Discover the significant Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924, Vaikom Satyagraha was led by notable leaders, its historical background, and relevance for Vaikom Satyagraha UPSC and Vaikom Satyagraha PSC exams. Access Vaikom Satyagraha PDF online resources for comprehensive understanding of the event and its implications under the Charter Act of 1853 UPSC.
The Vaikom Satyagraha in Travancore is today known as Kerala is the first anti-caste movement. This movement was against the caste system as the pupil of the depressed class and untouchables were restricted from entering the temple. The movement originated and took its place at Vaikom, then part of the princely state Travancore in the vicinity of Mahadev temple in Kottayam district of Kerala during the period of 1924-1925.
Vaikom Satyagraha 1924 Background
In AICC (All India Congress Committee) meeting in Kakinada 1923, T. K Madhavan along with Sardar Panikkar and K. P. Kesava Menon submitted a petition to the Travancore legislative council appealing to grant the right to temple entry and worship of gods for all sections of the society irrespective of caste, creed, and community while giving continuous memorandums to the Royal Government for abolishing and the ban for marginalized and depressed castes to access Vaikom’s temple and roads.
The efforts of T.K Madhavan were heard and the Congress party considered the eradication of untouchability in their forthcoming constructive programs and owed to lend full support to the Vaikom Movement. The charges for this constructive program were passed to Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC). Thus as per the Kakinada Congress resolution and considering its importance and need the KPCC held a meeting on 24 January 1924, at Ernakulam to give the initial shape and thus form an Untouchability Abolition Committee (UAC) with leading heads namely T. K. Madhavan, Kurur Neelakandan Namboodiripad, K. Kelappan (convener), T R Krishnaswamy Iyer, and K. Velayudha Menon. Five other members including T. K. Madhavan were core members of A Publicity Committee to propagate the movement.
Vaikom Satyagraha year
- Vaikom Satyagraha took place in the year 1924 in the town of Vaikom in Kerala, India.
- It emerged as a significant protest against untouchability and discrimination prevalent in the region.
- The year 1924 marks a crucial period in Indian history when social reform movements like Vaikom Satyagraha gained momentum.
Vaikom Satyagraha was led by
- Vaikom Satyagraha was led by prominent Indian leaders, including K. Kelappan, Mannathu Padmanabhan, and T. K. Madhavan.
- These leaders spearheaded the movement to protest against untouchability and caste-based discrimination in Vaikom, Kerala.
- Their leadership inspired widespread participation and garnered national attention for the cause.
Vaikom Satyagraha Started by
- Vaikom Satyagraha was initiated by leaders like K. Kelappan, Mannathu Padmanabhan, and T. K. Madhavan.
- The movement began in response to the denial of access to public roads around the Vaikom Temple to lower-caste Hindus.
- It evolved into a broader protest against untouchability and caste discrimination in Kerala society.
Vaikom Satyagraha 1924 Movement
- The Vaikom Satyagraha was launched on 30th March 1924. The first chosen place for the initiation of the Satyagraha was the four public roads proceeding to the Shiva Shrine in Vaikom where ‘marginalized, depressed caste and untouchables were imposed with restrictions upon entry.
- The leading Satyagrahis namely Kunjappy, Venniyll Govinda Panicker, and Bahuleyan lead the procession walking hand in hand towards notice the shiva shrine where a message was displayed that Ezhavas and other lower caste including the marginalized sections of the society are restricted to make use of the pavement (road) for any of its utilities. The policemen guarding the road hindered their walk and ask them their caste. Kunjappy would declare his Pulayan caste, Bahuleyan would say his Ezhava caste, and Venniyll Govinda Panicker would assert as Nair. They would be denied entry as they belong to a ‘lower caste’. The three men would, however, be firm on their stand and would be arrested. As the group of three would be arrested, more Satyagrahis will come for their replacement, marking the commencement of the Vaikom Satyagraha
- On 7th April 1924, TK Madhavan and KP Kesava Menon were also arrested which ignited more volunteers to come from Tamil areas and join the movement.
- The Travancore’s jails got protestors rising in number, however, the temple authorities used cunning tactics of barricading the roads stalling police patrols.
- The satyagrahis owing to their peaceful protest tactics just stationed themselves outside the barricade and went on hunger strike for days. Many satyagrahis were witnessed standing in waist-deep water to symbolize their strong willingness to protest.
- The Akali society of Punjab also extended their support to the Vaikom Satyagraha and set up a kitchen to provide food to the satyagrahis.
- One of the prominent figures Periyar E.V Ramaswamy, a man who could now be called as ‘Father of Modern Tamil Nadu’ was known for arousing the ‘Self-Respect Movement’ against Brahmanical orthodoxy and superiority and highlighted how marginalized castes are being subjected to exploitation. He also join the struggle and is popularly known as the only Satyagrahi who was arrested twice, thus earning him the title of Vaikom Virar (the fearless hero of Vaikom).
- Non-Hindus gave their support, like barrister George Joseph in Kerala, Bhajematharam Mathunni, and Abdul Rahman, the Editor-in-Chief of Young India extended their support to Satyagraha.
- Sree Narayana Guru also extended his support and co-operation to the Vaikom Satyagraha. Guru was against the caste system and orthodox discrimination prevalent in Hindu society. He has given Vellore Mutt near Vaikom to set the head office for the Satyagrahis. He ordered two of his favourite disciples Swami Sathyavrathan and Kottukoikal Velayudhan to look after the work of Satyagraha.
- The Vaikom Satyagraha witnessed Women’s Empowerment as a large number of women seem to be actively participating in the movement on such a large scale for the first time. This active participation opened a pathway for women in Sociopolitical affairs and to be an integral part of it. Women such as Meenakshi Amma, Narayani Amma, Nagammai Amma, and Thirumalai Amma, were leading women warriors of the Satyagraha, inspiring women from across the country to participate in the movement and fight.
Role of Gandhiji in Vaikom Satyagraha
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi felt that the support of the Savarnas (forward castes) was needed at this time for the peak point of the Vaikom Movement. Thus, he suggested that a procession consisting of only Savarnas should march to Trivandrum to show their support. As a result on 1st October 1924, a troop of Savarnas marched and lead the procession to submit an appealing petition to the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai of Travancore consisting of 25000 signatures to open the gates temple for everyone caste. Gandhiji also confronted the Regent Maharani. This procession of Savarnas was Mannath Padmanabhan Nair led the savannas procession. The procession started with a small number of 500 people at Vaikom ended with 5000 when the procession arrived at Thiruvananthapuram in November 1924.
The memorandum of appeal was given to the Maharani Sethulakshmi Bai of Travancore for opening the Vaikom temple roads for all castes. The petition was overviewed in the legislative council as it was passed by Maharani, but it lost to win by a narrow margin of votes. This defeat lowered the morale of the satyagrahis, and elated the escalating atrocities of Brahmin orthodoxy.
Vaikom Satyagraha UPSC
- Vaikom Satyagraha holds relevance for UPSC exam aspirants studying Indian history and social reform movements.
- It was a notable episode in India’s struggle against caste-based discrimination and untouchability.
- Understanding the significance and outcomes of Vaikom Satyagraha is important for UPSC exam preparation, particularly in the context of social reform movements in colonial India.
Vaikom Satyagraha PSC
- Vaikom Satyagraha is an important topic for candidates preparing for Kerala Public Service Commission (PSC) exams.
- It signifies a significant moment in Kerala’s history, highlighting the struggle against untouchability and caste discrimination.
- Familiarity with Vaikom Satyagraha and its leaders is crucial for candidates appearing for PSC exams to understand the state’s social reform movements.
Significance or Impacts of the Vaikom Satyagraha
- In 1925, Gandhiji wrote to W. H. Pitt, then Police Commissioner of Travancore to resolve the ongoing matter. Thus, Pitt intervened and a settlement was signed between Government and Gandhiji.
- In 1925, the Government agreed to nullify the prohibitory orders passed in February 1924, and Gandhiji gave his consent to withdraw the Satyagraha. It was announced by the government that roads (pathways) on three sides of the Shiv shrine or Mahadev temple of Vaikom (north, south, and west) would be open for all public but the road on the eastern side i.e the roads leading to that eastern approach would be reserved for Savarnas only.
- Many historians believed the Vaikom Satyagraha have not given the desired outcome, while considered the settlement was humiliating as compared to the enigma of the revolutionary cause. However, this movement laid the foundation which ultimately laid the fruit to end orthodox colonialism.
- The Vaikom Satyagraha proclaimed its significance almost a decade later when in November 1936, the historic Temple Entry Proclamation was passed, which lifted the age-old orthodox ban on the entry of marginalized depressed castes into the temples of Travancore.
- The Vaikom Satyagraha has a historical significance as it embarked on the beginning of a temple entry movement that not only gained prominence nationwide but also all over the globe continues and is remembered till today.
Vaikom Satyagraha PDF
- PDF documents providing information on Vaikom Satyagraha are available online for easy access and reference.
- These documents contain detailed accounts of the movement, its leaders, and its impact on Indian society.
- Researchers, students, and enthusiasts can download these PDFs for in-depth study and analysis of Vaikom Satyagraha and its historical significance.
Vaikom Satyagraha 1924 – FAQs
What is Vaikom Satyagraha?
Vaikom Satyagraha was a nonviolent agitation that took place from March 30, 1924, to November 23, 1925, aimed at securing access to the roads surrounding the Vaikom Temple in Kerala for the lower caste communities, challenging the prevailing caste discrimination and untouchability.
When did Vaikom Satyagraha take place?
Vaikom Satyagraha occurred between March 30, 1924, and November 23, 1925.
Who led the Vaikom Satyagraha?
Vaikom Satyagraha was led by several prominent leaders, including K. Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, and was supported by Mahatma Gandhi, though Gandhi himself did not participate directly in the agitation.
What was the main goal of Vaikom Satyagraha?
The main goal of Vaikom Satyagraha was to fight against untouchability and caste discrimination, specifically targeting the prohibition of lower caste individuals from using the roads surrounding the Vaikom Shiva Temple.
How did Vaikom Satyagraha end?
Vaikom Satyagraha ended with a partial victory, as the government agreed to open the roads around the temple to lower caste Hindus, marking a significant step towards social reform and equality.
What was the significance of Vaikom Satyagraha?
Vaikom Satyagraha is significant as it was one of the earliest mass movements against caste discrimination and untouchability in Kerala, setting a precedent for future social reform movements in India. It highlighted the strength of nonviolent protest in achieving social change.
Was Mahatma Gandhi involved in Vaikom Satyagraha?
While Mahatma Gandhi supported the principles of Vaikom Satyagraha and met with the leaders, he did not directly participate in the agitation. However, his methods of nonviolent protest influenced the movement.