Lower Caste Movements and Reformers
Madras Presidency ---
E.V. Ramaswamy Naikar--- born in 1879 at Erode in Tamilnadu . He had witnessed numerous
incidents of caste and gender discrimination which made him to fight against the caste system and the
evils. He joined Congress party in 1919 and left it as he felt that it was serving only the interest of the
Brahmins. As a social reformer he participated in Vaikkom Temple Satyagraha in 1924.
The Self Respect Movement --- It was essentially a movement for equal human right and self respect
for the depressed classes. At the same time it aimed at protecting and promoting the great Dravidian
Culture of South India against Aryanisation of the North Indian. The movement was actually founded
by S. Ramnathan in 1925 , he invited E.V. Ramaswami Naickar to lead the movement in Tamilnadu
against Brahmanism. Movement became popular in Malaysia and Singapore , wherever Tamilians
constituted as a sizable population.
Principles and aims of the Movement --- Ramaswami became popular as Periyar (Respected). For
him , “Political freedom” as conceived by nationalists like Gandhi and Nehru did not cover the
“Individual self-respect”. In other, words for periyar , political freedom not fruitful or meaningful
without Individual selft-respect.
For Periyar self-respect is as valuable as life itself and its protection is a birth right. It is self-respect not
swaraj, the need of the hour.
For the self-respect movement Tanmaanan [it means self-respect] was part of tamil literature and
culture and that was not to be compromised with.
Movement was Anti Brahman:
Periyar preached extreme anti brahmin ideology and even gave a call to thrash the Sacred threads of
the brahmin. Periyar questioned, not even 3% of brahmins in population controlling education,
services and politics of Tamilnadu.
The movement was equally Anti Hindu. Periyar believed in Aryan invasion theory. For him Hinduism
was the result of Aryanization. Movement gave a call for celebrating Ravana leela against Rama leela
and also destroying Ganesh idols.
Self-Respect movement gave a call for burning Manu Dharma Sashtra. For Periyar in the name of
Hinduism a systematic attack is being carried out on South Indian culture. The other important idea of
self-respect movement was self-respect marriages, marriages without priest, ceremonies and rituals,
For Periyar all the marriage rituals and ceremonies are written in Sanskrit as such they have no practical
value as all can’t understand them. He encouraged marriages without sacred knots.
Politically when Justice party was defeated he took the leadership of the party and changed its name
into Dravida Kazagam. In 1949 a split took place leading to the formation of DMK under Anna-Durai .
Under the influence of the movement Tamilnadu became the first state to legalise marriages without
Brahmin Priest (1967).
UNESCO described him as “Prophet of the New age, Socrates of South East Asia , Father of Social
reform and Arch Enemy of Ignorance and superstitions” .
Reformers and Movements in Kerala --in the state of Travancore, the intermediate caste of nairs
locally the dominant caste organised movement against social and political dominance of the
Nambudiri brahman and the non- Malayali brahmans (Tamil and Maratha).
C.V Raman pillai founded Malayali memorial (1892) which attacked brahmin domination on services.
His historical novel Martanda Verma exhorted the past glory of the nair community.
More dynamic leadership emerged under K. Rama Krishna Pillai and Munnathu Padmanabha Pillai
after 1900.
K Ramakrishna Pillai edited Swadesh Abimani from 1906 to 1919. He was expelled from the state of
Travancore for demanding political rights.
Munnathu Padmanabha Pillai founded nair welfare society (1894) for social and political advancement
of nairs.
NARAVANA GURU AND THE EZHAVA MOVEMENT: --Narayana Guru was born in the family of farmer
in 1856 near Thrivendram, with nick name NANU he got educated in a Gurukula. He was the dipsciple
of khammam palli aasan (guru). For some time he taught the people as such he was called "Nanu
aasan" (Nanu garu). For the spritual life he led, He was called as Narayana guru.
Narayana guru took up the cause of untouchable Ezhavas of Kerala. His movement became primarily
a movement for temple entry. It became popular as Sriman Narayana Dharma Paripalan Yogam
(SNDPY). The objectives of the movement were, to abolish untouchability and simplifying the system
of rituals regarding marriages, worship and funerals. Narayana guru gave a call for imitating the
customs of the upper caste.
In 1908 Narayana guru himself installed a Shiva lingam at Arivipurram on Shiva ratri festival day. There
by narayana guru proved that conscription of an Idol was not the monopoly of the upper caste. The
movement Inspired the famous poet Kumaran aasan and made him the desciple of narayana guru.
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With the combined efforts of Kumaran asan and doctor Palpu (founder of ezhava memorial) in 1903
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SNDPY was registered with narayana guru as chairman and kumaran asan as secretary. There was a
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marked change in the ideology of the movement, its main slogan "one Religion, one caste and one god
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for mankind" was changed into " No religion, no caste and no god to mankind".
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The movement Inspired untouchables to transform into backward classes in Kerala. Secondly it
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influenced temple entry movements in Kerala. Thirdly, followers of the movement got attracted
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towards communist party in Kerala.
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AyyanKali movement : He was born at Venganor in 1863 in the untouchable Puliya community of
Kerala. He organised a movement of dalits for civil rights in south kerala. Due to his efforts dailts got
the right to walk in public roads.
Ayyankali founded a school for Dalit children at Venganor. He organised a movement for the right to
educate among the Dalits, as a result the Travancore government passed an Act in 1907 providing
compulsory education for all Dalit children. Ayyankali was the first to fight for rights of the workers
even before the formation of trade unions. In 1910 Ayyankali was appointed to travancore legislative
assembly for his leadership Qualities.
Mahatma Ayyankali founded SADU JANA PARIPALAN YOGAM (SJPY) for education to Dalits and for their
financial and legal support. It was the second most powerful movement in Kerala after SNDPY. Its main
slogan was " Progress through education and organisation”.
However, Ayyankali not accepted conversions for dalit's, for him Dalits must remain within the system
and fight for their rights. For his great contribution for the cause of the downtrodden he was called
"Mahatma".
TEMPLE ENTRY MOVEMENT IN KERALA
In 1924 Vaikkom temple satyagraha Started in Kerala in the northern part of Travancore. under the
influence of Gandhi's social Reconstruction Programme. The movement was led by K.P.Keshava.
Movement demanded temple entry for untouchables called Avarnas into Mahadeva temple.
movement succeded in getting the public roads around the temples opened for untouchables.
Guruvayur Satyagraha 1931, on 1 November in Thrissur district of Kerala Guruvayur Satyagraha
started. The 10 month long Satyagraha was led by K. Kelappan popularly known as Kerala Gandhi
Kelappan observed 12 days hunger strike. popular Kerala poet. Subramaniyam Thirumambu popular
as "Singing Sword of Kerala" led 16 Satyagrahi's at Guruvayur.
On November 12th 1936 the Maharaja of Travancore issued a proclamation called "The temple entry
proclamation" allowing all the Hindus Irrespective of caste into the temples without any
discrimination.
KARNATAKA
In Karnata Justice C. R. Reddy founded a poiltical party called PRAJA MITHRA MANDALI against the
domination of Brahmins.
ANDHRA PRADESH
In Andhra Pradesh Enugula veeraswamy naidu was the first to organise a movement against bonded
labour.
Thripuraneni Rama swamy choudhary organised anti brahmin movement.
BOMBAY PRESIDENCY
In Bombay presidency BABA GOPAL DAS VALANGKER (1840-1900) was the pioneer of movement
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against untouchability in Bombay Presidency. He published the first Journal VITAL VIDHVANSAK
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targeting untouchability in 1889 . Founded ANARYA-DOSHA PARIHAR MANDALI in 1890 and Journal
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HINDU DHARMA DARPAN in 1894
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MAHATMA JYOTHIBHA PHULE (1927-1890]: Jyothiba was born in satara in the community of mali
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(gardener). He organised a powerful movement against upper caste domination and Bramhanical
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Supremacy.
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Jyothiba also believed in the theory of Aryan invasion and Brahmanism meant for perpetuating the
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domination. To counter the influence of Aryan culture and Brahmanism, Jyothiba used RAJA BALI
CHAKRAVARTHY as symbol against the legendary hero Ram. Jyothiba was very much influenced by
Christian missionary education and Thomas Paine's “The Rights of man" He believed that education to
women and lower caste was the only way to combat social evils.
Jyothiba was for compulsory primary education to the masses through teachers drawn from the class
of peasantry.
He was the first to study peasantry as a class in Indian politics first time. He published the pamphlet
ISARA on the problems of the Indian peasantry. He became the first Indian to start a school for
untouchables. In 1851, Jyothiba & his wife Savithri bai Phule together founded a girls school in pune,
the first one of its kind in India.
He was also a pioneer of Widow remarriage movement in Bombay presidency. In 1873, He founded
SATYA SHODAK SAMAJ as a social reform Society to attain equal rights of the lower caste.
He was the first to study peasantry as a class in Indian politics for the first time published the
pomphlets ISARA and Shetkaryancha Asud on the problems of the Indian peasantry .
Jyothiba's popular works include:
Gulamgiri on slavery and SARVAJANIK SATYA DHARMARTHA PUSTAK
He also founded a Journal called DEENA BANDHU on oppressive character of Aryan Vedic tradition.
With his progressive outlook and dyanamism jyothiba definetly inspired Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.His legacy
is cherished even today by the lower caste leaders and the movements.
SAVITRI BAI PHULE ::---- she was born at Navegaon in satara in 1831 and was married to Jyothiba
phule at age of 9. Illitrate Savitri bai got educated under the guidance of her husband Jyothiba Rao.
She became the first trained Indian women teacher. She founded the first girls school at Bhidewada –
Pune in 1852.
Together with her husband she opened 18 schools and a care centre for protecting pregnant and rape
victim women for safe delivery.
Her birthday on January 3rd celebrated as Balika Diwas (Girl child day) in Maharshtra Schools. In her
honour, a Postal Stamp was released.
SATYA SHODHAK SAMAJ OF KOLHAPUR:-- Founded in 1913 by Sahu Maharaj of Kolhapur for promoting
education among depressed classes and for organising anti-Bramhin activities
DR. B.R. AMBEDKAR (1891-1956) --born at Mhou near Indore in Madhya Pradesh in untouchable
Mahar Community. In 1924 , Bombay he founded BAHISHKRIT HITAKARNI SABHA for the moral and
material progress of untouchables . It’s motto “Educate, Agitate and Organise”.
In 1927, he led the famous MAHAD SATYAGRAHA in Nasik district demanding the right for Dalits for
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comman usage of civic amenities. Accompanied by 2500 followers in the Malad town of Kolaba district
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he took drinking water from CHAWDAR Tank.
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In 1927, he founded Journal BAHISHKRIT BHARAT .
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In 1927, he also founded SAMAJ SAMATA SANGH to propagate social equality.
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In 1930 , he led another Satyagraha to enter the famous Kalaram temple in Nasik. He founded the
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Journal JANATA .
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In 1930, he founded a political party , DEPRESSED CLASS FEDERATION. He was nominated as member
of legislative Council (1926-34) and the representator of Depressed classes in all the 3 Round Table
conferences.
Due to his efforts in 1932 August Communal Award was announced. Against the Award Mahatma
Gandhi observed fast unto death and Poona Pact was signed in September 1932 .
In 1936 ,he founded INDEPENDENT LABOUR PARTY which captured all the seats of Depressed classes
in 1937 elections.
In 1942, he organised ALL INDIA SCHEDULED CASTES FEDERATION as a political party, which later
became REPUBLICAN PARTY OF INDIA.
He was the Labour member in Governor General’s executive council, during World War II .
In 1945 July, to promote peoples community interests he founded Peoples Education Society.
In 1945 Elections , Ambedkar was defeated by Congress party. He represented the Bengal Legislative
Assembly in Constituent Assembly. He became the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the
Constitution as he had maximum qualifications.
He joined Nehru’s Cabinet as Law member when India got Independence.
He had defrences with Prime Minister Nehru on question of Property rights for women.
He drafted Hindu Code Bill, for which he was called as Modern Manu. Given Bharat Ratna Posthmusly.
Dr. Ambedkar’s popular works :-
(1) CASTES IN INDIA, THEIR MECHANISM, GENISIS AND DEVELOPMENT (1916)
(2) THE ANNIHILATION OF CASTE.
(3) THE BUDDHA AND HIS DHAMMA.
(4) WHO WERE SHUDRAS?
(5) PAKISTAN OR PARTITION OF INDIA(1946)
(6) Journal; MUKHNAYAK with the support of Sahu Maharaj , in 1920.
(7) HISTORY OF INDIAN CURRENCY AND BANKING (1947).
(8) WHAT CONGRESS AND GANDHI HAD DONE TO THE UNTOUCHABLES.
(9) Mr. GANDHI AND EMANICIPATION OF THE UNTOUCHABLES.
(10)RANADE, GANDHI AND JINNAH .
IN BENGAL PRESIDENCY
1. The kaivartas of Midnpor in Bengal were lower castes, but economically well off. They called
themselves Mahishyas and started JATI NIRDHARANI SABHA in 1897 and mahishyas Samithi
1901, which played an important role in freedom struggle.
2. NAMSHUDRAS of Faridpur in Bengal, an untouchable community organised themselves into
movement after 1901.
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3. KAYASTHAS an intermediate caste in U.P., BIHAR AND BENGAL founded all-India kayasthas
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association and a newspaper kayasth Samachar with Allahabad as its main centre in 1919.
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