One import thing is seen missing in our discussions... Periyaar has fought for self-respect / Rationality. If you find yourself to be true civilized person, you would never dispute them..those are in very simple terms.. The bramanism, hinduism/religionism castesim are against the self-respect of a person..hence Periyaar opposed them. What is wrong with that..Even if you are a sceintist/doctor, still you are fanatic about your country, religion, caste, language,etc...you worth nothing..that is the very reason Periyaar called Tamil as a barbarian language..
To be a human, there are lot of simple practical methods we can learn from periyaarism..so he is a reformer..
