E V Ramasamy Periyar was born on September 17. This day will now be celebrated as Social Day every year.
Periyars ideology was all about social justice, Equality, self-respect, and rationalism. This laid the foundation stone for Tamil societys Growth during the last century. These ideologies would also pave way for the future. Thus, government decided to celebrate his birth anniversary every year to celebrate the symbolic reinforcement of his egalitarian principles.
Every year, on September 17, employees in all government offices and State Secretariat will take pledges to follow values on the basis of such lofty ideals comprising of equality, brotherhood, self-respect and rationalism.
According to the Chief Minister, Services of Periyar to the Tamil Society were significant and instrumental in the enactment of first Constitutional Amendment Act, which safeguardedreservationfor backward classes.