Erode Venkata Ramasamy (17 September 1879 - 24 December 1973), was commonly known as Periyar also referred to as Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist, and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. E.V. Ramasamy was born in Erode, Madras Presidency to Venkata Naicker and Chinnathayee. From childhood, Ramasamy was known for his controversial comments on religious beliefs and on brahmins. Being the son of a wealthy person, everyone was fond of him.
Erode Venkata Ramasamy was born on 17 September 1879, in Erode, then a part of the Coimbatore district of the Madras Presidency. E.V. Ramasamy's father, a rich Balija businessman, was Venkatappa Naicker (or Venkata), and his mother was Chinnathyee, Muthammal. He had one elder brother named Krishnaswamy and two sisters named Kannamma and Ponnuthoy. He later came to be known as "Periyar" meaning 'respected one' or 'elder' in Tamil. E.V. Ramasamy married when he was 19, and had a daughter who lived for only 5 months. His first wife, Nagammai, died in 1933. E.V. Ramasamy married for a second time in July 1948. His second wife, Maniammai, continued E.V. Ramasamy's social work after his death in 1973, but his thoughts and ideas then were advocated by Dravidar Kazhagam. In 1929, E.V. Ramasamy announced the deletion of his caste title Naicker from his name at the First Provincial Self-Respect Conference of Chengalpattu. He could speak three Dravidian languages: Kannada, Telugu and Tamil.  Periyar attended school for five years after which he joined his father's trade at the age of 12. He used to listen to Tamil Vaishnavite gurus who gave discourses in his house enjoying his father's hospitality. At a young age, he began questioning the apparent contradictions in the Hindu mythological stories. As Periyar grew, he felt that people used religion only as a mask to deceive innocent people and therefore took it as one of his duties in life to warn people against superstitions and priests. E.V. Ramasamy's father arranged for his wedding when he was nineteen. The bride, Nagammai, was only thirteen. Despite having an arranged marriage, Periyar and Nagammai were already in love with each other. Nagammai actively supported her husband in his later public activities and agitations. Two years after their marriage, a daughter was born to them. However, their daughter died when she was five months old. The couple had no more children.

Q: When was Periyar born?
A: Erode Venkata Ramasamy was born on 17 September 1879,

Q: What did Periyar do as a child?
A: Periyar attended school for five years after which he joined his father's trade at the age of 12.

Q: What did he do at his father's trade?
A: unknown

Q: What was Periyar's hobbies as a child?
A: He used to listen to Tamil Vaishnavite gurus who gave discourses in his house enjoying his father's hospitality.

Q: What were the gurus like?
A: He used to listen to Tamil Vaishnavite gurus who gave discourses in his house enjoying his father's hospitality.

Q: what was Periyar's father like
A: E.V. Ramasamy's father arranged for his wedding when he was nineteen.
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His second wife, Maniammai, continued E.V. Ramasamy's social work after his death in 1973, E.V. Ramasamy married when he was 19, and had a daughter who lived for only 5 months. In 1929, E.V. Ramasamy announced the deletion of his caste title Naicker from his name at the First Provincial Self-Respect Conference of Chengalpattu. The bride, Nagammai, was only thirteen. In 1929, E.V. Ramasamy announced the deletion of his caste title Naicker from his name
In 1929, E.V. Ramasamy announced the deletion of his caste title Naicker from his name