One of the most honoured figures in the state of Tamil Nadu, arguably home to the highest number of temples in India, is an atheist who profaned the gods. E. V. Ramasamy (1879–1973), popularly called ‘Periyar’ (the Great One), was a rationalist and radical social reformer. A household name in the region and the central figure of the Dravidian movement, he is best known for his polemics against religion, fervent propagation of atheism, support for proportional representation for backward and scheduled castes, and demand for political autonomy for south Indian states. His opposition to the caste system and the oppression of women are exemplified in his writings and speeches spanning over five decades. One of the first things that Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leader M. K. Stalin did on assuming office as chief minister of Tamil Nadu in 2021 was to declare Periyar's birth anniversary (17 September) as ‘Social Justice Day’—underscoring his reputation as a crusader for social justice.

In 2018, statues of Periyar were vandalized across Tamil Nadu, reportedly by Hindu right-wing activists. His statues outside temples, bearing the inscription ‘There is no god, there is no god, there is no god at all. He who invented god is a fool. He who propagates god is a scoundrel. He who worships god is a barbarian’ have been an eyesore for the Hindu right, and its leaders have been promising to have them removed.