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 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.

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.

• Beginning :
  • The movement began on 30th March, 1924.
  • The Satyagrahis led by K. Kelappan made batches of three and entered the temple.
  • Govinda Panikkar (Nair), Bahuleyan (Ezhava) and Kunjappu (Pulaya) dressed in khadi and wearing khadi caps entered the temples against the prohibition orders.
  • They were resisted and within a week all the leaders were arrested by the police.
• Leaders of the movement :
  • The prominent leaders of this movement were K. Kelappan, T.K. Madhavan, and K.P. Kesava Menon.
  • Gandhiji, Chatampi Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru supported the movement.
  • The Akalis of Punjab also supported the Satyagrahis by setting up kitchens there to provide food to them.
  • E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar) also came from Tamilnadu to support the movement.
  • A group of savarnas (forward castes) on 1st October, 1924 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.
  • Periyar’s wife Nagammai and sister Kannammal, played a significant role in the movement.
• End of the movement :
  • In March 1925, after the arrival of Gandhiji in Travancore, discussions took place between leaders of various castes and Maharani Regent at her Varkala camp.
  • A compromise was made between the Satyagrahis and Travancore government and the movement was withdrawn on November 30, 1925.
  • In 1936, A Temple Entry Proclamation was signed by the Maharaja of Travancore to lift the ban on the use of public roads by the lower caste individuals.
  • However, the permission to enter the Vaikom temple was not granted to Dalits.

• It was a significant social reform movement in the times of rising nationalist agitation in the country. It started the Temple entry movements in the country.
• It was a successful non-violent protest in the country highlighting the importance of Gandhian principles.
• The movement witnessed unity among various caste lines.
• The movement turned out to be successful in restoring the rights of lower caste people to access the public roads.

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.

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.