Duration | March, 1924 to November, 1925 |
---|---|
Location | Vaikom Temple, Travancore |
Type | Nonviolent agitation |
Motive | Public access |
Organised by | |
Outcome | North, South and West public roads to Vaikom Mahadeva Temple opened. Protestors released. |
Vaikom Satyagraha, from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925, was a nonviolent agitation for access to the prohibited public environs of the Vaikom Temple in the Kingdom of Travancore. Kingdom of Travancore was known for its rigid and oppressive caste system. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] The campaign was led by Congress leaders T. K. Madhavan, K. Kelappan, K. P. Kesava Menon. Other notable leaders who participated in the campaign include George Joseph, [7] [8] E. V. Ramasamy "Periyar" [9] [10] and it was noted for the active support and participation offered by different communities and a variety of activists. [4]
Most of the great temples in the princely state of Travancore had for years forbidden lower castes (untouchables) not just from entering, but also from walking on the surrounding roads. [11] [12] The agitation was conceived by the Ezhava Congress leader and a follower of Sri Narayana Guru, T. K. Madhavan. It demanded the right of the Ezhavas and 'untouchables' to use roads around the Vaikom Temple. [5]
Mahatma Gandhi himself visited Vaikom in March, 1925. [4] Travancore government eventually constructed new roads near the temple for the use of lower castes. The roads, however, kept the lower castes adequately away from the near environs of the Vaikom Temple and the temple remained closed to the lower castes. [4] [5] [13] [14] After the intervention of Mahatma Gandhi, a compromise was reached with Regent Sethu Lakshmi Bayi who released all those arrested and opened the north, south and west public roads leading to Vaikom Mahadeva Temple to all castes. Bayi refused to open the eastern road. The compromise was criticized by E. V. Ramasamy "Periyar" and some others. Only in 1936, after the Temple Entry Proclamation, was access to the eastern road and entry into the temple allowed to the lower castes. [15] [4] [5] Vaikom Satyagraha markedly brought the method of nonviolent public protest to Kerala. [5]
Vaikom Siva Temple, like most other great temples of Kerala, had for years forbidden lower castes and the 'untouchables' not just from entering, but also from walking on the surrounding roads. [6]
Demonstrators marched each day to the Travancore police barricades (erected to "prevent clashes between communities"). They blocked the road, sat before the police lines on temple's four entrances and sang patriotic songs. Later in the campaign, activists undertook public fasts. [5] [6] During this period, some caste Hindus spurred attacks by ruffians on the protesters. [6]
Mahatma Gandhi, who had sent goodwill telegrams to the organizers, himself visited Vaikom in March, 1925. [4] [13] Gandhi held discussions with all parties (the protesters, the Namboodiri Brahmins, Sri Narayana Guru, and the queen of Travancore). [6] [28] The police subsequently was withdrawn on the understanding that the activists would not enter the banned roads. [6]
The volunteers standing outside the barriers in heavy rains will serve no useful purpose...They should scale over the barricades and not only walk along the prohibited roads but enter all temples... It should be made practically impossible for anyone to observe untouchability.
— Sri Narayana Guru (June, 1924)
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Sree Padmanabhadasa Sree Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, popularly known as Sree Chithira Thirunal, was the last ruling Maharaja of the Indian princely state of Travancore, in southern India until 1949 and later the Titular Maharajah of Travancore until 1991. His reign is known for several notable reforms that have indelible impact on the society and culture of Kerala.
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T. K. Madhavan Alias Deshabhimani Madhavan, was an Indian social reformer, journalist and revolutionary, who was involved with the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam. He hailed from Kerala and led the struggle against Social discrimination which was known as Vaikom Satyagraha.
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