PERIYAR E. V. RAMASAMY
(Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy)
There were little controls over usury in his time in India. Villagers often paid 500% or more to borrow money in a necessity like needing critical health care.
Although technically illegal, India has a caste system where Brahmins are on the top and the “untouchables” are at the bottom. Discrimination exists throughout society except in some government programs.
Some change took place, mostly among educated in the cities. There has been little change otherwise since his death.
Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, commonly known as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is known as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'. He rebelled against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.