Caste Reforms (కుల ఉద్యమాలు - Kula Udyamalu)

 

Caste Reforms (కుల ఉద్యమాలు - Kula Udyamalu)

Introduction & Context

1. This class focuses on Caste Reforms, following previous classes on Religious and Women reforms.

2. Topic is crucial for exams like Group 1 Mains and UPSC.

3. Key figures involved in caste reforms include: B.R. Ambedkar, M.K. Gandhi, Narayana Guru, Periyar E. V. Ramasamy, Jyotirao Phule.

Types of Exam Questions

1. Individual Contributions: Role of specific reformers (Ambedkar, Gandhi, Phule, etc.). (Considered easier).

2. Ideological Differences: Particularly the conflict/debate between Gandhi and Ambedkar on caste issues. (More in-depth).

3. Impact/Influence: Overall effect of caste movements.

4. Group 1 Mains perspective requires understanding contributions of ~5 key figures, the Gandhi-Ambedkar debate, and the overall impact. Group 2/3 needs more detailed factual knowledge.

Reference Materials

1. NCERT 8th Class History: Chapter covering Religious, Women, and Caste reforms is fundamental, especially for prelims (UPSC, Group 1/2).

2. Spectrum Modern Indian History: Standard reference book.

3. BRAOU (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Open University) - Pragathi Pustakam: Highly recommended, considered very good for this topic, especially for movements in Punjab, UP, Bengal often less detailed elsewhere. Seems to be a key reference for TSPSC.

4. Other Sources: Standard degree books or Telugu Academy books are deemed less preferable/insufficient. Private publications (Karim Sir, Sayyad Sir) can be used supplementary to BRAOU.

Causes & Nature of Caste Movements

1. Gail Omvedt's View: Caste movements arose primarily due to the excessive dominance (ఆధిపత్యం) and violence of Brahmins, making them essentially anti-Brahmin movements rather than anti-British.

2. Reasons for Movements:

   • Brahmin dominance (బ్రాహ్మణుల ఆధిపత్యం).

   • Need for social change (సామాజిక మార్పు).

   • Struggle for existence/identity (అస్తిత్వం).

   • Denial of access to social assets (సామాజిక ఆస్తులు) like public wells, spaces.

   • Denial of temple entry (దేవాలయ ప్రవేశం) - e.g., Vaikom Satyagraha.

Classification of Caste Movements (as per Gail Omvedt)

1. Dalit Movements: Focus on figures like Phule, Ambedkar, Gandhi.

2. BC (Backward Classes) / Lower Caste Movements: E.g., Justice Movement in Madras Presidency.

3. Sanskritisation: Lower castes attempting to emulate upper-caste practices to gain status (e.g., Nadars, Pallis in Tamil Nadu).

Terminology for Dalits/Untouchables

1. Hindu Texts: Aspruchulu (అస్పృశ్యులు - Untouchables), Antaranivaru (అంటరానివారు - Untouchables), Panchamulu (పంచములు - Fifth Varna, also included Adivasis), Chandaluru (చండాలురు).

2. Jyotirao Phule: First to use the term Dalit (దళిత్ - Broken/Ground down).

3. Ambedkar: Popularized the term Dalit.

4. British India: Depressed Classes (అణగారిన వర్గాలు). Used in 1931 Census. Ambedkar opposed this term before the Lothian Committee due to its negative connotation.

5. Simon Commission (1928): First used the term Scheduled Caste (SC).

6. Government of India Act, 1935: Officially adopted the term SC.

7. Indian Constitution: Article 341 empowers the President to notify the list of SCs. Currently applicable to Hindus, Sikhs, and Buddhists (not Muslims or Christians as per current law, discussed in current affairs).

8. Gandhi: Used the term Harijan (హరిజనులు - Children of God) from the late 1930s. Inspired by Vaishnava devotee Narsi Mehta. Ambedkar strongly opposed this term.

Jyotirao Phule (Mahatma Jyotiba Phule)

1. Background:

   • Born in Maharashtra.

   • Belonged to Mali (మాలి - gardener/flower seller) caste, considered OBC (BC), not SC.

   • Surname derived from their profession ('Phule'/'Fule' relates to flowers).

   • Title 'Mahatma': Given by Vithalrao Krishnaji Vandekar in 1888.

   • Guru to Ambedkar: Along with Buddha and Kabir.

2. Inspiration:

   • Deeply influenced by Thomas Paine's book "The Rights of Man".

   • Compared the oppression of Black people by Whites in America to the oppression of lower castes (Dalits/Shudras) by Brahmins in India.

   • Believed Education was the key solution to this oppression.

3. Key Incident: Humiliated for participating in a Brahmin friend's wedding procession, which strengthened his resolve against caste discrimination.

4. Contributions & Activities:

   • Education:

     • Founded the first school for girls in India in Pune (Bide Wada) in 1848.

     • His wife, Savitribai Phule, became the first headmistress and teacher.

     • Fatima Sheikh worked alongside Savitribai, becoming the first Muslim woman teacher in India.

   • Satyashodhak Samaj (Truth Seekers' Society):

     • Founded in 1873 (Year important).

     • Aimed to liberate Shudras and Ati-Shudras (Dalits) from exploitation and oppression.

     • Opposed Brahmin dominance, idolatry, and the caste system.

     • Promoted rational thought.

   • Social Service:

     • Savitribai Phule actively worked for plague victims in 1897 and died contracting the disease.

   • Opposing Brahmin Hegemony:

     • Criticized Brahmins acting as intermediaries (brokers) between God and humans.

     • Advocated for marriages without Brahmin priests to reduce expenses and dependence.

   • Writings (Books):

     • Gulamgiri (గులాంగిరి - Slavery) - Written in 1872, published 1873. Dedicated to the American movement to abolish slavery (Black Americans). (Most Famous)

     • Tritiya Ratna (తృతీయ రత్న - Third Gem)

     • Ishara (ఈశ్వర - Warning/Signal)

     • Shivaji Gathalu (శివాజీ గాథలు - Ballads/Life of Shivaji)

     • Sarvajanik Satyadharma Pustak (సార్వజనిక్ సత్యశోధక్/సత్యధర్మ పుస్తక్) - Universal True Religion.

   • Newspaper (Voice of Satyashodhak Samaj):

     • Din Bandhu (దీనబంధు - Friend of the Poor).

     • Editor: Krishnarao Pandurang Bhalekar (కృష్ణారావు పాండురంగ).

5. Death: Around 1890.

Post-Phule Era & Shahu Maharaj

1. After Phule's death, the Satyashodhak movement weakened.

2. Shahu Maharaj (Chatrapati Shahu Maharaj): Ruler of the princely state of Kolhapur (కొల్హాపూర్), Maharashtra.

3. Revived and carried forward Phule's movement.

4. Introduced 50% reservation for non-Brahmins in government jobs in Kolhapur state in 1902. (Speaker mentions 1902/1922 uncertainty, 1902 is widely accepted). This is considered the first instance of reservation policy in India.

5. Supported Ambedkar's higher education abroad.

6. Helped Ambedkar launch his newspaper Mooknayak (Leader of the Dumb).

7. Presided over the All India Conference of Untouchables in 1922 (Speaker mentioned 1922, possibly referring to this), where he hailed Ambedkar as a future great leader.