Vaikom Satyagraha

Why in news?

• On 1 April 2023, Kerala Chief Minister and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister jointly launched the Vaikom Satyagraha centenary celebrations.

About Vaikom Satyagraha:

• Vaikom is a town in Kottayam, Kerala.
• The Vaikom Satyagraha was launched in 1924 against the ban imposed on members of marginalized communities in the surroundings of Vaikom Mahadevar Temple, in the Kingdom of Travancore.
• It marked the dawn of temple entry movements across India.
• This was the first organized movement conducted on such a massive scale for the basic rights of the untouchables and other backward castes in Kerala.
• Vaikom Satyagraha markedly brought the method of nonviolent public protest to Kerala

Protest:

• 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
• The agitation was conceived by leaders in Kerala such as T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon and George Joseph,.
• The Satyagrahis entered the temple and they were resisted and arrested by the police.
  • The protest sustained itself for more than one and a half years, leading to many arrests and satyagrahis being jailed.
• Gandhiji, Chattampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru supported the movement. Mahatma Gandhi himself visited Vaikom in March, 1925
• The movement gained prominence in the whole of India and support came from far and wide.
• 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.
• Even the Akalis from Punjab travelled to Vaikom to supply food to the protesters.

Recess:

• Gandhiji wanted the movement to be an intra-Hindu affair.
• On Gandhi’s advice, the movement was taken back temporarily in April 1924.
• After discussions with caste Hindu people failed, the leaders again started the movement. T K Madhavan and K P Kesava Menon were arrested created a vacuum with no leader to lead the protest.
• E V Ramaswami Naicker (Periyar) came from Tamil Nadu to support the movement and then he was arrested.
• Mahatma Gandhi insisted that it should be a local protest, requests to make it a pan-India movement failed.
• Backed by the government and the administration, the traditionalists caused many troubles for the satyagrahis, which included counter rallies marked by violence.
• The resolution for the right to sancharam (movement) was defeated in the Assembly by the open support of the traditionalists and the indirect pressure of the government.

Climax:

• On 1st October 1924, a group of savarnas (forward castes) marched in a procession and submitted a petition to the Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bai of Travancore with approximately 25000 signatures for allowing entry to the temple for everyone.
• Gandhiji also met with the Regent Maharani. This procession of savarnas was led by Mannath Padmanabhan Nair. Beginning with about 500 people at Vaikom, the number increased to approximately 5000 when the procession reached Thiruvananthapuram in the month of November 1924.
• On 23rd November 1925, all the gates of the temple were opened to Hindus except the eastern gate.
• It paved way for the temple entry proclamation of Kerala in 1936.
• It led to various temple entry movements across India thereby promoting social justice and equality for all.

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements:

1. It was largely a non-violent movement

2. The Akalis of Punjab supported by setting up kitchens to provide food to the Satyagrahis.

3. E V Ramaswami Naicker came from Tamil Nadu to support the movement

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 3 only

(d) 1,2 and 3

Answer