Vaikom Satyagraha

Why in news?

Kerala Chief Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister are to jointly inaugurate the centenary celebrations of Vaikom Satyagraha.

What is Vaikom Satyagraha?

• Vaikom is a serene town in Kottayam, Kerala.
• The Vaikom Satyagraha was launched on March 30, 1924 against the ban imposed on members of marginalized communities in the surroundings of Vaikom Mahadevar Temple.
• It marked the dawn of temple entry movements across India.
• It was launched by leaders in Kerala such as T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon and George Joseph, on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi.
• A march comprising of ‘upper caste’ Hindus who supported the reform commenced in Vaikom and ended at the capital of Trivandrum.
• They marched with 25,000 signatures of ‘forward caste’ Hindus, for opening the Vaikom’s temple roads to all castes.
• Large-scale participation of women was witnessed for the first time during the Satyagraha, marking the passage of women into the socio-political consciousness of the country.
• The protest sustained itself for more than one and a half years, leading to many arrests and satyagrahis being jailed.
• Even the Akalis from Punjab travelled to Vaikom to supply food to the protesters.

What is the role of Periyar?

• Leaders such as Neelakandan Nampoothiri and George Joseph requested Periyar to lead the protest.
• Periyar accepted the request and led the protest making the protest successful.
• Thiru. Vi. Kalyanasundaram (Thiru.Vi.Ka.) conferred the title Vaikom Veerar (Hero of Vaikom) on Periyar.
• Tamil Nadu played a pivotal role in Vaikom Satyagraha, which symbolised a struggle by the untouchables.
• Emperumal Naidu and Sivathanu Pillai were prominent leaders in Nagercoil, Tamil Nadu.

What are the impacts of temple entry movement?

• In 1925, the government of the Travancore princely state declared that people could enter three of the four streets around Vaikom temple thus bringing the protest to an end.
• It paved way for the temple entry proclamation of Kerala in 1936.
• In 1928, backward castes got the right to walk on public roads inn all temples in Travancore.
• It led to various temple entry movements across India thereby promoting social justice and equality for all.

References

1. The Hindu │ Vaikom Satyagraha