# Dravidian movement drove temple entry fights, says Kanimozhi 2026-08-08T19:41:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk Corroboration: 1 independent outlet DMK MP Kanimozhi said the Dravidian movement, which sought to dismantle a caste-preserving religion, fought relentlessly and successfully to remove barriers for believers entering temples. She spoke at the Chennai launch of advocate Manuraj Shunmugasundaram's book The People's Sanctum. Madras High Court judge Justice N. Anand Venkatesh also spoke, calling historical caste-based rules shocking to anyone with empathy. He said the right to worship is a fundamental right, not a religious privilege. Author Manuraj said equality in temples remains incomplete even after 100 years, and expressed hope that women or transgender persons will become priests within fewer than another century. ## Coverage - thehindu.com Tags: caste discrimination, Dravidian movement, Kanimozhi, Madras High Court, temple entry, The People's Sanctum Canonical: https://indianopinion.org/dravidian-movement-drove-temple-entry-fights-says-kanimozhi/ License: Summary and commentary (c) Indian Opinion, reusable with attribution. Facts belong to the linked sources. Cite: https://indianopinion.org/dravidian-movement-drove-temple-entry-fights-says-kanimozhi/#story-in-brief Review state: restored archive article, accurate at time of publication, not offered to search indexes.