Context:
Recently, India commemorated the centenary of Vaikom satyagraha, a pivotal movement in India’s history that challenged untouchability and caste oppression.
Relevance:
GS I: History
Dimensions of the Article:
- Vaikom Satyagraha: An Overview
Vaikom Satyagraha: An Overview
Location and Duration:
- Vaikom Satyagraha was a nonviolent protest that occurred in Vaikom, Travancore (present-day Kerala) from March 30, 1924, to November 23, 1925.
Purpose and Trigger:
- The movement aimed to challenge and eradicate the deeply rooted practices of untouchability and caste discrimination in Indian society.
- The agitation began due to the ban on people from oppressed classes, particularly the Ezhavas, from using the roads near the Vaikom Mahadeva temple.
Negotiations with Authorities:
- Leaders attempted to negotiate with the Maharani Regent of Travancore to open the temple roads to everyone.
Significance in Indian History:
- Vaikom Satyagraha was the pioneering temple entry movement in India, paving the way for similar movements nationwide.
- It emerged alongside the broader nationalist movement, emphasizing both social reform and political aspirations.
Key Figures:
- The movement was spearheaded by notable leaders like Ezhava leader T K Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, and K. Kelappan.
- E.V. Ramasamy, also known as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, played a pivotal role by mobilizing volunteers, delivering speeches, and enduring imprisonment, earning the title ‘Vaikom Veerar’.
- Mahatma Gandhi’s visit to Vaikom in March 1925 strengthened the movement as he engaged in discussions with leaders from various caste groups.
Strategies and Methods:
- Initially, the satyagraha focused on the temple’s surrounding roads’ accessibility to all castes.
- The movement’s leaders adopted nonviolent protest methods, drawing inspiration from Gandhian principles.
Outcomes:
- The Vaikom Satyagraha resulted in significant reforms, with three out of the four roads near the temple being opened to people of all castes.
Aftermath and Legacy:
- In November 1936, the Maharaja of Travancore issued the Temple Entry Proclamation, lifting the age-old ban on marginalized castes’ entry into Travancore temples.
- The movement’s legacy is multifaceted, with some viewing it as a Hindu reformist movement and others as a struggle against caste-based discrimination.
- To commemorate its significance, memorials like the Vaikom Satyagraha Memorial Museum and Periyar’s Memorial were established.
-Source: Indian Express
