Periyar came at the right time.Bhramins who were not supposed to enter into jobs did so.He was right in bashing them up.I dont find fault with him on that issue at all.
He opposed untouchability.Nice job.Its a job which was the duty of all.Like gandhi,rajaji periyar too pioneered that movement in tamilnadu.I appreciate him on that.
But I cannot accept him as a great leader.He did not have the maturity suitable for his age and stature.He was an atheist agreed,no problem.But who gave him the rights to garland ganesh idols and rama idols with chappels?Is this the way to protest?Had he called for all hindus to comeforward to fight untouchability all would have come forward.But by garlanding ganesh idols with chappels he showed that he did not have any maturity at all.He only alienated forward minded hindus like Rajaji by that act.
But he had a good impact on the society.His vaikam struggle was the need of the hour.His bhramin bashing even though went to the extreme of cutting of sacred thread of bhramins,showed them the mistake they made.
But I am still unable to accept him as a leader only since he hurt our feelings by that chappel garland act.