I just learned about Periya E.V. Ramasamy (1879 - 1973) - a contemporary of Gandhi's, but a rationalist (stopped believing in the Hindu gods), and someone who worked against the caste system & for equal rights for women. From Wikipedia: "The bedrock of Periyar’s principles and the movements that he started was rationalism. What drew him to public service and made him dedicate his life to it was man’s inhumanity to man. He found that an insignificant minority in society was exploiting the majority and trying to keep them in a subordinate position forever. To set matters right, he wanted the exploited to sit up and think about their position. Unless they exercised their reason, there wouldn't be a realization that they were being exploited by a handful of people. If they started thinking, they would realize that they were human beings like the rest, that birth did not and should not endow superiority over others, and that they must awaken themselves and do everyth...