The demand for Communal representation was first raised in north India by the Muslims in 1900. It was the Muslims who first demanded the introduction of communal representation and they were the pioneers to agitate for the same. The Congress opposed the Muslims for demanding the communal representation policy to be implemented, but the British backed the Muslims and brought in a new scheme granting separate electorates for them. The British accepted the policy of communal representation even as early as in 1900. The British felt rightly that the communal representation policy is the only boon to help all the communities. When such being the state of affairs in the north, in south India, those who are 90 per cent of the total population have somehow forfeited their rights in all walks of life and almost all the posts were monopolized by a particular community called Brahmins, which was after all only 3 per cent of the population. The majority (Dravidians) were dominated by the minority (Aryans). The fate of the Dravidians was very pitiable and they were very backward in all walks of life.

Congress (then) leaders Sir P Theagaraya and Dr T M Nair, who were in loggerheads realized that their mutual quarrels and enmity benefited the Brahmins. They resolved to forget the bitter past and laid the foundation for the non-Brahmin movement. Since they had no courage to call themselves as Dravidians, they named the movement as South Indian Liberal Federation (SILF), which was later known popularly as Justice Party. As the principles of SILF were reasonable and just, the movement gained the popular support of the nonBrahmins. SILF participated in the first elections in 1920 and scored a resounding victory. I (Periyar) was in the Congress party at the time. When the Justice Party formed the cabinet, the Congress carried an intense anti-propaganda against it and stooped to follow a very cheap politics. By these methods, the Congress managed to dupe the public and won the 1926 elections. The Congress managed to form an alternative government with the independents let by Dr P Subbarayan. Ranganatha Mudhaliar and Arogiasamy Mudaliar were his colleagues in the cabinet. But the Congress could not remain in power for long. Except Dr Subbarayan, all the other ministers submitted their resignations. Later, Mr S Muthiah Mudaliar and Sethurathina Iyer became members of the cabinet. The Justice Party supported this ministry. This cabinet did a lot of good things to the people. What all the Justice Party was hesitant to do during its period, this cabinet boldly implemented. Of all the good things done by this cabinet was the implementation of the Communal G.O (Government Order), which was most important and praiseworthy. Without caring for the opposition in many quarters, Mr Muthiah Mudaliar boldly passed the order, ensuring communal justice to all the communities belonging to the Dravidian Race. Taking cudgels against Mr Muthiah Mudaliar, the Brahmins described him as ‘Rakshasa’ (virulent savage) and defeated him twice in the subsequent elections. But Muthiah Mudaliar was not at all perturbed. He knew the consequences and boldly acted to lift the suppressed sections (Dravidians) of the society. He took the defeats as the reward for his good acts. Being the pioneer of the Communal G.O., he has throughout his life dedicated himself to safeguard the same from dangers. He made all the attempts to resist the efforts made to invalidate the G.O either by legal methods or otherwise. He stood firm to save the G.O., whenever there was danger by the enemies. I was in the Congress when the Communal G.O was first sought to be introduced in 1921 by the Justice Party. Even though I was in the Congress then, I had a very unshakable faith in the communal representation of the Dravidian Race and I had a specific understanding with the leaders that the Congress would implement the same. We resolved to table a resolution in the Congress session held in Kancheepuram in 1925 demanding Communal representation. I myself took the resolution to the working committee. The Brahmins objected stating that such a resolution should not be permitted in the Congress. After my argument, they asked me to get the support of at least 30 delegates of the conference. I got the support of 50 delegates but the resolution was bluntly disallowed. Then I realized that there was no use of my remaining in the Congress any more. It was for the sake of Communal representation for the Dravidian Race that I left the Congress in 1925.

It was for the sake of Communal representation for the Dravidian race that I left the Congress in 1925.

Soon after leaving the Congress, I launched the Self Respect Movement. I stood for political reform along with social reform. Why did I leave the Congress.? Was it for any post of power.? No. I did not even think that I would become a leader championing the Communal G.O. That is why we are all much worried about the Communal G.O now. We want to save it from the danger. We cannot afford to lose it. That is why we are determined to fight for it. Please do not think that we are now agitating just because the High Court has held the Communal G.O as invalid. Even if the Supreme Court gives a judgement tomorrow setting aside the order of the High Court, we have got to agitate for the implementation of the G.O fully in the fields. Why do I say so.? Even this G.O does not ensure proportionate representation to all the communities based on the population and we need to fight for the fulfilment of our long-standing demand for proportional representation to population. Another important fact we have got to realise is that this G.O is now implemented only at the State level. This G.O is not binding on the Central Government. We should continue the fight as only after the G.O that our communities have started to enter schools and colleges in large numbers.