Sanghadeepam-6 Kerala renaissance : the unparalleled journey to modernity - Part 2

Sanghadeepam-6

28-06-2020

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Kerala renaissance : the unparalleled journey to modernity - Part 2

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Pantheon of Kerala’s social reformation is replete with great personalities. Chattambi Swamikal is one prominent name in this. He worked against untouchability in Hinduism and emancipation of women. His efforts against conversion of Hindus to Christianity is to be remembered. In the book Christhumatha Chedanam, he criticizes the work of Christian missionaries in converting Hindus to Christianity. Ayyankali, another prominent reformist worked for the upliftment of Pulaya community. Mahatma Gandhi termed him Pulaya Raja. Anoter notable personality was V T Bhatathirippad. His activities helped in a big way to free Brahmin Women from the clutches of slavery in the name of evil rituals in the community. Lalithambika  Andharjanam too worked for the upliftment of brahmin women. 

Dr Palpu, who was the first medical graduate from the Ezhava community was instrumental in founding SNDP in 1903. He concentrated in improving prospects of education and jobs to the lower castes. He took lead in submitting Malayali Memorial (1891) and Ezhava Memorial (1896) - memorandums to the king of Travancore to demand consideration of educated youths in Ezhava community to various government jobs. 

 Pandit Karuppan spearheaded reforms in the Cochin State. He too emphasized on education and through this emancipation of the socially marginalized castes. He was a Sanskrit scholar and he used his writing skills to embolden his community to come forward and fight against injustice. He wrote the book Jathikummi in Malayalam that heavily came down on the caste discrimination and untouchability. Under his stewardship, he organized a number of regional groups consisting of his community members and other caste members who suffered discrimination. Since lower caste people were not allowed to enter the streets of Ernakulam, he organized a rally in the backwaters of Kochi which is famously known as “Kaayal Sammelanam” (1913) Through relentless agitations and persuations, Pandit Karuppan, the great scholar and reformer brought about big changes in the lives of the discriminated sections of the society

 Nivarthana  Prakshobham (Abstention Agitation) in 1932 took place for proportional representation in the Travancore legislative assembly for Ezhavas, Christians, Muslims under the banner of Samyuktha Rashtriya Samithi. The trigger was the passage of Legislative Reforms Act 1932. Prominent names in this agitation were C Kesavan, P K Kunju and N V Joseph After a series of agitations including abstention from voting to elected legislative assembly, the Travancore administration accepted the demands of the agitators and held election in 1937, giving proportional representation in the assembly for Ezhavas, Christians and Muslims.  The newspaper Kesari and its publisher Balakrishna Paniker extended tremendous support to this agitation. 

 Right from the Channar revolt in the early 19th century, a number of movements and agitations took place in different parts of Kerala that were mainly aimed at eradicating the most unacceptable practices of untouchability and casteism. 

That is the story so far of the fire walk by the socially committed souls to bring about changes in the way their fellow human beings live before independence. Last part of this essay will deal with post independence reforms and the movements involved in them. 

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