The Centre for Indian Social Studies (CISS) has been dedicated to preserving Periyar E.V. Ramasamy’s legacy by digitalising the historic journal Kudi Arasu, a key publication of the Self-Respect Movement. Since its inception, CISS has worked to locate, collect, and digitise rare and fragile issues of the journal. Despite challenges such as damage and poor preservation, the Centre has successfully gathered many original copies through extensive archival efforts and support from individuals and institutions. Understanding the historical and ideological significance of these materials, CISS invested in advanced scanning technology to ensure the best possible preservation and clarity of the digitised content. High-resolution scanners were used to carefully capture the delicate pages without causing further damage. The technical process was carried out with great precision and patience, especially due to the fragile nature of many of the originals.
The backbone of this project has been the dedication of CISS’s technical team, particularly Ms. Idhaya Kannan and Mr. Adhithyan. Both have been instrumental in retouching, resizing, and restoring the scanned pages, ensuring that the digital versions maintain the integrity of the originals while being clean, legible and accessible to modern readers. Each issue has been compiled into individual, organised PDF files, ready for public access. Their technical expertise and tireless effort have turned a seemingly impossible archival challenge into a nearly completed milestone.
The project is now in its final stages. The digital files are being reviewed and prepared for launch on the upcoming Digital Periyar website, which aims to serve as a comprehensive online repository of Periyar’s writings, speeches, publications, and related historical materials. The digitised Kudi Arasu collection will be a highlight of the platform, offering researchers, students, and the general public free access to one of the most important political publications in modern Indian history. This project represents not just a technical achievement, but a cultural and educational service of great importance. By preserving and sharing Kudi Arasu in digital format, CISS is ensuring that Periyar’s voice, arguments, and radical vision continue to reach and influence new generations in India and across the world.