SHREE SHARADA GOWRI FOUNDATION

When we talk about social reformers who reshaped India’s modern history, one name that stands tall is Periyar Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy, popularly known as Periyar. Born on 17 September 1879 in Erode, Tamil Nadu, Periyar dedicated his life to challenging social inequalities, fighting caste discrimination, and advocating for rationalism and self-respect. His birthplace, Erode, is not just a geographical location but a cradle of reformist thought that continues to inspire gener

Basavanna, also known as Basaveshwara, was the chief minister in the court of King Bijjala of the Kalachuri dynasty. However, his influence extended far beyond politics. Through his teachings and writings, Basavanna initiated the Lingayat movement, which emphasized devotion to Lord Shiva in the form of the Ishtalinga — a personal symbol of divinity that every individual, regardless of caste or gender, could wear.