Vaikom Satyagraha

About Vaikom Satyagraha:

• It was a social reform movement which originated and took its place at Vaikom, then part of the princely state of Travancore, in Kottayam district of Kerala, during the period of 1924-1925.
• It was the dawn of temple entry movements in India.
• Background:
  • The Vaikom Mahadevar Temple was the epicenter of the town, and Dalits wereprohibitedfrom entering the temple premises or even using the road that encircled the temple.
  • In AICC (All India Congress Committee) meeting in Kakinada in 1923, T. K Madhavan, along with Sardar Panikkar and KP Kesava Menon, submitted a petition to the Travancore legislative council.
  • The petition sought to grant the right to temple entry and worship of gods for all sections of the society, irrespective of caste, creed, and community.
  • During a tour of the region by leaders like K. Kelappan, a demandwas made to allow everyone to use the road, but the temple authorities refused.
  • This refusal led to the commencement of Satyagraha.
• The Satyagraha was led by prominent leaders such as K. Kelappan, T. K. Madhavan, and K. P. Kesava Menon, among others. 
• Young volunteers from all over Kerala joined the Satyagraha to fight against untouchability. 
• A lot of prominent political and social personalities, including Mahatma Gandhi, had a role in the satyagraha.
  • Mahatma Gandhi supported the movement unconditionally and visited Vaikom in 1925.
  • Periyar E.V. Ramasamy arrived in Vaikom on April 13, 1924, after several of the movement’s leaders were jailed, and he provided crucial leadership to it.
  • Sree Narayana Guru also extended his support and co-operation to the Vaikom Satyagraha.
• Despite the authorities' attempts to suppress the Satyagraha, it ultimately succeeded in opening the temple roads to everyone.
• The Satyagraha came to a close on November 23, 1925, a total of 604 days after it began in March, 1924.
• In another three years, the Travancore government would order that temple roads across the state be opened to all. 

Q1: Who was Periyar E.V. Ramasamy?

Erode Venkatappa Ramasamy (17 September 1879 – 24 December 1973), commonly known as Periyar or Thanthai Periyar, was an Indian social activist and politician who started the Self-Respect Movement and Dravidar Kazhagam. He is known as the 'Father of the Dravidian movement'. He rebelled against Brahminical dominance and gender and caste inequality in Tamil Nadu.

Source: Decks cleared for Periyar memorial in Alappuzha