Caste and Lower-Caste Movements
Phule, Narayana Guru, Periyar and Ambedkar led movements against caste in Maharashtra, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and North India, which led to equal rights and reservation.
Maharashtra: Jyotirao Phule and Ambedkar
- Jotirao (Jyotiba) Phule (1827 to 1890) started a girls' school in Pune (1848) with his wife Savitribai Phule, and founded the Satyashodhak Samaj (24 September 1873) to end Brahmin domination and uplift the shudras and ati-shudras. He wrote Gulamgiri (1873) and Shetkaryacha Asud (1881). Given the title "Mahatma" (1888).
- Shahu Maharaj of Kolhapur reserved 50 per cent of posts for backward classes (1902), the first such reservation by an Indian ruler.
- Dr B.R. Ambedkar (1891 to 1956): Mooknayak (1920); Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924); Mahad Satyagraha (March 1927) for water at the Chavdar tank; burning of the Manusmriti (December 1927); Kalaram Temple (Nashik) satyagraha (1930); Poona Pact (1932); Annihilation of Caste (1936); Independent Labour Party (1936); Scheduled Castes Federation (1942).
South India
| Leader / movement | Details |
|---|---|
| Sree Narayana Guru (1856 to 1928) | Kerala. "One caste, one religion, one God for man." Consecrated a Shiva idol at Aruvippuram (1888). SNDP Yogam (1903). |
| Ayyankali (1863 to 1941) | Kerala Pulaya leader. Villuvandi Samaram (1893) (bullock-cart protest). Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (1907). |
| Vaikom Satyagraha (1924 to 1925) | Temple road entry for the lower castes at Vaikom, Travancore. Leaders: T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon; Periyar took part, and Gandhi visited. Temple Entry Proclamation by Travancore (1936). Guruvayur Satyagraha (1931 to 1932) by K. Kelappan. |
| Justice Party (1916) | South Indian Liberal Federation by C.N. Mudaliar, T.M. Nair, P. Theagaraya Chetty against Brahmin dominance. |
| E.V. Ramasamy Periyar | Self-Respect Movement (1925); Kudi Arasu. Later formed the Dravidar Kazhagam (1944). |
Efforts of Gandhi and others
- All India Anti-Untouchability League (1932) became the Harijan Sevak Sangh; Harijan (weekly, 1933). Gandhi called untouchables Harijan.
- Adi Dharm Mandal (Mangoo Ram, Punjab, 1926), Namasudra movement (Harichand Thakur, Bengal) and the Mahar movement were other efforts.
- Later, the Constitution banned untouchability (Article 17) and provided for reservation.
Keep practising
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Prepared for exam revision from standard sources such as NCERT, Bipan Chandra, Spectrum and official records. Historians differ on some dates, figures and interpretations, so check your exam syllabus and a standard textbook. Found a mistake? Tell us.