Sanghadeepam- 5 Navothanam: Kerala's unparalleled journey to modernity (Part -1)

Sanghadeepam- 5

Part -1

Date: 14-06-2020

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Navothanam: Kerala's unparalleled journey to modernisation.

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Path breaking is the simplest word we can use to describe every struggle, agitation or movement that had been invoked by persons and organisations to bring about changes in the Kerala society from time immemorial. The long journey that started centuries ago touched everyone's life and the  process continues still. A society with its women folk pleasantly emancipated to the world standards is bound to progress and sky is the nearest limit for it. 

 Any thought about Kerala's renaissance movement ushers in the loud and assertive warning to our minds-

 "maatuvin chattangale swayam allengil

maatumathukalee ningalethaan".

 Change the rules or else you will be changed.

 The poet roared against the self destructive caste system in the Hindu community. The roar had brought down many an edifice of caste divisions in Kerala. Kumaranasan's this couplet is still a rallying point in the memories of our struggles against social evils. 

 "Ezhavas and other low castes are prohibited through this road"

Can we imagine that such a sign board had been on the display on the roads around the Vaikom temple in Kerala? That was the level of casteism and untouchability prevailing in Kerala once upon a time. No wonder if it forced Swami Vivekandan to use some harsh words against Kerala. Vaikom Satyagraham was the cudgels that rose against this injustice in 1924.

 Though it was a partial success as the roads around the temple were opened for all castes only partially, this peaceful agitation attracted national attention. The agitation that was spearheaded by T K Madhavan got active support from Gandhiji, Mannath Padmanabhan and Sree Narayana Guru. Gandhiji even visited Vaikom during the agitation.  Mannath Padmanabhan lead a Savarna Jatha ( a procession by caste hindus) from Vaikom to Thiruvananthapuram to press for the resolution of the issue.

 The pioneer in bringing effective social reforms in Kerala is Sree Narayana Guru. He fought for the alleviation of social evils prevailed in the society in the most peaceful manner. By consecrating ‘ezhava sivan’ he not only silenced the upper caste hegemony but also showed to the world that evils in our society must be fought and defeated while remaining within the frame work of the same society. He wehemently opposed conversion of Hindus to other religions to overcome the discriminations.  No war or coercion but transformation of the mindset is the corner stone of bringing about change. Guru is a text book in this context. In Parameswarji's description, Sreenarayana Guru is the Prophet of Navodhnam. 

 Vaikom Satyagraham's success, though partial,  paved way for another satyagraha, this time to demand entry of all devotees to Guruvayoor temple. The agitation took place in Thrissur district in 1931-32 and  lead by K Kalappan and Mannath Padmanabhan. This satyagraha did not find success and at the behest of Gandhiji, it was called off in 1932. However, this had acted as an influencing factor  leading to the “Kshetra Pravesana Vilambaram” – The Temple Entry Proclamation by the king of Travancore on November 12, 1936. This day is observed in Kerala as the Reformation Day every year.

 That was a landmark proclamation. In the history of Kerala, even before democracy set in, people had shown guts to protest against the ruling class, came out on streets and resorted to peaceful protests. Without shedding even a drop of blood, navothanam took big strides. It was not just winds of change that swept Kerala’s social landscape, it was a whirlwind that swept away many of the evil practices from the society.  The whirlwind had  transformed Kerala from mental asylum to God’s own country. 

       

                  (To continue...)