While I have done good research on LTTE chief my knowledge about Periyar is also above the average person. Also, I believe that no leader is beyond criticism and nobody is perfect. Both Periyar and Prabhakaran have hardcore supporters as well as hardcore haters.
Also, as Periyar was a social reformer so I will try to compare him with Prabhakaran the “silent social reformer” rather than comparing him with Prabhakaran the highly “resourceful LTTE Commander”.
Before knowing the differences (between two topics/people) it is always better to know common things which help to begin a discussion on a positive note.
Common things:
(1)Born in rich Tamil families
Image: Velvettithurai Sivan Temple
Prabhakaran’s paternal as well as maternal ancestors were known for building popular Temples. The Velvettithurai Sivan Temple was built by Prabhakaran’s forefathers.
Periyar’s father Venkata was a successful businessman.
(2)Became Atheist at a young age
Image: Young Prabhakaran during his initial years of militant life
Prabhakaran was very religious even during the initial years of LTTE(the 1970s). But later he becomes an atheist. Similarly, Periyar was religious until he visited Kashi. He becomes an atheist soon after that. While Prabhakaran was influenced by revolutionary socialism, marxism and becomes(commented by Tamizhan Puliendran) atheist Periyar becomes atheist after seeing the discrimination of people based on caste at Kashi (now Varanasi).
(3)Born intellect
Both Periyar and Prabhakaran proved wrong the theory that only those who went to college (graduates) can be intelligent and progressive-minded. The most common myth among Indians.
While Prabhakaran attended school up to 10th but he didn’t sit for the final exams. His enemies (both Indian leaders and Sri Lankan leaders) used to insult him by calling him uneducated. But he outsmarted all those Indian leaders and Sri Lankan leaders who went to some of the World's best institutions for higher studies.
Unlike other Tamil militant leaders, he never let India use his organization(LTTE) or struggle(Tamil Eelam) for their geopolitical game. He raised his movement to stand independently without depending on a particular country. Other Tamil groups became too much depended on India and lost their freedom to act.
Eg. A few months back once the US took off their support for the Kurdish militia in Syria, it took less than 3 days for Kurdish militants to make peace with one of their enemies: the Syrian President. Because they know they cannot survive without US support.
As far as Periyar is considered whoever reads about Periyar’s teachings for the first time will be shocked to know that he was a school dropout. His progressive thinking was advanced by at least a couple of decades. He had spoken about topics that are even today(2019) considered Taboo in India/Tamil Nadu.
(4)Opposed social inequality
Image: Bank of Tamil Eelam
Prabhakaran hated social inequality. After eliminating caste, crime, and oppression of women he was on his way to eliminate economic inequality from Tamil Eelam. He was planning to end poverty. Bank of Tamil Eelam(BOT) was one step towards it. Eg. Most of the loans given by BOT were provided for just 1% interest rate. People were given enough time to repay. LTTE members(soldiers) were strictly prohibited from taking part in loan recovery. Only LTTE members from the political branch were allowed to do such things.
LTTE has even started preliminary works for creating a Tamil Central University on the line with Jaffna University near Iranamadu, Kilinochchi. This University was supposed to provide high-quality education to the Tamil Eelam youth especially economically backward students. As the peace process deteriorated in 2006 this project never took off.
Periyar too hated social inequality and his contribution towards removing social inequality from Tamil Nadu is underrated as he is mostly known as an anti-caste crusader.
Image: Jaffna University staff and students observes Maaveerar Naal(Great Heroes Day) in 2018
(5)Anti-Casteists:
Both were against the caste system.
Even as a child Prabhakaran used to mingle with lower caste kids. Prabhakaran eliminated the caste system from the de-facto state of Tamil Eelam. While Prabhakaran enjoys supports across caste lines yet he is more revered by lower caste Hindu Tamils in Eelam.
Periyar tried his best to remove the caste from the Tamil society. He is also highly revered by lower caste Hindus but a section of higher caste Hindus despise him. Even on quora, you can find many upper-caste Hindus who support Periyar.
(6)Feminists:
Periyar is mostly known as the champion against the caste system. His work on gender equality is ignored most of the time.
Prabhakaran was known for women empowerment in Eelam. Women were present in every department of both branches of LTTE: political and military. Domestic violence against women used to attract severe punishment under the LTTE rule.
Capital punishments in Tamil Eelam were given for the following crimes
- Rape,
- Treason
- large scale robbery
While both the Indian Army(1987–89) and Sri Lankan Army(1983–2009) raped thousands of Tamil women yet LTTE never sexually harassed or raped any woman in its 34 years struggle for Tamil Eelam.
Now coming to the main question
Differences:
Personal life:
Image: LTTE chief with wife Mathiavathani and son Charles(red) and daughter Duwarka.
Prabhakaran was known for a very high level of personal discipline. He expected the same from his top commander. His personal life was free of controversy. While Periyar’s personal life was also free of controversy for a very long time yet his marriage to a much younger woman stir a huge controversy. Even today it is one of the main topics anti-Periyarist brings during their arguments.
Image: Periyar with his wife Maniyammai
Freedom to act :
Most of Periyar’s struggles took place in a democratic country. He fought in a peaceful atmosphere and had the freedom to move around and give speeches. On the downside, he faced lots of court cases. He was also attacked by his distractors multiple times.
Being the supreme leader of the De-facto Tamil Eelam Prabhakaran had the power to order something and implement it almost immediately. On the downside, he had to simultaneously fight a very dangerous Civil War and protect his people. He didn’t have the privilege to move around in public.
Maaveerar Naal(Great Heroes Day) was those rare events when he used to make the public appearances. That too only after a large number of anti-aircraft guns were deployed near the venue and his hardcore bodyguards scanning almost every inch of the area n-number of times.
Target:
As I already mentioned Prabhakaran being the Supreme leader didn’t have to target certain communities to fight the caste systems.
Also unlike Indians(including Indian Tamils), Eelam Tamils (especially Jaffna Tamils) are always known for their progressive thinking. The colonization by European countries has a huge impact on the Tamils of Eelam. So when Prabhakaran eliminated the caste system he was hailed by most Tamils. Even his haters (Tamils) appreciated this move(behind closed doors).
Just imagine doing this in 2020 in Tamil Nadu. Forget about political leaders even common TN citizens will come down to the streets and start a violent protest against Government.
In short, Prabhakaran didn’t have to fight against a certain community to eliminate casteism. But on the other hand, Periyar had to target the oppressors who were higher caste Hindus.
Opinion on caste and religion
Prabhakaran was secular and he never commented anything negative about any religion openly. He was even ready to allow Sinhalese Buddhists in Tamil Eelam.
But in 1991 when the relationship between Eelam Tamils and Moors(Muslims) become very tense in the East he ordered them to leave Jaffna. It was the most unfortunate event that happened during the Tamil Eelam struggle. Later LTTE apologized to Muslims.
Just a few months back during the anti-muslim riots a former SLA commander revealed that it was Muslims living in Tamil areas who provided the much needed military intelligence about the movement of LTTE forces during the final Eelam War.
Looking at this statement we can understand why LTTE chased Muslims out of Jaffna district. The only positive thing about this unfortunate and sad event was that it was mostly peaceful without any violent incidents.
Image: Prabhakaran signs a deal with Rauf Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) in April 2002.
Still, Prabhakaran was never heard saying anything negative against any religion or caste. He always clarifies that his fight was against “Sinhala chauvinists” and not against the common Sinhalese people.
Periyar had a different task and people to deal with. So he had to criticize and target Hinduism as well as Brahmins. He had his own reasons to do so. Also, there are/were very few Brahmins in Tamil Eelam. All the Hindu rituals which are done by Brahmins in India are performed by other higher caste Tamils in Tamil Eelam.
Conclusion:
Both Periyar and Prabhakaran(social reformer) had more in common than differences. As their battlefields were different so their paths were also different. But in the end, both fought against the social inequality prevalent in the respective countries.
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