It was indeed a kind of brave act that periyar directly quoted words against brahmins during those old periods .
He realised the truth ....if u see a general behaviour of a brahmin or sub castes or brahmin ...they are mostly selfish and only few come forward to help others .They may talk like anything but they are the best exploiters of their own people .And they are good in castespecific relations .
Just think of u r brahmin friends ...atleast there will be one moment in u r life where he would have proved that he is caste specific character (Even in this 21st century)!
This has happened to me ....infact i m talking practical !
If u think in core the same kind of pattern exists with muslims ....but they differ in one aspect they dont have brains to think when it comes to pressure or bad situations or riots !