[3] In 1937, Chief minister of Madras Presidency C. Rajagopalachari (Rajaji) introduced compulsory use of Indo-Aryan language Hindi in the educational institutions.
To protest this move Self-Respect Movement leader Periyar E. V. Ramasamy launched Anti-Hindi agitations.
[4][5] During that period, Saw Ganesan, an admirer of Kamba Ramayana, thought that Kambar gave importance to the Tamil language and culture.
[6] Kamban Kazhagam organises the festival every year by conducting seminars and debates on Kambar's Ramayana.
[7][8] Upon this success many other Kamban Kazhagam were founded across India and overseas where the Tamil diaspora lived.