INTERNATIONAL CONFERANCE CENTENARY OF SELF RESPECT MOVEMENT
A two-day international conference on the centenary of the Self-Respect Movement was held on 2026, March 19 and 20 at the Don Bosco Technical Education Campus in New Delhi. The conference was jointly organized by the REVAMP organization and Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology (Deemed to be University). It was co-organized with institutions including the Centre for Social Education (India), Thanjavur Bharath College of Science and Management, and Periyar International (USA).
Research papers were invited in advance for participation in the conference, and only selected papers from the submissions were accepted for presentation. From Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, a team led by Dr. Aarthi Saravanan, Head of the Department of Political Science, along with Dr. Samraj, Lecturer Sivaji, and 13 students, participated in the event.
Scholars from various institutions including Jawaharlal Nehru University (Delhi), University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai), IIT Delhi, University of Madras, Azim Premji University (Bengaluru), Edinburgh Napier University (UK), NCERT, Bharathidasan University, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (Bengaluru), Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, St. Ann’s College (Hyderabad), Loyola College, and several other academic institutions attended and presented their research papers.
The inaugural session was held at around 10 a.m. on March 19. Dr. Aarthi Saravanan delivered the welcome address. Ilayakumar, coordinator of REVAMP, introduced the conference.
Dr. N. Sukumar, Professor of Political Science at the University of Delhi, delivered the special address. In his speech, he stated that the centenary contribution of the Self- Respect Movement is immense but has not been fully recorded in Indian historiography. He emphasized that Periyar’s thoughts and movement are not limited to Tamil Nadu or South India alone. Periyar uniquely articulated principles such as women’s rights, caste abolition, self-respect, and social equality. He also noted that these ideas have often been sidelined in Indian academic discourse and stressed that students and researchers must study and analyze Periyar’s thoughts to better understand Indian society.
Following this, Advocate S. Prince (NRS), Deputy General Secretary of the Dravidar Kazhagam, delivered a felicitation address. He pointed out that certain groups like RSS and Sangh Parivar are spreading misinformation and false narratives about Periyar in Hindi and English due to fear of his ideas gaining influence in North India. He also spoke about the continued efforts and achievements of the Dravidar Kazhagam under the leadership of K. Veeramani.
Subsequently, through a video message, K. Veeramani, President of the Dravidar Kazhagam and Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, inaugurated the conference and delivered his address. He spoke about the origin, necessity, and current relevance of the Self-Respect Movement. He also highlighted how its principles were implemented at the governmental level by leaders such as C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, and the current Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, along with the global significance of self-respect ideology.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Yazhini, representative of REVAMP.
After lunch, parallel sessions were conducted in three different halls. In addition to paper presenters, a large number of professors, social activists, and students from various universities participated as attendees and observers.
Technical Proceedings
On 19th March, in the afternoon the technical sessions were started parallel. The session on, ‘Historical Legacy of the Self-Respect Movement was chaired by Dr.Sudhir Maske, Director, Centre for Community Development & Action and Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work. University of Delhi and the discussant was S. Jeevanandam, Assistant Professor, Centre for Women’s Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. A parallel session on ‘Self-Respect Movement & The Women’s Liberation’ was chaired by Dr.Shephalika Shekhar, Assistant Professor, BNMV College, Bihar and the discussant was Dr.Seema Mathur, Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Kalindi College, University of Delhi. Another parallel session on ‘The Role of Education in Social Upliftment’ was chaired by Dr.Suraj Mandal, Associate Professor, Swami Sharddhanand College, University of Delhi and the discussant was Dr.Smriti Singh, Indraprastha, Institute of Information Technology, Delhi.
The subsequent parallel session on, ‘Justice Party and the Proportional Representation’ was chaired by Dr.Arvind Kumar, Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Social Inclusion, Jamia Millia Islamia, New Delhi and the discussant was Dr.G.Vinayagam, Assistant Professor, Department of Law, SRM School of Law, Chennai. Another session on, ‘Paths towards an Equitable Future: Lessons from the Self-Respect Movement’ was chaired by Prof. Gomati Bodra, Hembrom, Department of Sociology, Jamia Millia, Islamia, New Delhi and the discussant was J. Kayal Vizhi, Assistant Professor and Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, St. Ann’s College for Women (Autonomous), Mehdipatnam, Hyderabad.
On 20th March, the session on, ‘Dravidian Life Style’ was chaired by Prof. Perikala Kesava Kumar, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi and the discussant was Dr.Meenakshi Ramuji Ingole, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, CIE, University of Delhi. Another session on, ‘The Dravidian Model of Development’ was chaired by Dr.Aarthi Saravanan, Head of the Department, Department of Political Science, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology (PMIST), Thanjavur and the discussant was Dr.Sandeep Yadav, Associate Professor, Shyam Lal College, University of Delhi.
Valedictory Session
The Valedictory session with the Chief Guest Prof. Vivek Kumar, Dean, School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi was held in the afternoon. The Guest of Honour Hon’ble P.Wilson, Member of Parliament, DMK and Convenor, All India Federation for Social Justice spoke through Video conferencing. The keynote address was delivered by Dr.V.Anburaj, General Secretary, Dravidar Kazhagam & Vice President, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science & Technology (PMIST), Thanjavur.
The conference proceedings were well planned and conducted accordingly and came to conclusion.
Scholars from various institutions including Jawaharlal Nehru University (Delhi), University of Delhi, Jamia Millia Islamia University, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (Mumbai), IIT Delhi, University of Madras, Azim Premji University (Bengaluru), Edinburgh Napier University (UK), NCERT, Bharathidasan University, Indian Institute for Human Settlements (Bengaluru), Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, St. Ann’s College (Hyderabad), Loyola College, and several other academic institutions attended and presented their research papers.
The inaugural session was held at around 10 a.m. on March 19. Dr. Aarthi Saravanan delivered the welcome address. Ilayakumar, coordinator of REVAMP, introduced the conference.
Dr. N. Sukumar, Professor of Political Science at the University of Delhi, delivered the special address. In his speech, he stated that the centenary contribution of the Self- Respect Movement is immense but has not been fully recorded in Indian historiography. He emphasized that Periyar’s thoughts and movement are not limited to Tamil Nadu or South India alone. Periyar uniquely articulated principles such as women’s rights, caste abolition, self-respect, and social equality. He also noted that these ideas have often been sidelined in Indian academic discourse and stressed that students and researchers must study and analyze Periyar’s thoughts to better understand Indian society.
Following this, Advocate S. Prince (NRS), Deputy General Secretary of the Dravidar Kazhagam, delivered a felicitation address. He pointed out that certain groups like RSS and Sangh Parivar are spreading misinformation and false narratives about Periyar in Hindi and English due to fear of his ideas gaining influence in North India. He also spoke about the continued efforts and achievements of the Dravidar Kazhagam under the leadership of K. Veeramani.
Subsequently, through a video message, K. Veeramani, President of the Dravidar Kazhagam and Chancellor of Periyar Maniammai Institute of Science and Technology, inaugurated the conference and delivered his address. He spoke about the origin, necessity, and current relevance of the Self-Respect Movement. He also highlighted how its principles were implemented at the governmental level by leaders such as C.N. Annadurai, M. Karunanidhi, and the current Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, along with the global significance of self-respect ideology.
The vote of thanks was delivered by Yazhini, representative of REVAMP.
After lunch, parallel sessions were conducted in three different halls. In addition to paper presenters, a large number of professors, social activists, and students from various universities participated as attendees and observers.
