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All About Vaikom Satyagraha

Vaikom Satyagraha

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Summary of Vaikom Satyagraha

Vaikom Satyagraha was a nonviolent movement that took place in 1924-25 in the princely state of Travancore (present-day Kerala) against untouchability and caste discrimination. It was one of the earliest mass movements in India. The prominent leaders of this movement were K. Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, and K.P. Kesava Menon. The movement got the support of Gandhi ji. It aimed to lift the ban on lower-caste Hindus using certain public roads that led to the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple in Travancore. It garnered public support across the country. Though the satyagraha did not immediately achieve its objectives, it laid the groundwork for future movements against caste discrimination and untouchability in India.

The aim of Vaikom Satyagraha was to restore the rights of lower caste individuals to access the public roads surrounding the Vaikom temple.

It was completely a non-voilent movement based on the Gandhian principles.

The prominent leaders of this movement were K. Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, and K.P. Kesava Menon. It was also supported by Periyar and Gandhi ji.

Background of Vaikom Satyagraha

The caste system in India has been deeply ingrained in society. It categorises the people into hierarchical groups based on their occupation and social status. This hierarchical classification has resulted into severe discrimination and untouchability among lower castes. The practice of untouchability, whereby Dalits were considered impure and prohibited from certain activities and spaces, has been a pervasive aspect of caste-based discrimination. In the case of Vaikom Satyagraha, the movement was specifically triggered by the denial of access to public roads surrounding the Vaikom temple in Travancore to lower caste people. This ban was introduced in 1811 by Travancore government. In 1921, to lift the ban a campaign led by T.K. Madhvan was launched. On March, 1924, K. Kelappan with a group of people walked on the banned road. This started the non-violent movement against caste discrimination known as Vaikom Satyagraha.

Introduction of Vaikom Satyagraha

Vaikom Satyagraha is a non-violent movement started in 1924-25 based on the Gandhian principles against caste discrimination and untouchability. The aim of the protest was to restore the rights of lower caste Hindus, particularly Dalits to access the public roads around the Vaikom temple. It marked the dawn of temple entry movements in India.

Salient features of the Vaikom Satyagraha

Significance of the Vaikom Satyagraha

Other Temple Entry Movements

  1. Guruvayur Satyagraha: The movement started in 1931 to secure the temple entry rights of low caste hindus into the Guruvayur Sri Krishna Temple in Kerala. It was led by K. Kelappan and Mannathu Padmanabhan.
  2. Mahar Movement: Mahar community in Maharashtra fought against caste-based discrimination and temple exclusion. The movement was led by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Jyotirao Phule. Mahars who were considered untouchables were denied the right of entering temples. Efforts led by Ambedkar secured their right to temple entry and in broader terms social equality.

Conclusion of Vaikom Satyagraha

Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-25 is considered as a landmark event in the struggle towards social evils like untouchability. It led to various temple entry movements across India thereby promoting social justice and equality for all. These temple entry and social equality movements were instrumental in shaking the century-old barriers of caste discrimination. They highlighted the need of more inclusive society and laid the groundwork for more social transformation efforts and legislative reforms later on to bring social justice and equality in India.

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