Caste Movements
Another consequence of the socio-religious reform movement was the rise in caste consciousness and there were series of non-Brahmin associations which played a prominent role in raising the level of awareness among the lower castes besides helping in integrating them into the mainstream society.
They were various factors that contributed to the rise of these caste movements. The spread of Western education enabled non-Brahmins also to take advantage of it and learnt the liberal western values of liberty and equality.
Secondly, the desire for “Sanskritization” (a process by which people of lower castes emulate the ways of the higher castes) so as to get access to jobs in the Civil Service and the Army was another factor.
Thirdly, the emergence of transport and communication made travel and exchange of ideas easier and caste movements started expanding in scope and territory.
Fourthly, the establishment of modern industries which did not discriminate on the basis of caste in matters of employment enabled the lower castes to work, gain economic freedom and fight for their rights.
Fifthly, the British policy of Divide and Rule whereby caste census was taken from 1901 and all statistics were revealed on basis of caste, so as to use the lower castes against the upper caste nationalists.
Sixthly, the secular legal order introduced by the British put forward equality before the law and so gave equal access to justice for the lower castes.
Lastly, the call given by Gandhiji and the Congress for the abolition of untouchability and upliftment of lower castes enabled them to organize themselves.
Some Important Caste Movements
Satyashodak Samaj – Caste Movements
It was an anti-Brahman movement organized by Jyotibha Phule in Maharashtra. It was founded as a movement to carry on a crusade against Brahman domination in society and religion. The movement also worked for the welfare and education of the untouchables by establishing schools and giving assistance to them.
Self Respect Movement – Caste Movements
It was an anti-Brahman movement begun by E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (also called Periyar), in Madras. It attacked the supremacy of the Brahmans and strove for the dignity of women. It also used to burn the Manu Smriti publicly to denounce the caste system.
Dravida Kazhagam – Caste Movements
It was a more radical version of the Self Respect Movement, also founded by Ramaswamy Naicker. It activities included public burning of Manu Smriti, breaking of idols of worship and even assault of Brahman priests. It was an atheist movement which strove for encouragement of the use of Tamil and purging of Sanskrit words in Tamil. This organization split in 1946 and Annadurai formed the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam which had the same program but went to the extent of advocating Tamil separatism. But it moderated its stand and contested the elections in 1967 and formed the first NonCongress Government in Tamil Nadu with Annadurai as the Chief Minister.
Brahmanetrodyamamu Movement – Caste Movements
It was an anti-Brahman movement formed for the cultural uplift and social reform of non-Brahmans like Kammas, Reddis and Velamas in the Andhra area. It formed a new kind of non-Brahman priesthood to perform religious ceremonies instead of relying upon Brahman priests. Many of its leaders joined the Justice Party and the prominent one associated with the movement was Tripuraneni Ramaswamy Chowdhary.
Justice Party
Started by C.N. Mudaliar, T.M. Nair and Thyagaraja Chetty at Madras in 1916 primarily as an anti-Brahman movement, it later converted itself into a political party. It fought the 1921 elections and formed a Government in Madras and used power to fight the dominance of Brahmins in education and Government service by reserving posts for non-Brahmins in these fields. It was loyal to the British rule but were defeated by the Swaraj Party in the elections of 1926.
Ezhava Movement – Caste Movements
This movement was led by Narayana Guru for the upliftment of the untouchable Ezhavas in Kerala. They demanded entry into temples and tried to Sanskritize to the state of Brahmins. Narayana Guru started the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam.
Nair Movements – Caste Movements
The Nairs in Kerala started a movement against the land rich Namboodri Brahmins who were dominant politically and socially. C.V.Raman Pillai organized the Malayali Memorial in 1891 to attack the Brahmin dominance and also wrote a novel called Martanda Varma to show the military glory of Nairs. Padmanabha Pillai founded the Nair Service Society in 1914.
Mahar Movement – Caste Movements
It was the movement by the untouchable Mahars to fight the dominance of upper castes in Maharashtra and they were led by Gopal Baba Walangkar, and exserviceman. They claimed the Kshatriya status and demanded more jobs in the army and Civil Services.
Ambedkar Movement – Caste Movements
Ambedkar was the first Mahar Graduate and having been educated in the West, took up the cause of the Mahars against the upper caste domination by launching Temple Entry Movements and the public burning of Manu Smriti. He represented the Backward Classes in the three Round Table Conferences held at London and even argued for separate electorates for Depressed Classes, but he had to compromise with Gandhi who launched a ‘fast unto death and signed the Poona Pact whereby he settled for reservation of seats instead of separate electorates. At the fag end he even tried to 4lead the untouchables to break with Hinduism and join Buddhism.
Depressed Classes Mission Society of India
It was launched by V.R. Shinde in 1906 at Bombay as an independent association to organize educational facilities for the lower castes. He opened a branch in Madras in 1909 and spread his activities to South India.