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IMPORTANT CASTE MOVEMENTS | MODERN INDIAN HISTORY
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1. Gopal Baba Walangkar
🟢 Retired Mahar army officer from Maharashtra.
🟢 Established
Anarya Dosh Parihar Samaj at Dapoli, Ratnagiri.
🟢 Published
Vital Vidvansak, a work of protest against Brahmanism.
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2. Iyothee Thass
🟢 Anti-caste activist from Tamil Nadu and practitioner of Siddha medicine.
🟢 Embraced
Buddhism and encouraged oppressed castes to follow it.
🟢 Founded the
Dalit Mahajan Sabha against caste discrimination.
🟢 Newspaper:
Tamilan.
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3. Aravippuram Movement (1888)
🟢 Originated in
Kerala under
Sri Narayana Guru.
🟢 Challenged caste restrictions through the consecration of a Shiva idol by a member of a lower caste.
🟢 Encouraged the Ezhavas to abandon toddy-tapping and abstain from liquor.
🟢
Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam) was established in 1902–03.
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4. Justice Party Movement (1916)
🟢 Founded in the Madras Presidency as the
South Indian Liberal Federation.
🟢 Opposed Brahmin dominance in government services, education and politics.
🟢 Sought non-Brahmin advancement through constitutional methods.
🟢 Contributed to the development of the
Dravidian movement.
🟢 A 1930 Government Order provided for reservations for certain groups.
🟢 In 1944,
Periyar transformed the Justice Party into
Dravidar Kazhagam, withdrawing it from electoral politics.
🟢 Leaders:
Dr. T.M. Nair, P. Tyagaraya Chetty and C.N. Mudaliar.
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5. Nair Movement (1891 onwards)
🟢 Emerged in Kerala against the social and political dominance of Nambudiri and non-Malayali Brahmins.
🟢
Malayali Memorial was formed in 1891 by the initiative of
Raman Pillai.
🟢 The
Nair Service Society (NSS) was established in 1914 under
Mannathu Padmanabhan.
🟢 Associated figures:
C.V. Raman Pillai, K. Ramakrishna Pillai and Mannathu Padmanabhan.
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6. Self-Respect Movement (1925)
🟢 Launched in Tamil Nadu by
E.V. Ramasamy Naicker (Periyar).
🟢 Challenged Brahminical dominance and promoted equality for backward classes and women.
🟢 Encouraged rationalism, social reform and the revitalisation of Dravidian languages.
🟢
Kudi Arasu was an important journal associated with Periyar.
🟢 Helped popularise
Tamil nationalism and self-respect marriages.
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7. Nadar Movement
🟢 Originated in Tamil Nadu among the community formerly known as
Shanans.
🟢 Nadars increasingly entered trade and commerce and adopted the title
Nadar to assert higher social status.
🟢 Established the
Nadar Mahajana Sangam in 1910.
🟢 Used
Sanskritisation and organised educational and social welfare activities.
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8. Depressed Classes (Mahars) Movement (1924 onwards)
🟢 Led by
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar in Maharashtra.
🟢 Demanded access to public places, temple entry, abolition of the Mahar Watan system and political representation.
🟢 Important organisations and publications:
•
Bahishkrit Hitakarini Sabha (1924) — established to promote the welfare of the Depressed Classes.
•
Bahishkrit Bharat (1927) — Marathi fortnightly.
•
Samaj Samata Sangh (1927).
•
All-India Scheduled Castes Federation (1942).
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9. Congress-led Anti-Untouchability Movement (1917 onwards)
🟢 In
1917, the Indian National Congress adopted a resolution against untouchability.
🟢 In
1929, the Congress Working Committee appointed an Anti-Untouchability Sub-Committee, with
Madan Mohan Malaviya as president and
Jamnalal Bajaj as secretary.
🟢
All-India Anti-Untouchability League was established by
Mahatma Gandhi in 1932.
🟢 Gandhi launched the weekly
Harijan in
1933.
🟢
All-India Depressed Classes League was established under the leadership of
Babu Jagjivan Ram.
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UPSC MAINS QUESTION
Discuss the role of caste-based social movements in challenging social hierarchies and advancing equality in modern India.
#history #prelims #mains
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