Vaikom — two States, two leaders and a tale of reform
Source: The Hindu
For Prelims:
- What: Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25), a movement for road access near Vaikom Mahadeva Temple.
- Why: To challenge caste-based discrimination and demand public access for backward caste Hindus.
- Who: Led by Kerala State Congress, supported by Periyar E.V. Ramasamy.
- Outcome: Restrictions lifted in 1925; precursor to the 1936 Temple Entry Proclamation in Travancore.
For Mains:
GS I: Modern History – Social Reform Movements
- Discuss the role of the Vaikom Satyagraha in advancing social equity and challenging caste discrimination.
GS II: Polity and Social Justice
- Analyze the interplay between caste, politics, and state intervention as exemplified by the Vaikom Satyagraha.
Highlights of the Editorial
Evolution of Social Justice Movements
- The Vaikom Struggle catalyzed a nationwide debate on caste and temple entry.
- Periyar’s leadership brought together diverse social groups, fostering a collective push for equality.
- Subsequent reforms in South India accelerated the transition toward an inclusive society, with state intervention playing a key role.
Constitutional Framework for Religious Reform
- Article 25 of the Constitution balances the right to religious freedom with the state’s duty to ensure equality.
- The phrase “subject to public order, morality, and health” has empowered courts to address conflicts between equality and religious practices.
Role of State in Managing Religious Institutions
- Legislative acts like the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act 1927 and the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act 1959 underscore the state’s role in managing secular aspects of temples.
- Supreme Court rulings, such as the Shirur Mutt case (1954), have upheld this approach, distinguishing between secular and religious affairs.
Continuing Challenges and Resistance
- Recent reforms, such as appointing non-Brahmin priests in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, face societal and legal resistance.
- Despite opposition, these efforts challenge entrenched caste hierarchies, reaffirming the reformist spirit of movements like Vaikom.
UPSC EXAM NOTES ANALYSIS
1. Vaikom Satyagraha
- The Vaikom Struggle was initiated to challenge the ban on backward caste Hindus from using the streets near the Vaikom Mahadeva Temple. As leaders from the Kerala State Congress Committee and other social activists protested against this injustice, they faced severe repression from the authorities.
- However, with the involvement of Periyar in 1924, the movement gained momentum and transformed into a mass protest, uniting people from various social classes.
- The restrictions on access to the streets were lifted in November 1925, marking a significant shift towards social justice.
- Over the next decade, similar movements emerged across India, with B.R. Ambedkar leading campaigns to allow Dalits entry to the Ambadevi Temple and Kalaram Mandir.
- In South India, the pace of reform was quicker. In 1932, the Legislative Assembly introduced a Bill for temple entry, followed by the Travancore Temple Entry Proclamation in 1936 and the Malabar Temple Entry Bill in 1938.
- This period also saw backward castes gaining entry to important temples such as the Madurai Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple and the Thanjavur Brihadeeswara Temple in 1939. In 1947, the Madras Temple Entry Authorization Act allowed Hindus of all castes to worship in all temples within the Madras Presidency.
- Although many of these reforms took place before the adoption of the Indian Constitution, the Constituent Assembly carefully considered the right to freedom of religion.
- During discussions on December 7, 1948, B.R. Ambedkar added the phrase "subject to public order, morality, and health," limiting the scope of the fundamental right and allowing for state intervention when necessary.
- These seven words formed the legal foundation for religious reforms, enabling the judiciary to intervene when fundamental rights—especially those concerning equality and religion—were contested
2. State and regulation
- The fundamental question has always been whether the state can regulate temples and religion. Critics argue that such regulation would compromise the secular nature of the government, but this argument lacks logic.
- The state's involvement in regulating temples, as public institutions, is essential to ensuring equality and access.
- A long legislative history, starting with the Madras Hindu Religious Endowments Act of 1927 and continuing with the Tamil Nadu Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Act of 1959, shows the intent to oversee religious affairs in alignment with public order and morality.
- This principle was reaffirmed in key judicial decisions, starting with the 1954 Shirur Mutt case, where the Supreme Court ruled that the state can manage the secular aspects of temple administration and introduced the test for essential religious practices.
- Since the 1970s, Tamil Nadu has enacted several laws allowing backward caste Hindus to be appointed as priests, a move that some view as an unwarranted intrusion into religious practices.
- However, the Court has consistently upheld the state's authority to oversee secular temple matters, while also recognizing a distinct category for 'Agamic temples'
3. Way Forward
In recent years, the governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu have appointed numerous trained priests, Odhuvaars, and Bhattacharyas from non-Brahmin castes. These appointments have faced opposition both within the courts and beyond. The reforms challenge traditional religious practices and deep-rooted social norms. However, the momentum for these changes is stronger than ever. A century after the Vaikom Struggle and more than 75 years since the Constituent Assembly deliberations on this matter, a growing moral consensus is emerging. On December 12, 2024, the governments of Kerala and Tamil Nadu will not only mark the centenary of the Vaikom Struggle but also celebrate a historic event that united the two states. This occasion honors the beginning of a reform movement driven by the leadership of two of India's most influential leaders
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Mains Practice Questions
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