we plant a chappal, a statue will spring
92) A lady fell at the feet of Periyar during his Malaysia visit. She
requested
a) Money
b) That she might be cured of her illness
c) For begetting a child
d) For the cure of her only child from illness

93) Periyar who lived a life of frugality, bequeathed all his

properties to
a) His brother Krishnaswamy
b) His nephew E.V.K.Sampath
c) The brother of Maniammai
d) None of the above
16 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

94) The garlands given to Periyar were used by him

a) Bringing them home
b) Selling them after separating the threads
c) Auctioning them in the same public meeting
d) Leaving them on the stage
95) Periyar declared that garlanding him was a waste of money.
He suggested an alternative which was
a) Falling at the feet of the person to be respected
b) Keeping off, with folded arms in reverence
c) Paying the cost in cash
d) Shaking hands in reverence
96) The place and time of Periyar’s last speech were
a) 15-2-1973 Thanjavur Thilagar Thidal
b) 12-3-1972 Periyar Thidal, Chennai
c) 19-2-1975 Madurai Thamukkam grounds
d) 19-12-1973 Thiyagaraya Nagar, Chennai
97) The last conference conducted in 1973 by Periyar in Chennai
was
a) Conference of rationalist writers
b) Conference of eradication of caste among Tamils
c) Social Justice
d) Self-respect
98) The "Sun of Rationalism" Periyar died on
a) 24-12-1973 b)24-4-1977
c) 17-9-1972 d) 19-11-1978

99) The Hospital in which Periyar breathed his last was

a) C.S.I. Hospital, Tiruchirappalli
b) The General Hospital, Thanjavur
c) C.M.C. Hospital, Vellore
d) The Kilpauk Govt.Hospital, Chennai
100) Periyar hailed from a wealthy family. He lived an affluent
life throughout. But he was never a victim of wealth. He
bequeathed all his property, accumulated through strict frugal
measures to
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 17

a) To trust to utilize for common welfare measures

b) To be shared among his kith and kin
c) To the party members of the Dravidar Kazhagam
d) To be shared among those who were arrested for
burning the Constitution
101) The life span of this atheist Periyar is
a) 49 years 5 months and 8 days
b) 101 years 9 months and 3 days
c) 94 years 3 months and 7 days
d) 95 years 9 months and 9 days
102) The number of days Periyar spent on travelling to propagate
human love was
a) 8200 days b) 8100 days
c) 3600 days d) 4200 days
103) The number of functions Periyar participated to bring forth
society of equality
a) 9,989 b) 3,074
c) 10,700 d) 10,600
104) As a globe trotting youth, to spread the rationalism, the
distance travelled by Periyar was how many fold of the earth's
diameter?
a) 15 times of the earth’s diameter
b) 8 times of the earth’s diameter
c) 33 times of the earth’s diameter
d) 3 times of the earth’s diameter

105) Periyar never feared prison. The number of times he was

imprisoned was
a) 121 b) 88
c) 19 d) 5

106) The one who was applauded by G.K.Mooppanar as ‘the child

of Periyar’ was
a) Kalaignar Karunanidhi b) Perarignar Anna
c) K.Veeramani d) Maniammai
 18 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

107) The name of Gandhimathi was changed into Arasial Mani

(Political Mani) in
a) 1944 during the Conference of Justice Party in Salem
b) In 1938, in the Conference of women
c) In 1938, in Kanchipuram during anti-Hindi agitation
d) In 1937, in the Conference of the Tamils in Tiruchirappalli
108) Kundrakudi Adigalar offered a title of honour to Periyar on
12-9-1956 on the occasion of Periyar’s 78th birthday. It was
a) The Hero of Vaikom
b) The Sun of Rationalism
c) Thanthai (Father) Periyar
d) Hero of Self- Respect
109) A great man remarked at Periyar, “Fortunately you did not
take up the profession of a lawyer. Had you become one, the
world of the lawyers would have suffered much.” This was
said by
a) V.O. Chidambaranar
b) Somasundara Bharathiar
c) Rajagopalachariar
d) Srinivasa Iyenger

110) When Periyar attended a Conference at Mallasamudram, in

Tiruchengode Taluk, Salem District, he became very hungry.
At this time he ate
a) Food brought from home
b) Food from the hotel
c) Boiled rice flour sold by a lady on the street
d) Food prepared for the Conference

111) When Periyar said that Ramayanam should be burnt, someone

asked him to burn also Maha Bharatham. It was
a) Subramaniya Bharathi b) Somasundara Bharathi
c) Suddhananda Bharathi d) Bharathi Dasanar

112) The magazine in which Periyar wrote his anti-Hindi ideas was
a) Navamani b) Tamil Nadu
c) Kudi Arasu d) India
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 19

113) The philanthropist who financially helped to run ‘Viduthalai’ was

a) Raja Annamaliyar
b) R.K.Shanmugam
c) Arjunan of Palayakottai
d) Azhagappar
114) Periyar suggested that Dhoti could be worn after stitching,
like a lunge. It was because
a) It will not be disturbed by wind
b) He wanted to be dressed like a Muslim
c) It will give a good look
d) It will not be torn easily
115) When Periyar was in the school, his parents had advised him
to drink water only in the teacher’s house and not in the low
caste people’s houses nearby. But Periyar still did not drink
water in the teacher’s house because
a) Periyar feared the teacher very much
b) The teacher’s house was far away from the school
c) The teacher’s daughter cleaned the tumbler after he drank
from it and reprimanded him for drinking water keeping
the tumbler at the lips, which caused hiccup for him
d) The water at the teacher’s house was not portable

116) A protest was shown against Periyar when he spoke in a

meeting in Yeengur near Erode. The protest was
a) Stone throwing
b) Egg throwing
c) Ash throwing
d) Chappal throwing

117) The news of the death of Nagammai in 1933 was conveyed to

Periyar during a public meeting in
a) Erode
b) Jolarpet
c) Mayiladuthurai
d) Thanjavur
 20 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

118) In Erode, a customer of Periyar’s onion depot was wonder

struck at seeing a big wall-clock, with its pendulum swinging
endlessly. The customer asked how the pendulum kept
swinging. Periyar replied that a person sitting inside the
wall clock was swinging it, just to fool him. The customer on
hearing the reply said
a) I cannot believe it; you are teasing me
b) You operate it with your magical powers
c) A person appointed only for this! Oh, yes. You are rich
and can afford to have any number of persons
d) It is not good sign to ring bell in the Depot

119) The opinion of Periyar about gratitude is

a) It is an act to be shown by the benefactor; it is silly to
expect it by the one who helped
b) It is fate that one should help another and so it is a waste
to show gratitude
c) It is only natural that the person who helped expects
gratitude and there is nothing wrong
d) It is not good to forget gratitude; rather it is forgotten
soon

120) Periyar used to appreciate food offered to him by friends and

well wishers, even though it was pungent and bland. It was
because
a) He used to be very hungry
b) Those who offered food with love should be pleased
c) If it was kept for long, it might be spoiled
d) He wanted his friends to develop the habit of offering
food to others

121) The great service rendered by Maniammai when she became

the Secretary of the Movement was
a) Selling large number of books
b) She took great care on the health of Periyar
c) Undertook many travels to propagate
d) Administered the functioning of ‘Viduthalai’
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 21

122) When Maniammai took up the responsibility of the movement,

there were huge collections of books unsold and kept in the
office of Kudi Arasu. The cost of those unsold books was
a) 2 lakh rupees b) 4 lakh rupees
c) 5 lakh rupees d) 50 thousand rupees
123) When Periyar returned from his trip to Benares his father
asked him how he managed his food. His reply was
a) He ate in the hotels
b) He ate in his relative’s house
c) He ate in his friend’s house
d) He collected back all the charity distributed
124) Periyar practiced frugality even though he was rich. He once
requested his father to pay his elder brother some money.
His father reprimanded him for his spend thriftiness. Periyar
replied that
a) It was the duty of the fathers to pay money to their children
b) We did not spend money in luxury, but on what was
needed
c) Your father was a cart man but my father was a rich man
d) He would return in future all he received from his father
125) A Governor observed that Periyar is a person who did not
know what fear was. It was
a) Sir K.V.Reddy b) Khurana
c) P.C.Alexander d) K.K.Shah
22 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

ANSWERS
(1) b (2) c (3) a
(4) b (5) b (6) c
(7) c (8) a (9) d
(10) b (11) c (12) c
(13) b (14) b (15) a
(16) c (17) b (18) b
(19) c (20) c (21) d
(22) c (23) c (24) a
(25) d (26) a (27) c
(28) b (29) a (30) d
(31) c (32) d (33) b
(34) c (35) a (36) b
(37) c (38) c (39) c
(40) a (41) b (42) c
(43) c (44) c (45) c
(46) a (47) b (48) d
(49) b (50) b (51) c
(52) b (53) d (54) d
(55) a (56) a (57) c
(58) c (59) c (60) a
(61) c (62) d (63) c
(64) d (65) c (66) b
(67) c (68) a (69) b
(70) d (71) c (72) b
(73) d (74) c (75) b
(76) d (77) b (78) b
(79) b (80) d (81) c
(82) a (83) d (84) c
(85) c (86) a (87) b
(88) c (89) b (90) b
(91) d (92) c (93) d
(94) b (95) c (96) d
(97) b (98) a (99) c
(100) a (101) c (102) a
(103) c (104) c (105) c
(106) c (107) a (108) d
(109) c (110) c (111) b
(112) c (113) b (114) d
(115) c (116) c (117) b
(118) c (119) a (120) b
(121) b (122) c (123) d
(124) c (125) a
 CHAPTER - II

VAIKOM - CHERANMADEVI -
KANCHIPURAM

z Dr. P. Rajadurai M.A., Ph.D.,

1) Vaikom is a town in the State of

a) Andhra b) Kerala
c) Karnataka d) Tamilnadu

2) There was no caste in ancient Dravida Nadu. But those who

introduced caste systems here are ?
a) Mangolians
b) Phrases
c) Aryans
d) Britishers

3) The foundation on which caste system stands, is

a) Discrimination by birth
b) Discrimination by profession
c) Discrimination by economic status
d) Discrimination by physical appearance
24 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

4) The discrimination as enshrined in Varna Dharma, caused

innumerable hardships and humiliations to the Sudras and
the backward classes, sanctioning several social restrictions
on them. There started a great struggle for human dignity in
Vaikom against such discrimination. This battle was started
based on
a) The suppressed classes should be made archakas
b) Malayalam should be the language of worship
c) The suppressed people should have the right to walk
along the four paths around the temple
d) The suppressed should have the right to enter the temple
5) The person who inspired Vaikom struggle was?
a) Periyar b) Gandhi
c) T.K.Madhavan d) George Joseph
6) There was a debate initiated in a Kerala magazine in 1919
(The first day of Dhanu 1093) about the suppressed classes
entering the temple. The magazine was
a) West coast spectator b) Malayala Manorama
c) Desabimani d) Kerala Kaumudi

7) When Sremath Mannath Krishnan Nair was the Divan, a

request was submitted in the Travancore Assembly regarding
the temple entry of the lower caste people. The person who
placed this request was
a) T.K.Madhavan b) Sangunni Nair
c) George Joseph d) Kelappan

8) During the debate on this request, a person was talking about

temple entry for Sudras. It was
a) Moolur S.Padmanabha Panicker b) A.K.Pillai
c) K.P. Kesava Menon d) Kelappan

9) When T.K. Madhavan was about to read this request, a person

observed “You may read the petition. But I am ashamed that
others are going to mock at us, which I cannot bear. Therefore
I go to the back seat”. This person was
a) Moolur S.Padmanabha Panicker b) A.K.Pillai
c) Sangunni Nair d) Kelappan
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 25

10) The day after T.K. Madhavan read the request, he received
a telegram, sent by his brother. It mentioned that his wife
lost her eye sight all at once. A Namboothiri by the side of
Madhavan Nair, said on hearing this that
a) He was sorry at the news
b) He would pray for a speedy recovery
c) Be consoled
d) Only yesterday you asked for the entry into the temple.
See how fast the sequence has come!”

11) On this issue, a magazine coming from Quilon Savarna (upper

caste) wrote that
a) The Avarnas should be granted temple entry
b) The Avarnas should be allowed to become archakas
c) It was unjust to deny them entry based on caste
d) They should not be given temple entry rights, but should
be beaten up instead

12) T.K.Madhavan made a request regarding this to Gandhi who

was travelling the South at that time. He met Gandhi in this
regard in
a) Madurai b) Chennai
c) Thirunelveli d) Tiruchendur

13) When T.K.Madhavan presented his request second time that

all should have temple entry right in the council to the Divan,
who was
a) Srimath Mannth Krishnan Nair
b) Divan Bahadur Krishnan Nair
c) Divan Bahadur Ragaviah
d) C.P.Ramasamy Iyer

14) The Divan rejected the petition when it was submitted third
time, saying, that the temple entry was a religious subject and
it cannot therefore be debated in the council. The Divan was
a) Srimath Mannath Krishnan Nair
b) Divan Bahadur Krishnan Nair
c) Divan Bahadur Raghava Iyer
d) Sir C.P.Ramasamy Iyer
26 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

15) The petition was rejected on the third time. T.K.Madhavan

requested the Divan for an appointment with the King. Divan
Ragaviah refused even this request. T.K.Madhavan told him,
“You have rejected the petition in the Council. You have denied
us permission to meet the king. Now there is no other option
left for us except all of us deserting Travancore. On hearing
this Divan replied
a) Be patient for some time
b) We shall take it up later
c) You may leave Travancore to avoid the problems and inform
d) He will consult the King
16) T.K.Madhavan, after his petition being rejected and his request
to meet the King also being rejected, he
a) Kept quiet
b) Kept complaining
c) Joined the Congress party in 1923 in Kerala
d) Desired to enter journalism
17) The achievement that T.K.Madhavan made in the Kakinada
Congress was
a) He made an impressive lecture
b) He said he had resolved to work for Independence
c) He insisted on the Congress passing a resolution for
the eradication of castes, with the President of the
Conference Mr.Mohamed Ali
d) He strongly condemned caste distinctions
18) Congress accepted T.K.Madhavan’s request to hold as their
primary object to eradicate castes. Congress, consequently
decided on a plan of action to
a) Not to interfere with the religious issues
b) Hold the Independence as their main object
c) Take anything only after Independence
d) Allow the state Congress leaders to work for the
eradication of untouchability, depending on the climate
of their state
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 27

19) The first war fought by the Kerala Congress after this clause
was
a) The struggle to enter the Agraharam in Kalpathi
b) Vaikom Rights Struggle
c) Struggle for all becoming archakas
d) Struggle for the use of one’s mother tongue in
worshipping
20) Periyar declared in public that Gandhi was all for caste
discriminations to be practiced in the temples and public
wells and tanks. It was a hypocratic show of Gandhi that
he was against castes. He said these facts in the meetings
conducted in
a) Iranial, Marthandam b) Thirunelveli, Kanyakumari
c) Kottampatti, Madurai d) Virudunagar, Aruppukottai
21) When Periyar was the Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Congress,
the Congress party gave money to Periyar to build separate
schools and temples for the 'Pariahs', 'Sakkiliars' and the
'Brahmins'. The amount paid was
a) One lakh rupees b) Fifty thousand rupees
c) Forty eight thousand rupees d) Two lakh rupees
22) Periyar said that the Vaikom struggle started on a very small
issue. There was a court of law functioning in the palace of the
King. Sheds were constructed in the palace to celebrate King’s
birthday. P.A.Madhavan B.A.,B.L., a low caste advocate was
prevented from entering the Pandal. He belonged to
a) Theeyar Community b) Ezhava community
c) Nayadi community d) Nair community
23) T.K.Madhavan of Ezhava Community, Lawyer Madhavan
and K.P.Kesava Menon decided to hold sathyagraha in a place
where there was a temple surrounded by four roads. This place
was
a) Vaikom b) Quilon
c) Thiruvananthapuram d) Changanancherry
24) Gandhi wrote a letter to Kesava Menon permitting him to
start the Satyagraha on
a) 15-3-1924 b) 16-3-1924
c) 17-3-1924 d) 18-3-1924
28 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

25) This procession was banned by the Government on

a) 26-2-1924 b) 28-2-1924
c) 27-2-1924 d) 29-2-1924
26) As the procession was banned they gave up the procession but
decided to hold the Sathyagraha on
a) 28-3-1924 b) 29-3-1924
c) 30-3-1924 d) 31-3-1924
27) An office for publicity for Vaikom struggle was started. Its
name was
a) Office of Sathyagraha
b) Office of the Struggle Committee
c) Satyagraha Ashram
d) Office of Satyagraham
28) Both K.P.Kesava Menon and T.K.Madhavan were arrested on
a) 07-04-1924 b) 08-04-1924
c) 09-04-1924 d) 10-04-1924
29) On 07-04-1924, a lady made an appeal to people, asking for
support for the Satyagraha, and for the strengthening of the
movement more and more. When pigs and dogs freely use the
roads, it could not be used by a human being. Can there be
anything more harmful to Hinduism than this? who was the
lady?
a) Mrs.T.K.Madhavan
b) Mrs.K.P.Kesava Menon
c) Mrs. George Joseph
d) Mrs. A.K.Pillai
30) A.K.Pillai, Velayuda Menon and Kelappan were arrested on
a) 08-04-1924 b) 09-04-1924
c) 10-04-1924 d) 11-4-1924
31) George Joseph was arrested on
a) 11-02-1924 b) 12-02-1924
c) 10-04-1924 d) 15-4-1924
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 29

32) Seeing the front line leaders getting arrested, and the
movement losing its momentum, an English daily from
Madras wrote a note of regret. This magazine was
a) The Hindu b) Justice
c) New India d) Madras
33) Two leaders requested Periyar through a letter to lead the
agitation in the absence of a leader. They were
a) Barriester George Joseph & Kesava Menon
b) T.K.Madhavan Lawyer Madhavan
c) A.K.Pillai and Velayudha Menon
d) Kelappan and Mrs. T.K.Madhavan
34) Periyar received this letter when he was addressing a
meeting in
a) Kailasapuramb) Visuvasapuram
c) Pannaipuram d) Villupuram
35) Periyar reached Vaikom on
a) 13-04-1924 b) 14-04-1924
c) 15-04-1924 d) 16-4-1924
36) On 13-4-1924 in the meeting participated by many leaders it
was decided to change the place of Sathyagraha to
a) Thiruvananthapuram b) Cochin
c) Quilon d) The Kottayam
37) On the very day 13-4-1924 Periyar reached Vaikom, he
addressed a meeting for three hours in
a) Cochin
b) Thiruvananthapuram
c) Ernakulam
d) The tankbund road, Vaikom
38) On 17-4-1924, in the public meeting four persons spoke. One
of them proclaimed then that if this Sathyagraha could not be
made a success by the men, women should gather and succeed.
The speaker was
a) Govindan Sanar b) Ayyamuthu Gounder
c) Ramakrishna Dass d) Naraini Ammal
30 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

39) The report that Periyar E.V.R., Dr. Emperumal Naidu and
Govindan Sanar were lecturing in different parts of the State
was made on
a) 20-04-1924 b) 21-04-1924
c) 22-04-1924 d) 23-4-1924
40) The Magistrate of Thiruvananthapuram ordered banning of
the propaganda of Periyar and Ayyamuthu Gounder on
a) 27-04-1924 b) 28-04-1924
c) 29-04-1924 d) 30-4-1924
41) This order was condemned by a magazine in Madras
a) Justice b) Dravidian
c) Swedesamithiran d) The Hindu
42) The one who defied the ban order and was punished was
a) Ayyamuthu Gounder
b) Emperumal Naidu
c) Mannath Padmanaba Pillai
d) Sithodu Sangu Pillai
43) A Joint Committee of Nair and Ezhavar for conducting struggle
was formed. The members being E.V.R., Dr.Emperumal
Naidu, Mannath Padmanabha Pillai, M.Mathunni, Sithodu
Sangu Pillai, Ramakrishna Das, Ayyammuthu Gounder,
A.C.Govindan Sanar. This was conveyed to the Government.
The meeting of this committee took place on
a) 8-05-1924 b) 09-05-1924
c) 10-05-1924 d) 11-05-1924
44) N.Sivathanu Pillai was appointed as person in charge of the
Sathyagraha, till the return of the Committee or E.V.R. on
a) 08-05-1924 b) 09-05-1924
c) 10-05-1924 d) 11-05-1924
45) Gandhi wrote that George Joseph should not lead the
Sathyagraha in the magazine
a) The Hindu b) West Coast Spectator
c) Young India d) New India
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 31

46) A famous man wrote to George Joseph who worked hard for
Vaikom Sathyagraha. “It is wrong that you have participated
in the affair relating to the Hindu religion”. It was
a) C.Rajagopalachari b) Vijaya Ragavachariar
c) Sathyamurthy Iyer d) Vaidyanatha Iyer
47) The third ban order on Periyar was passed by the Magistrate on
a) 13-05-1924 b) 14-05-1924
c) 15-05-1924 d) 16-05-1924
48) Periyar defied the ban order and was imprisoned at
a) Vaikom lock-up b) Karur Police station
c) Poojapuram Prison‘ d) Kottayam Lock-up
49) The person who ordered that it was not good for the
sathyagrahis to receive the free food from the charity house
of the Akalis (Sikhs)and that they should stop it at once was
a) C.Rajagopalachari b) Gandhi
c) Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
d) Kerala Congress Committee
50) When Periyar was locked up in prison, the Namboodiri
Brahmins and some orthodox Hindus jointly conducted a yaga
to destroy both the Sathyagraha and persons like Periyar. The
name of the yaga was
a) Aswametha Yagam b) Buddira Kameshti Yagam
c) Sathru Sangara Yagam d) Rajasooya Yagam
51) Gandhi asked the members of the Congress Working
Committee not to participate in the Sathyagraha and also the
non-Hindus should not participate. This was condemned by
a Kerala magazine on 24-5-1924. The magazine was
a) Malayala Manorama b) Srivazhum Kodu
c) Bowran d) Malayalee
52) When EVR Maniammai along with 4 women, tried to enter
the temple, Mrs. Govindan Sanar alone was not allowed to
enter the temple and hence, Mrs.EVR also refused to enter
the temple. This happened on
a) 18-05-1924 b) 19-05-1924
c) 20-05-1924 d) 21-05-1924
32 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

53) Six women including E.V.R.Nagammai held Sathyagraha on

a) 02-06-1924 b) 03-06-1924
c) 04-06-1924 d) 05-06-1924
54) Govindhan Sanar and the Bajanai Sangh members went to
receive Periyar who was to be released from prison on
a) 20-06-1924 b) 21-06-1924
c) 22-06-1924 d) 23-06-1924
55) There was a heated discussion between E.V.R. Nagammai and
the police officials who prevented her from entering the temple
on
a) 10-07-1924 b) 11-07-1924
c) 12-07-1924 d) 13-07-1924
56) Mrs. Nagammai’s Kerala travel propaganda plan was
announced on
a) 24-08-1924 b) 25-08-1924
c) 26-08-1924 d) 27-08-1924
57) “Chained at the legs, a cap of a prisoner on his head, a dhoti
that hangs below the knee, a placard showing the number
of the prisoner hanging from the neck, E.V.Ramasamy was
languishing in the prison along with the murderers and
robbers. He is doing double the labour that a punished prisoner
does.” The person who wrote this about Periyar in prison was
a) K.P.Kesava Menon b) T.K.Madhava Menon
c) Kelappan d) Govindan Sanar
58) There was a report of the humiliating treatment given to
Periyar in prison in Navasakthi, adding that Periyar had the
mental caliber to bear such hardships on
a) 26-08-1924 b) 27-08-1924
c) 28-08-1924 d) 29-08-1924
59) The news paper Desabimani wrote an editorial that Narayana
Guru visited Vaikom Satghyagraha Ashram and stayed there
for a few days and that he offered a lot of advice to him on
a) 08-10-1924 b) 09-10-1924
c) 10-10-1924 d) 11-10-1924
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 33

60) The ‘Tamil Nadu’ newspaper wrote an editorial strongly

condemning the attack made on the Sathyagrahis by the upper
caste rowdies in the presence of the Police officials on
a) 04-07-1924 b) 05-07-1924
c) 06-07-1924 d) 07-07-1924
61) A resolution was passed in the Travancore Legislative
Assembly to allow the low caste people to use the roads around
the Vaikom temple. This resolution was defeated by one vote.
‘Tamilnadu’ wrote regretting this on
a) 01-03-1925 b) 02-03-1925
c) 03-03-1925 d) 04-03-1925
62) The low caste people were allowed to use three of the roads
around the Vaikom temple, but were banned from using the
fourth. ‘Dravidan’ from Chennai raised a query why they
should fear opening the fourth on
a) 24-06-1925 b) 25-06-1925
c) 26-06-1925 d) 27-06-1925
63) T.K.Madhavan met a Congress leader on 22-12-1924 in the
Belgam Congress Conference, who told Madhavan that he
could collect money from any source, without using the
leaders name and the Congress name. The leader was
a) Gandhi b) Rajagopalachari
c) Malavia d) Motilal

64) Gandhi reached Vaikom on

a) 07-03-1925 b) 08-03-1925
c) 09-03-1925 d) 10-03-1925

65) The dialogue between Gandhi and the Upper caste people
took place on
a) 09-03-1925 b) 10-03-1925
c) 11-03-1925 d) 12-03-1925
66) In the above meeting Gandhi told M.K. Raman Pillai that he
believed in next birth. Raman Pillai replied that it was because
34 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

of the sins committed by the Ezhavars and Panchamars, they

were born so. Gandhi replied
a) Yes b) No
c) I shall respond after deep thought on it
d) That he would consult the Pundits and say
67) Gandhi met the Queen in Varkalai on
a) 10-03-1925 b) 11-03-1925
c) 12-03-1925 d) 13-03-1925
68) Periyar reached Varkalai on
a) 10-03-1925 b) 11-03-1925
c) 12-03-1925 d) 13-03-1925
69) Narayana Guru met Gandhi on
a) 10-03-1925 b) 11-03-1925
c) 12-03-1925 d) 13-03-1925
70) The magazine ‘Mathru Boomi’ wrote an editorial on the
information that the Eastern Road also would be open on
a) 20-11-1925 b) 21-11-1925
c) 22-11-1925 d) 23-11-1925
71) Sathyagraha was stopped as the Eastern Road was opened on
a) 23-11-1925 b) 24-11-1925
c) 25-11-1925 d) 26-11-1925
72) A report was released that there would be consultations on
the eradication of castes, and the celebration of the victory
of the Sathyagraha and a meeting to take decisions on these
issues was to be conducted on 29-11-1925 and this would be
presided over by Periyar. The report was released by
a) K.Kelappan b) A.K.Pillai
c) T.K.Madhavan d) Lawyer Madhavan
73) A leader spoke with emotional gratitude to both Periyar and
Nagammai for their sacrifice, leadership and commitment.
He was
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 35

a) Mannath Padmanabha Pillai b) T.K. Madhavan

c) K.Kelappan d) Kesava Pillai

74) The magazine Pakish Kanth Bharath wrote that the Vaikom
Sathyagraha was an inspiration to the struggle of Ambedkar
in the year
a) 1925 b) 1926
c) 1927 d) 1928
75) On 29-11-1925, the address of victory by Periyar was published
in Kudi Arasu on 06.12.1925. Periyar therein severely warned
that they would have to wear the meaningless poonool (sacred
thread), and render the meaningless Sandyavandhanam also
if they go on
a) Brahma Samajam b) Prarthana Samajam
c) Arya Samajam d) Theosophical Sangam
76) “What he has rendered in Vaikom is immeasurable. He was
once a revolutionary in the national struggle. The only one
whom the revolutionaries should follow is Periyar” This was
said by
a) N. Sivaraj B.A.,B.L., b) Kakkan
c) Sivashanmugam Pillai d) Thondu Veerasamy
77) An Englishman remarked in his report of the Vaikom struggle
that only after Periyar joined Vaikom struggle it got a new life
and a new strength. He was
a) Mr. Bit b) Cotton I.C.S
c) Mr. Norton d) Mr. Wood
78) A Congress man accused that Periyar did not show proper
account of money he received for the Vaikom struggle. It was
a) C.N.Muthuramalinga Mudaliar
b) V.O. Chidambaram Pillai
c) Dhandapani Pillai
d) Srinivasa Iyenger
36 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

ANSWERS
(1) b (2) c (3) a
(4) c (5) c (6) c
(7) a (8) a (9) a
(10) d (11) d (12) c
(13) b (14) c (15) c
(16) c (17) c (18) d
(19) b (20) a (21) c
(22) b (23) a (24) a
(25) d (26) c (27) c
(28) a (29) a (30) b
(31) a (32) b (33) a
(34) c (35) a (36) b
(37) d (38) d (39) b
(40) b (41) a (42) a
(43) a (44) b (45) c
(46) a (47) b (48) c
(49) b (50) c (51) c
(52) a (53) d (54) b
(55) b (56) c (57) a
(58) d (59) d (60) c
(61) a (62) b (63) a
(64) c (65) b (66) a
(67) c (68) c (69) c
(70) b (71) a (72) a
(73) a (74) c (75) c
(76) a (77) b (78) a
 CHERANMADEVI

z Dr. P. Rajadurai M.A., Ph.D.,

1) Cheranmadevi is in the District of

a) Tiruchirappalli b) Thanjavur
c) Tirunelveli d) Kovai
2) The national school that was started in this town is
a) Education ashram b) A school
c) Thamizh Gurukula school d) Patasala
3) This Tamil Gurukula vidyalaya was founded by
a) Bharathiar b) Sathyamurthy Iyer
c) Madurai Vaidyanatha Iyer d) Va.Ve.Su. Iyer
4) Va.Ve.Su. Iyer hailed from
a) Arumuganeri b) Varaganeri
c) Vepery d) Karumbalaperry
5) What did he want to establish in this school?
a) The development of Tamil literature
b) English Medium Education
c) Indian Culture
d) Hindu principles
6) Cheranmadevi Gurukulam was started in the year
a) 1923 b) 1924
c) 1925 d) 1926
38 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

7) Some teachers from Kallidaikurichi were involved in the

non-cooperation movement. They started a new school after
resigning from the Taluk Board School. The school which they
started was
a) Gandhi Vidyalayam b) Nehru Vidyalayam
c) Bharathi Vidyalayam d) Thilakar Vidyalayam
8) When Va.Ve.Su. Iyer tried to establish the Gurukulam
in Cheranmadevi, there was a land of 30 acres for sale. A
Chettinadu philanthropist offered 3000 rupees the amount
required to purchase the land. He was
a) Raja Sir. Annamalai Chettiar
b) Alagappa Chettiar
c) Kanadukathan Vai. Su. Shanmugam Chettiar
d) C.V.C.T. Venkatachalam Chettiar
9) Va.Ve.Su. Iyer made a request for financial help to run the
Gurukualam to
a) Tamilnadu Congress Party
b) Government of Justice Party
c) All India Congress Committee
d) Tirunelveli Municipality

10) The President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee at that

time was
a) O.P. Ramasamy b) Rajagopalachari
c) Varadarajulu Naidu d) N.S.Varadhachary

11) At this time there were two secretaries for Tamil Nadu
Congress. They were
a) E.V.Ramasamy & K.Santhanam
b) Thiru Vi.Ka. & Santhanam
c) Thangaperumal Pillai & Adinarayanan Chettiar
d) T.S.S. Rajan & Halasyam Iyer

12) An advance of Rs. 5,000 was given to the Gurukulam as

donation by the Tamil Nadu Congress for a promised amount
of Rs
a) 20,000 b) 15,000 c) 10,000 d) 6,000
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 39

13) The Gurukulam was expected to offer National Education

without caste discriminations. The son of a Chief Minister
(at a later period)studied there. This Chief Minister was
a) P.S.Kumarasamy Raja
b) M.Bakthavatchalam
c) O.P. Ramasamy Reddiar
d) Dr. P.Subbarayan

14) After learning from his son that caste discrimination practices
were continued in Gurukulam. Mr. Reddiar advised his son
to meet at once
a) Varadharajulu Naidu b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) S.Ramanathan d) E.V.Ramasamy

15) On a meeting of enquiry by the Tamil Nadu Congress

Committee on 17-1-1925, it was established that there were
discriminating treatment accorded to students based on caste
in the Gurukulam. It was decided to withhold the balance
amount of Rs. 5000 by
a) Varadarajulu Naidu and Periyar E.V.R
b) S.Ramathanan & Thanga Perumal Pillai
c) Thiru Vi.Ka. and Halasyam Iyer
d) Santhanam and Ganapathy Sankagiri Sasthri

16) Immediately after this decision, the very next day Va.Ve.Su.
Iyer collected the balance amount of Rs. 5,000 secretly from
a) K.Santhanam b) S.Ramanathan
c) Thiru Vi.Ka. d) Thangaperumal Pillai

17) When the fact of the discriminatory practices was brought to

the notice of Gandhi, he made an arrangement that all students
might eat together but the cook should be a Brahmin. But this
was protested and a demand that Va.Ve.Su. Iyer should return
the amount he received from the Congress Party by
a) Thiru Vi.Ka. b) P. Varadarajulu Naidu
c) Thanga Perumal Pillai d) V. Rajagopalachariar
40 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

18) Based on this development in the public meeting in Salem, a strong

warning was issued that before the Britishers leave India the issues
between the Brahmins and the non-Brahmins should be sorted
out, otherwise things would deteriorate fast. This was by
a) P.Varadha Rajulu Naidu b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) S.Ramanathan d) Periyar E.V.Ramasamy

19) Va.Ve.Su. Iyer announced his resignation from the

Presidentship of the Gurukulam through the news paper dated
21-04-1925
a) The Hindu b) New India
c) Justice d) The West Coast Spectator
20) On 28-4-1925 the person who was chosen as the President of
the Gurukulam was
a) T.R.Mahadeva Iyer b) Halasyam Iyer
c) T.S.S.Rajan d) T.V.Saminathan
21) A magazine wrote that Periyar resigned from the Congress to
fight against the domination of the Brahmins and to remove
it from Tamil Nadu and that one of the many reasons for this
action is the issue of Cheranmadevi Gurukulam issue. This
magazine was
a) New India b) Justice
c) The Hindu d) The West Coast Spectator

ANSWERS
(1) c (2) c (3) d
(4) b (5) c (6) a
(7) d (8) c (9) a
(10) b (11) a (12) c
(13) c (14) d (15) a
(16) a (17) b (18) d
(19) a (20) a (21) c
 KANCHEEPURAM

1) The important turning point in E.V.R.’s political life is

a) That all castes should become eligible to the profession of
Archakas
b) Use of Tamil as a language of worship in the temples
c) Eradication of Hindi in Tamil Nadu
d) Community reservation in government jobs
2) When Periyar was the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress
Committee, its secretary was
a) Kovai Ayyamuthu b) Thangaperumal Pillai
c) S.Ramanathan d) Singaravelu Chettiar
3) When the Tamil Nadu Congress Conference was held in
Thanjavur in 1921, Periyar announced that there would be a
meeting where the non-Brahmin representatives were staying
in order to
a) Study independence for India
b) To find solution for language issue
c) To talk about the non-Brahmins
d) To study the preparations for the election
4) Periyar said “We are still in Congress. There is a party called
Justice Party against us. They claim that they are working for
the welfare of the non-Brahmins. Under these circumstances,
we should discuss and decide on the stand to be taken by the
non-Brahmins, along with finalizing our duties and rights. This
42 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

meeting is convened only for that purpose.” In reply to this one

leader said that he did not agree with this view and that all they
needed at that movement was freedom. This leader was
a) Dr.P.Varadharajulu Naidu b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) S.Ramanathan d) Singaravelu Chettiar
5) On hearing this E.V.R. told Ramanathan that it was a meeting
meant for the non-Brahmins and hence he did not have any
right to speak there. Ramanathan laughed on hearing this
because
a) He wanted to calm down Periyar
b) He was a non-Brahmin
c) He was troubled seeing the caste fight
d) There was no link in this matter to Congress
6) The President for the Congress Conference held in
Thiruvannamalai in 1924 was
a) E.V.Ramasamy b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) S.Ramanathan d) Dr. Varadharajulu Naidu
7) The one who brought a hundred non-Brahmin paid workers to
protest against Periyar when he made the Presidential address
was
a) Srinivasa Iyengar b) Rajagopalachariar
c) Santhanam d) Sathyamurthy Iyer
8) When it was suggested that support of both Annie Beasant
and Srinivasa Sasthri should be obtained, it was also suggested
that the President of the Justice Party Thiyagarayar also be
requested for support. This suggestion came from
a)Dr. Varadharajulu Naidu.
b) Kovai Ayyamuthu
c) S. Ramanathan
d) Thanjavur Venkatakrishna Pillai
9) The supporters of Srinivasa Iyengar abused Thiagarayar saying
that he was
a) Ignorant b) Tyer, the cruel man
c) A betrayer d) The enemy of the Congress
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 43

10) In 1925, the Congress Conference was held in Tamil Nadu in

a) Madurai b)Tirunelveli
c) Kanjipuram d) Madras
11) The President of this conference was
a) S.Ramanathan b) Srinivasa Iyengar
c) Thiru Vi.Ka.’ d) Singaravelu Chettiar
12) A leader proposed in this Conference that considering the welfare
and the national unity a resolution should be passed that henceforth
all the jobs in the Government should be proportionately allotted,
as per the population strength of the Brahmins, non-Brahmins
and the untouchables. The Congress should be pressured to take
up this proposal. This proposal was made by
a) Dr.P.Varadharajulu Naidu b) S.Ramanathan
c) Sarkarai Chettiar d) E.V.Ramasamy
13) This proposal of E.V.Ramasamy was seconded by
a) Arya Menon b) Thanjavur Venkatakrishna Pillai
c) Sarkarai Chettiar d) S.Ramanathan
14) “Even while the Britishers are ruling now, people are prevented
from walking in certain streets and drawing water from certain
tanks besides many such discriminations and hardships. If the
ruling power goes in the hands of people who discriminate like
this, the others would have to suffer much more. Such fears
can be removed from the affected, what the intention behind
that statement of Periyar?
a) The reservation of jobs is sanctioned such fears would be
removed
b) The caste bias should be reduced
c) The untouchability would vanish
d) The communal harmony would emerge
15) Thiru Vi.Ka. did not allow Periyar to present this proposal for
reservation (castewise) in the Kanchipuram Conference because
a) The proposal was unconstitutional
b) It was unnecessary
c) This would split people
d) It was anti-national
44 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

16) Periyar blamed Thiru Vi.Ka. that he rejected the proposal on

the advice of a few Brahmins. Thiru Vi.Ka. replied that
a) It was in the interest of the nation
b) The Conference should pass without confusion
c) Reservation was the preamble of Justice Party
d) Reservation was against the Congress policies
17) On hearing the reply of Thiru Vi.Ka. to accept his proposal for
Caste wise Reservation in government jobs and admission in
educational institutions, E.V.Ramasamy made a challenging
public remark that he would destroy such a Congress in his
lifetime amidst the congregation of 4000 workers. After saying
this, Periyar
a) Regretted
b) He quit both the Congress and the Conference
c) Was waiting for an appropriate opportunity
d) Gathered his supporters
18) After leaving Congress and this Conference venue, in order
to achieve his plan of reservation based on castes, Periyar
a) Started Self-respect Movement
b) Sent a request to the Congress High Command
c) Started propagation among people
d) Started supporting Justice Party

ANSWERS
(1) d (2) c (3) c
(4) c (5) b (6) a
(7) a (8) c (9) b
(10) c (11) c (12) d
(13) c (14) a (15) a
(16) a (17) b (18) a
 CHAPTER - III

PERIYAR AND PUBLIC LIFE

z Prof. N.Srinivasan, M.A, M.Phil.,

1) Periyar jointed the Congress Party of India in the year

a) 1909 b) 1914 c) 1919 d) 1924
2) Periyar involved in the activities of Congress with full vigor
during
a) 1920-25 b) 1925-30
c) 1930-35 d) 1935-40

3) Those who persuaded Periyar to involve in Congress are

a) Rajagopalachari
b) Gandhi and Nehru
c) Bharathiar and Sathyamurty
d) Thiagaraya chettiar & T.M.Nair

4) As soon as Periyar joined Congress, he

a) Became a Minister
b) Became a Governor
46 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

c) Gave up all the nine honorary jobs he was holding

d) Gave up all the 29 honorary jobs he was holding
5) The organisation that appointed Periyar as Vice-President in
order to oppose Justice Party was
a) Home Rule Movement
b) Madras State Association
c) South Indian Welfare Association
d) Association of the most fierce activities
6) The Association that was started with Periyar as the Vice-
President to oppose the Home Rule Movement was
a) The South Indian Welfare Association
b) The Association of fierce activities
c) Home Rule Movement
d) The Madras State Association
7) Gandhi non-cooperation movement attracted Periyar because of
a) Eradication of untouchability and caste discrimination
b) Periyar’s resignation of offices
c) Decision not to attend the Assembly, or accepting any
office there. d) All of these
8) The Tamil leader who condemned Panjab (Jollianwalabagh)
massacre by travelling throughout the country was
a) Bharathiar b) Thanthai Periyar
c) Kamarajar d) Sathyamurthyiyer
9) The one who strengthened Khadi Movement in Tamil Nadu
was
a) Thanthai Periyar b) Rajagopalachariyar
c) Panagal Raja d) Kaivalya Samiar
10) The one who showered praises on Periyar for strengthening
and developing Congress in Tamil Nadu
a) Thiru Vi.Ka. b) Bharathi Dasan
c) Sami Chidambaranar D) Poet Karunanandam
11) The famous writer who served the Khadi Angadi (shop)
opened by Periyar in Tiruchengode was
a) Kalki b) Maraimalai Adigal
c) Ma.Po.Si. d) Puthumai Pithan
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 47

12) Periyar spun the hand operated Tahkli till his fingers got
swollen. A national leader on seeing this, exempted him from
spinning that way. It was
a) Motilal Nehru b) Jawaharlal Nehru
c) Subash Chandra Bose d) Gandhi
13) The amount lost by Periyar due to his boycott of the court
with regard to the non-cooperation movement was
a) Rs. 12,000 b) Rs. 16,000 c) Rs. 19,000 d) Rs. 50,000
14) Gandhi recommended cutting of coconut trees to stop toddy
tapping. Periyar, in response to this call cut
a) 40 trees b) 400 trees
c) 500 trees d) 1,500 trees
15) The year in which Periyar was sent to prison for his protest
against the toddy shops in the year
a) November, 1921 b) November, 1925
c) November, 1929 d) December, 1930
16) The women who were sent to jail for participating in the protest
against toddy shops are
a) Kasthribai & Valliammai
b) Saradha Devi and Nivedita
c) Annee Beasant and Vijayalakshmi Pandit
d) Kannammal and Nagammai
17) It was said “stopping the protest against the toddy shops is
not in my hands. It is in the hands of two women from Erode
(Kannammal & Nagammai). This was said by
a) Gandhi b)Nehru
c) Sankaran Nair d) Malavia
18) Gandhi's statement that stopping the agitation was not in his
hand was published in
a) The Hindu on 19-1-1922
b) The Indian Express on 19-1-1922
c) The Swadesa Mithran on 19-1-1922
d) The Young India on 19-1-1922
48 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

19) The place where Periyar and the Congress leaders decided on
the protest against toddy shops is
a) Sabharmathi Ashramam
b) Vardha
c) Periyar’s residence in Erode
d) Sevagramam
20) Periyar was shut in prison on the charge of hatred against
Government and community on
a) 11-09-1902 b) 11-9-1924
c) 11-9-1935 d) 11-9-1946
21) The conference organised by Periyar to thwart the influence
of the Justice Party in Erode in the year 1919 was
a) The Tamilar Conference
b) Self Respect State Conference
c) Madras State Association Conference
d) The Conference to eradicate the Brahminical
imperialism

22) The Congress leader who stayed in Periyar’s residence in Erode

in the year 1922 was
a) Panditha Motilal Nehru b) Vittal Bai Patel
c) Dr. Ansari d) All the three

23) From 1922 to 1924 Periyar ran a school in Erode at his own
expenses to teach 30 students
a) Tamil b) Malayalam
c) Sanskrit d) Hindi

24) The one who staunchly opposed Chitharanjan Das who started
Swarajya Party with an object of capturing all State Assemblies,
while lending support to the Government was
a) Gandhi b) Periyar
c) Rajagopalachariar d) All the three

25) The person who gave the title the ‘Vaikom Hero’ to Periyar was
a) Gandhi b) Sami Chidambaranar
c) Thiru.Vi.Ka. d) Anna
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 49

26) The Vaikom struggle was

a) A temple entry struggle
b) Fighting for the rights to the untouchables to walk in
streets around the temple
c) Struggle for freedom for the nation
d) Salt sathyagraha
27) When Periyar left for Vaikom struggle, he handed over the
responsibility of the President to
a) Thiru Vi.Ka. b)Va.Ve.Su.Iyer
c) Varadarajulu Naidu d)Rajagopalachari
28) The sentence written on advertising board just a few yards
from Vaikom Mahadeva Tample was
a) The untouchables can worship from here
b) The untouchables should not go beyond this
c) The untouchables may enter the temple without upper
garment
d) The untouchables may enter the temple with small pots
hung around their necks
29) The person who sent a telegram to Periyar to participate in
the Vaikom struggle was
a) George Joseph b) T.M.Nair
c) K.Kelappan d) Neelakandan Namboodhri
30) The reason for Periyar being invited to participate in the
Vaikom struggle was
a) He was the President, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
b) He was very vigorous about eradication of
untouchability
c) He was a friend to Travancore King
d) He was a trusted person for Gandhi
31) The day on which Periyar was arrested to Vaikom Struggle
was
a) 22-4-1923 b) 22-4-1924
c) 22-4-1925 d) 22-4-1929
50 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

32) Periyar was imprisoned for a month for Vaikom struggle in

the jail of
a) Aruvikuthi b)Travancore Central Jail
c) Andaman d) Madras Central Jail
33) After the Vaikom struggle, Periyar was awarded six months
of rigorous imprisonment and was jailed in
a) Aruvikuthi b) Travancore Central Jail
c) Bellary d) Andaman
34) After the release from one month’s prison sentence for Vaikom
struggle, Periyar
a) Stopped the struggle
b) Returned to Erode
c) Sought the support of Gandhi
d) Got arrested again for violating the order of banishing
from the State
35) The person who was arrested along with Periyar in Vaikom
Struggle was
a) Gandhi b) Rajagopalachariar
c) Ayyamuthu d) Kamarajar
36) The women who led the struggle at Vaikom after the arrest of
Periyar were
a) Kasthuribai & Annee Besant
b) Nagammai and Kannammal
c) Maniammal and Mrs.Bitt
d) None of these
37) Periyar who was sentenced for six months jail
a) Disappeared without going to prison
b) Was jailed for more than six months
c) Was released in four months
d) None of these
38) A person called for the end of the Vaikom struggle advising
that persons belonging to other faiths should not participate
in it but instead they should work for the conversion of the
minds of the people concerned. This was
a) Gandhi b) Kamarajar
c) Nehru d) Subash Chandra Bose
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 51

39) Is the following matching is correct?

i) Gandhi Give up Vaikom Struggle
ii) Periyar This is the best opportunity to
eradicate castes
iii) Rajagopalachari Joseph, a Christian should not
participate in the struggle
iv) T.K.Ravindran The leadership of E.V.Ramasamy
gave an impetus to the struggle

a) All are correct b) All are wrong

c) 1 and 3 are right d) 1 wrong

40) “I am just a party worker who was watching Periyar leading

the Vaikom struggle! This was said by
a) Anna
b) Kamarajar
c) Rajagopalachariar
d) Ayyamuthu

41) The date Periyar entered the Vaikom struggle was

a) 14-04-1919 b) 14-04-1924
c) 14-04-1927 d) 14-04-1929

42) The day on which Periyar took charge as the General of the
Vaikom Struggle Sathyagraha Headquarters was
a) 17-04-1919 b) 17-04-1924
c) 17-04-1927 d) 17-04-1929
43) The Vaikom victory celebrations participated by Periyar were
held on
a) 29-11-1920 b) 29-11-1925
c) 29-11-1927 d) 29-11-1929
44) The golden Jubilee Celebrations of Vaikom struggle
participated by Indra Gandhi, Maniammai and Asiriyar
Veeramani in Vaikom were on
a) 26-04-1970 b) 26-04-1975
c) 26-04-1980 d) 26-04-1984
52 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

45) “If the Vaikom agitators are depending on me let them know
that they are resting on a grass. I am living at a safe distance
from them.” This statement was made by
a) Gandhi b) Nehru
c) Periyar d) Joseph

46) Match the following:

The year in which Periyar was imprisoned for
(i) Toddy shop protest - 1921
(ii) Khadi propaganda - 1924
(iii) Protest against untouchability - 1924
(iv) Protest against untouchability - II - 1924
a) All are right b) All are wrong
c) 1 and 2 right d) 3 and 4 wrong
47) The first issue of Kudi Arasu started by Periyar was published on
a) 02-05-1923 b) 02-05-1925
c) 02-05-1928 d) 02-05-1930
48) The person who addressed releasing the first issue of Kudi
Arasu was
a) Gnaniar Swamigal b) Kaivalyam
c) Maraimalai Adigal d) Gandhi
49) The years in which Periyar was the President of the Tamil
Nadu Congress were
a) 1920 & 1921 b) 1922 & 1924
c) 1925 & 1927 d) 1926 & 1928
50) The year in which Periyar was the Secretary of the Congress
Party was
a) 1920 b) 1925 c) 1927 d) 1929
51) Periyar was jailed for protesting against toddy shops in
a) Erode b) Madras c) Vellore d) Kovai
52) Kudi Arasu which was published in 1925, was registered by
the Government on
a) 19-1-1923 b) 19-01-1924
c) 19-01-1925 d) 18-05-1925
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 53

53) The picture that appeared at the front page of Kudi Arasu run
by Periyar was
a) The light of rationalism b) Periyar
c) A family lamp d) The hand weaving wheel
54) The year in which the picture of Gandhi while weaving’ at the
front page of Kudi Arasu was
a) 1923-24 b) 1925-27
c) 1928-30 d) 1931-34
55) The magazine that Periyar published with the picture of
Bharatha Matha at the front page was
a) Kudi Arasu b) Viduthalai
c) Unmai d) The Modern Rationalist
56) The declaration that took place at the front page of Kudi Arasu
from 18-4-1926 to 25-12-1927 was
a) Long live Tamil
b) Victory to rationalism
c) We shall defend human love
d) Long live Gandhi
57) Even after leaving Congress, Periyar had respect for the
constructive plans of Gandhi until
a) 1926 b) 1927 c) 1930 d) 1932
58) Gandhi met Periyar to hear his side of explanation on Vaikom
struggle in
a) Thiruvananthapuram b) Aruvikuthi
c) Bangalore d) Kottaram
59) The meeting of Periyar and Gandhi took place in Bangalore
in
a) August 1927 b) August, 1930
c) August 1937 d) August, 1947

60) The Congress party extended its support to the Vaikom

struggle for the first time on
a) 26-12-1923 b) 26-12-1924
c) 26-12-1925 d) 01-02-1924
54 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

61) The person who presided over the Belgaum Congress

conference and expressed support for Vaikom struggle was
a) Gandhi b) Nehru
c) Periyar d)Rajagopalachari
62) The year in which the protest against the Gurukulam was
conducted in
a) 1922 b) 1925 c) 1929 d) 1932
63) The Gurukulam run by Va.Ve.Su.Iyer in Cheranmadevi created
in the minds of the students
a) A national loyal feeling
b) Caste discrimination
c) Love of rationalism
d) desire for terrorism
64) Periyar Started ‘Kudi Arasu’
a) After starting the Self respect Movement
b) After becoming the leader of the Justice Party
c) While he was in Congress
d) During the World War II
65) Periyar said, “We should find a permanent solution to the caste
issue while the Britishers are ruling us. Otherwise, instead of
democracy there would be only Brahminocracy.”This was in
a) Salem b) Erode
c) Tiruchirappalli d) Thanjavur
66) Periyar said it in the year
a)1919 b) 1920 c) 1924 d) 1925
67) The event that caused this incident was
a) Vaikom struggle
b) Gurukulam struggle
c) Non-cooperation Movement
d) Protest against toddy shops
68) A person joined Periyar in this issue even against Gandhi was
a) P.Varadharajulu b) Thiru.Vi.Ka
c) C.Rajagopalachari d) V.O.C
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 55

69) There was a voting in the Congress Working Committee

protesting against the caste discriminatory practices in
Cheranmadevi. The for and against in that order was
a) 6/20 b) 15 11/15
c) 13/13 d) 19 6/19
70) The solution that Gandhi offered for the Gurukulam issue was
a) To close down the Ashram
b) Students should eat separately based on their castes
c) A Brahmin cook should cook
d) The person in charge of the Ashram should be changed
71) The strategy that Periyar used in order to closedown
Gurukulam was
a) He brought a resolution of condemnation on Va.Ve.Su. Iyer
b) Periyar complained to Gandhi against Va.Ve.Su.Iyer
c) He requested the Tamils who were offering financial
assistance to the Ashram to stop them all
d) He dismissed Va.Ve.Su.Iyer from the Congress
72) The person who fought along with Periyar in removing the
Gurukulam that encouraged caste discrimination having the
name of the National Institute was
a) Dr.Varadharajulu Naidu
b) S.Ramanathan
c) Thiru Vi.Ka.
d) All the above three
73) In the Tamil nadu Congress Committee meeting held in
Tiruchirappalli, a resolution of condemnation for whipping
anti Brahmin sentiments was brought against
a) Periyar b) Dr. Varadharajulu
c) S.Ramanathan d) Dhandayuthapani Pillai
74) The resolution of condemnation against Varadharajulu for
his anti-Brahmin activities was defeated in the Congress
Committee meeting held at Tiruchirappalli with an effective
speech by
a) Periyar b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) S.Ramanathan d) Ayyamuthu
56 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

75) The one who contested against Periyar for the post of Secretary
to Tamil nadu Congress was
a) Rajagopalachariar b) Srinivasan Iyengar
c) Thyaraya Chettiar d) Adhinarayanan Chettiar
76) The Congress Conference which was cause for Periyar’s exit
from Congress was
a) Tiruchirappalli conference b) Kanjipuram Conference
c) Tirunelveli Conference d) Madras Conference
77) The 30th Congress Conference was held in Kanchipuram in
a) November 21,22-1923 b) November 21,22 -1924
c) November 21,22-1925 d) November 21,22-1926
78) The Conference in which Periyar fought that the Congress
party should accept the principle of communal reservation
was held in
a) Tiruchirappalli Conference of 1919 and Tirunelveli
Conference of 1920
b) Thanjavur Conference of 1921, Tiruppur Conference of
1923 and Thiruvannamalai Conference of 1924
c) The Kanchipuram Conference of 1925
d) All of these
79) Is the following matching is correct?
Conference President
Tiruchirappalli Somasundara Bharathiyar
Tirunelveli Srinivasa Iyengar
Tiruvannamalai Periyar
a) All are right b) All are wrong
c) 1 and 4 are right d) 2 and 3 wrong
80) The Conference that introduced the resolution for temple
entry when Periyar was in the Congress was held at
a) Tiruchirappalli Conference of 1919
b) Thanjavur Conference of 1921
c) Tiruppur Conference of 1922
d) Kanjipuram Conference of 1925
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 57

81) The one who opposed in the Tiruppur Conference the proposal
brought by Periyar for temple entry was
a) Madurai A.Vaidyanatha Iyer b) S.Sathyamurthy
c) Kumbakonam Panthalu Iyer d) All the three
82) Periyar mentioned to Gandhi that in order to obtain
independence we must
a) Destroy Congress
b) Destroy Hindu religion
c) Should eradicate Brahmin domination
d) Should do all the three
83) It was said that the harm done by the Brahmins to India was
nothing short of the harms done by the Britishers. This was
said so by
a) Gandhi b) Vivekananda
c) Kanchi Sankarachariar d) Nehru
84) In every Congress Conference, the resolutions placed by
Periyar emphasizing the Communal reservation was rejected
Conference One who rejected
(i) 1920 Tirunelveli S.Srinivasa Iyenger
(ii) 1921 Thanjavur Rajagopalachariyar
(iii) 1922 Tiruppur Vijayaragavachariyar
(iv) 1924 Tiruvannamlai S.Srinivasa Iyenger
(v) 1925 Kanjipuram Thiru Vi.Ka
a) All are wrong b) All are right
c) 1,3 & 5 right d) 1 & 5 are right
85) The posts held by Periyar in Congress from 1920 to 1925 for
five years are
a) The President of the Kovai District Congress
b) Twice Secretary of the Tamil nadu Congress
c) Twice President of the Tamil nadu Congress Party
d) All the above three
86) The duration of Periyar served vigorously in the Congress
party is
a) six years b) 10 years
c) 14 years d) 18 years
58 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

87) Periyar said, “I cannot accept that Swarajya is that which is

when the country is ruled, not by the foreigners, but by her
own citizens.” It was said
a) Before Periyar entered public life
b) When he was in the Congress Party
c) When he supported Justice Party
d) When Dravidar Kazhagam was started

88) It was said, “If we want Swarajya, the arrogance of the rich,
the humiliation of the poor, the hardships faced by the lower
community people should be eradicated first. That alone is
the battle for Swarajya”. This was said by
a) Gandhi b) Periyar
c) Queen Victoria d) Mount Baton

89) Periyar was elected as the President of the Tamil Nadu

Congress Party by majority of voters. But within one hour of
this election, a non-confidence motion was brought by
a) Rajagopalachariar
b) Srinivsa Iyengar
c) Va.Ve.Su.Iyer
d) Vijayaraghavachariar

90) The reason for Periyar leaving Congress was

a)The conspiracy of the Brahmins
b) The rejection of the policy of communal reservation
c) The domination of the Brahmins
d) All of these

91) The person who told Periyar who was fighting Brahmin
domination in Congress that the Justice Party is 100 times
better than Periyar, was
a) T.M.Nair
b)Rajagopalachariar
c) Thyagarayar
d) Va.Ve.Su.Iyer
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 59

92) When Periyar was in Congress

a) He insisted on communal reservation rights
b) He opposed untouchability
c) He insisted on temple entry
d) All these three
93) While being in Congress Periyar supported the Justice Party
rule for
a) Communal reservation
b) The protection of Hindu Endowment Department
c) The act of Indianising the Medical Department
d) Granting voting rights for women
60 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

ANSWERS
(1) c (2) a (3) a
(4) d (5) b (6) b
(7) d (8) b (9) a
(10) d (11) a (12) d
(13) d (14) c (15) a
(16) d (17) a (18) a
(19) c (20) b (21) c
(22) d (23) d (24) d
(25) c (26) b (27) d
(28) b (29) a (30) b
(31) b (32) a (33) b
(34) d (35) c (36) b
(37) c (38) a (39) a
(40) b (41) b (42) b
(43) b (44) b (45) a
(46) a (47) b (48) a
(49) b (50) b (51) d
(52) a (53) d (54) b
(55) a (56) d (57) b
(58) d (59) a (60) b
(61) a (62) b (63) b
(64) c (65) a (66) c
(67) b (68) a (69) d
(70) c (71) c (72) d
(73) b (74) a (75) d
(76) b (77) c (78) d
(79) a (80) c (81) d
(82) d (83) a (84) b
(85) d (86) a (87) b
(88) b (89) c (90) d
(91) b (92) d (93) b
 CHAPTER - IV

THE ADVENT OF
SELF-RESPECT MOVEMENT-
ITS EVOLUTION 1925 - 1931

z S.Arivukkarasu, M.A., M.Phil.,

1) The Congress leader who spoke in support of the Hindu

Endowment Security Act implemented by the Justice party
in 1924 was
a) Kuthi Kesavapillai b) Varadharajulu Naidu
c) Periyar d) V.O.C
2) The magazine Kudi Arasu was started on
a) 02-05-1925 b) 09-01-1927
c) 11-05-1953 d) 22-11-1925
3) The Publisher of ‘Kudi Arasu’ was
a) Nagammai b)E.V.Krishnasamy
c) Periyar d) Thanga Perumal
62 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

4) The person who inaugurated ‘Kudi Arasu’ was

a) Periyar b) Thiru Vi.Ka
c) V.O.C. d) Gnaniar Adigal
5) A resolution was passed in the Congress Conference
complimenting the Queen who granted the rights for everyone
to walk along the four roads around the temple and Periyar who
relentlessly struggled and made innumerable sacrifices for the
success of Vaikom struggle. This conference was conducted in
a) Kerala Congress Conference
b) Travancore-Cochin Congress Conference
c) Kanchipuram Congress Conference
d) Thiruvannamalai Congress Conference
6) The person who made a proposal in the Madurai
Ramanathapuram Conference of the non-Brahmins in 192D8
that the first Self Respect Movement Conference should be
convened was
a) Kari Varadha Sami b) Pattukottai Azhagiri
c) Sivaganga Ramachandran d) Soundara Pandyan
7) Gandhi wrote in Young India about Vaikom Struggle wherein
he had mentioned Periyar’s name
a) Nowhere b) only once
c) Thrive d) 17 times
8) The person who wrote a letter to Periyar on 08-01-1025 that
they all should sink their differences and move further, not
to offend Gandhi, was
a) Rajagopalachariar b) Thiru Vi.Ka.’
c) P. Varadharajulu Naidu d) V.O.C

9) The person who extended an invitation to conduct the Second

Self Respect Conference , Erode was
a) C.S. Rathinasabapathi b) Periyar
c) E.V.Krishnasamy d) Chickaya Naicker

10) The person who proposed the name of Periyar to be the

President of the two day conference of South Indian
Revolutionaries during 26 and 27 November 1928, was
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 63

a) Panagal King
b) Ma.Singaravelar
c) Revolutionary Poet Bharathi dasan
d) Kuthoosi Gurusamy

11) The Justice party people wanted to snatch a magazine

from Periyar for writing vigorously against the entry of the
Brahmins in the Justice Party. The magazine was
a) Kudi Arasu b) Dravidan
c) Viduthalai d) Andhra Prakasa

12) As a result of the struggle against the Gurukulam in

Cheranmadevi
a) Periyar quit Congress
b) Va.Ve.Su. Iyer got out of Gurukulam
c) The Congress itself started running Gurukulam
d) P.Varadharajulu Naidu was appointed President of the
Gurukulam
13) The first non-Brahmin’s meet was convened by Periyar
a) on 25 & 26 December 1926 in Madurai
b) On 22-11-1925 in Kanchipuram
c) In July 1927 in Kovai
d) On 17 & 18, Feb. 1929 in Chengleput
14) The reason for Periyar leaving Congress was
a) The Cheranmadevi Gurukulam Struggle
b) The Congress did not accept the communal reservation
proposal
c) Gandhi left out the name of Periyar in his article on
Vaikom Struggle
d) Periyar violated party discipline and hence was
dismissed
15) The final action by the Brahmin supporters including
Rajagopalachariar and Va.Ve.Su.Iyer in the Gurukulam
struggle was
a) They dismantled the Gurukulam
b) they resigned from the Congress Working Committee
c) Created another organization
d) Started protesting against Periyar
64 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

16) In the issue of Cheranmadevi Gurukulam the magazines of

Tamil nadu (Varadarajulu Naidu) Kumaran and Navasakthi
(Thiru Vi.Ka.)
a) Supported Va.Ve.Su.Iyer b) Opposed
c) Observed neutral stand d) None of these
17) The Brahmin who proclaimed the inflammation discriminatory
statement that he would starve for ten days if he heard that a
Brahmin boy had his meals along with a non-Brahmin boy
was
a) M.K.Acharya b) C.Rajagopalachari
c) Va.Ve.Su.Iyer d) Sathyamurthy Iyer
18) The day on which the Queen ordered that the people belonging
to Ezhava Community also could use the four roads around
the temple on
a) 02-05-1925 b) 21-06-1925
c) 29-11-1925 d) 9-03-1925
19) Periyar proclaimed “I am running these journals neither for
fame to increase my influence nor for a living. I am in such a
position. If I am forced to a state when the ideas that I want
to propagate, I shall myself write, I myself compose, print and
read. I shall publish it unminding the loss. This was about
a) Viduthalai b) Puratchi
c) Kudi Arasu d) Revolt
20) Periyar said “ when all the other journals and magazines fear
to publish what they realized to be true, the magazine which
I began shall reveal truth as it is to all”. This magazine was,
a) Viduthalai b) Dravidan
c) Puratchi d) Kudi Arasu
21) A Saivite leader declared. “In our country there is much
arrogance on the upper and lower castes. A feeling of equality
should be spread everywhere. I have as much interest as
Periyar has in this magazine”. It was
a) Gnaniar Adigal b) Maraimalai Adigal
c) Thiru Vi.Ka. d) Kundrakudi Adigalar
22) The person who wrote in Kudi Arasu with the pen name
Agappaiar (wooden spoon) was
 Compiled by: Dr. K.Veeramani 65

a) Periyar b) Kaivalyam
c) Samy Chidambaranar d) Thirumalaichamy
23) The Conference of Isai Velalar (Music community) participated
by Periyar, Thiru Vi.Ka., S.Ramanathan and Dhandapani Pillai
was held in 1925 in
a) Thiruvarur b) Thirukuvalai
c) Mayiladuthurai d) Thirugokarnam
24) Periyar wrote an article titled, “Betrayal of Tamil and the secret
of Hindi” in his Kudi Arasu in the year
a) 1936 b) 1938 c) 1926 d) 1927
25) An editorial was written in Kudi Arasu that the untouchables
should be allowed to enter Suseendram Temple in the year
a) 1934 b) 1928 c) 1926 d) 1927
26) Periyar wrote in Kudi Arasu on hearing the car of Thiruvarur
temple was burnt, that it was a good news and instead they
might now build an industry or a college on
a) 10-04-1934 b) 09-06-1926
c) 07-03-1923 d) 01-11-1042
27) The Justice Party leader who made a legislation that no
knowledge of Sanskrit was required for the study of Medicine,
thereby releasing the Medical Education from the English to
the Tamils, was
a) The king of Panagal b) The king of Bobbili
c) A.B.Bathro d) A.Subbarayalu Reddi
28) On 31-10-1926, there was an article in Kudi Arasu. It raised
an important question. “A sishya (disciple) who was born in
this soil, and our caste, who grew in this land, bearing our
name, worshipping our god, and worshipping our Guru, is
prevented from seeing the Ratha Utchavam (car festival) of
our god. Can anyone grant us independence for a country such
as ours? Can we trust you to hand over the power snatching
it away from the British?” The person who wrote it was
a) Periyar b) Nagammai
c) Kaivalyam d) M.Singaravelar
66 PERIYAR 1000 questions & answers

29) Per i y ar w rote an ar t i c l e t it l e d “Su y a R aj y am a ?

Suyamariyathaiya?” (Self rule or Self respect) that summed
up the principles of Self respect on
a) 23-11-1925 b) 24-01-1926
c) 17-01-1925 d) 02-05-1925
30) In Kudi Arasu of 20-12-1926, Periyar wrote the White man was
better than a Brahmin, citing the example of a Brahmin in the
Governor Council who banned the untouchables to walk on the
Brahmin’s colonies. The member of this Governor’s council was
a) Judge Muthusamy Iyer b) Judge T. Sivasamy Iyer
c) C.P.Ramasamy Iyer d) T.L.Venkatrama Sastri
31) The Justice party that lost in the 1926 elections won in the
1930 elections mainly because of
a) The Self respect movement and Periyar
b) The sympathy waves because of the demise of the King
of Panagal
c) The management of Justice Party leader Munuswamy
Naidu who had love of Congress
d) The hatred of the people on Congress party
32) As early as in 1926, a leader warned “within a short period we
are all going to suffer the consequences of supporting Hindi.
This is also going to be one of the dangers faced by the non-
Brahmins.” This leader is
a) Maraimalai Adigal b) Periyar
c) Navalar Somasundara Bharathi d) Panagal King
33) Periyar exhorted to all the self respecting non-Brahmins to
completely oppose the imposition of Hindi on the Dravidians
land. This was in
a) 1937 b) 1948 c) 1926 d) 1927
34) Congress decided to appoint someone else in the place of Periyar
who quit Congress on 22-11-1925, because his request for
the discussion of communal reservation was not accepted for
discussion though Periyar had obtained forty signatures against
the required 30 signatures. This decision of Congress was taken on
a) 22-11-1925 b) 28-09-1926
c) 02-12-1927 d) 17-09-1927