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Veerammal (1924 – 2006) was a Dalit social worker and activist, who founded the All India Ambedkar Mission and was a key member of the Self Respect Movement led by Thanthai Periyar.

Personal Life

Veerammal, abandoned by her alcoholic husband, exited the abusive marriage and began working on the frontlines of the alcohol prohibition campaign as part of the Self Respect Movement, a radical feminist movement. She stayed in Periyar’s camp for 16 years and would spend her Sundays in Periyar Maaligai, his residence in Tiruchi.

Self Respect Movement

Veerammal shared a close relationship with Periyar and his wife, Nagammai. She discussed with Periyar issues relating to rationalism, eradication of untouchability, anti-caste work and intercaste marriage. However, she is best known for challenging Periyar on his ideologies.

Veerammal and Periyar debated over the parai drum and tharai horn, thought to be symbols of lower status. They served to announce the death of family members of superior castes. Veerammal questioned why they would be allowed in Periyar’s proccessions as it would further enforce the idea of untouchibility. He would refute and say it was an art.

Veerammal suggested Periyar promote intercaste marriages to bring forth changes to the Caste system. For which she advised to start a trust, which would help place calls in the press and encourage girls to marry from Scheduled Castes without the Dravida Kazhagam fee.

Veerammal while discussing reservations in government jobs reminded Periyar to not grudge the 16 percent reservations for Dalits. She also partnered with Maniammai to found a women’s hostel.

However, in 1957 Veerammal stopped visiting Periyar Maligai. She parted ways after disagreements with Periyar for his lack of condemnation towards the non-brahmin castes and Congress’s nonpartisan role in the Mudukulathur riots. The riots broke out between the Mukkalatthar caste and the Dalits, a massacre of lower castes by the upper castes. A prominent Dalit leader, Immanuel Sekaran and 42 other Dalits were murdered as a result of the riots. Veerammal sent a letter to Periyar by the hands of her nephew, Kannaiyan, who upon returning reported that Periyar was moved to tears reading the letter.

Veerammal was in Kolkata for the All India Women’s conference when Periyar passed away. She wrote to Maniammai lamenting his passing and paid a visit to his memorial in Chennai as her final homage.

Career 

Veerammal and her brother, Veerasamy meet Babashaheb Ambedkar in 1940. Inspired by Ambedkar, she founded and ran serveral schools and hostels for women, children and the elderly of Scheduled Castes and Tribes. In 1943, she started the Avi Dravida Welfare School near Tiruchy. In 1954, she established the Tamil Nadu’s Women’s Welfare Association, which had 19 branches, followed by the Tamil Nadu Scheduled Caste Welfare Association. She also established the Annai Ashram for the aged and orphans.

Her schooling was supported by Harijan Seva Sangh. She continued to stand behind rationalist principles and rejected the propaganda of superstitious beliefs. Afterwhich she joined the All India Radio staff and spoke on this subject during the women’s program. She was active in the nationalist and Dravidian movement, and continued to head the anti-liquor movement in Tamil Nadu.