India, March 18 -- Erode Venkata Ramasamy, affectionately called Periyar, was not just a political figure-he was a revolutionary who dared to shake the very foundations of caste, religion, and linguistic dominance in Tamil society. Yet, today, his name is often dragged into political debates by those who either misunderstand or intentionally distort his legacy for their own gains. The recent remarks by BJP leader Nirmala Sitharaman, questioning why the DMK reveres Periyar despite his alleged criticism of Tamil, reek of political opportunism rather than a genuine engagement with his philosophy. The claim that Periyar dismissed Tamil as a "barbaric language" is not only taken out of context but is also an attempt to divide people by revivin...