Facts for Prelims (FFP)
Source: IE
Context: Tamil Nadu and Kerala are together celebrating 2024: the centenary year of the Vaikom Satyagraha
| About | Description |
| Vaikom Satyagraha (March 30, 1924 to November 23, 1925) | It was a historic non-violent movement against untouchability and caste discrimination in the country. It marked the start of temple entry movements across India. |
| Issue | The Kingdom of Travancore had a rigid and oppressive caste system, and the people belonging to the oppressed classes, especially the Ezhavas, had no right to walk on the four roads surrounding the Vaikom Mahadeva temple (District: Kottayam, Kerala) |
| Leaders | Spearheaded by Congress leader T.K. Madhavan; K.P. Kesava Menon (then secretary of Kerala Congress) and Congress leader and educationist K. Kelappan (also known as Kerala Gandhi) |
| The course of the Movement | The Congress Untouchability Committee decided to start the movement at the Mahadeva temple in Vaikom. On March 30, 1924, volunteers from three different communities were sent to walk on the prohibited roads each day. |
| Support to the Movement | · ‘Periyar’ E.V. Ramasamy was requested to lead the campaign
· Members of forward castes marched from Travancore to the royal palace at Thiruvananthapuram, in a show of solidarity for the social reform · Akalis (Sikhs) from Punjab gave their support by opening a community kitchen (langar) for the volunteers · Chattampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru gave support to the movement. · Mahatma Gandhi arrived at Vaikom in March 1925 to arrive at a compromise and settle the issue once and for all. |
| The success of the Movement | · Oppressed castes were given the right to move on public roads in the vicinity of all temples in Travancore.
· The movement paved the way for the historic Temple Entry Proclamation (1936) by the Maharaja of Travancore, which lifted the age-old ban on the entry of marginalized castes into Travancore temples. · It was one of the most non-violent struggles against caste oppression and discrimination. |
