Topic: Caste Movements - OBC (Other Backward Classes)
Context & Recap:
This is the final class on Caste Reforms within the SRRM series.
Covers movements led by OBC communities primarily against Brahmin dominance.
Completes the R (Religion), W (Women), C (Caste) reform topics.
Notes for the entire SRRM series will be posted soon by the speaker.
I. Background: Brahmin Dominance in Madras Presidency (Early 1900s)
Demographics (Approx. 1900s Census):
Brahmins: ~3.5% of the population.
OBCs (Non-Brahmins): ~80%+ of the population.
Socio-Political Reality: Despite being a small minority, Brahmins dominated:
Employment: Held ~90% of government jobs.
Politics: Held significant political power.
OBC Reaction: OBCs felt injustice (అన్యాయం) due to this disparity, leading to anti-Brahmin movements.
II. Precursor: Madras Non-Brahmin Association (MNBA)
Founded by: Subramanyam (సుబ్రహ్మణ్యం), Purushottam Naidu (పురుషోత్తమ నాయుడు).
Place: Madras.
Goal: First attempt to organize Non-Brahmins against Brahmin dominance.
Outcome: Not very successful.
III. Justice Movement / Justice Party
Formation:
Organization: South Indian Liberal Federation (SILF) (దక్షిణ భారత ఉదారవాద సమాఖ్య).
Year Founded: 1916.
Key Founders/Leaders:
P. Thyagaraja Chetty (పి. త్యాగరాజ శెట్టి).
T.M. Nair (టి.ఎం. నాయర్).
C. Natesa Mudaliar (సి. నతేశ మొదలియార్). (The trio).
Publications (Mouthpieces of SILF):
Justice (English newspaper).
Dravidan (ద్రవిడన్) (Tamil newspaper).
Andhra Prakasika (ఆంధ్ర ప్రకాశిక) (Telugu newspaper).
Renaming: SILF became popularly known as the Justice Party due to the fame of its English newspaper.
Ideology/Stance:
Anti-Brahmin Dominance: Primary goal was to counter Brahmin control in jobs and politics.
Pro-British (Initially): Saw British rule as a check against Brahmin power.
Opposition to National Movements:
Opposed Annie Besant's Home Rule League (1916), fearing it would lead to Brahmin Raj if the British left.
Opposed Gandhi's Non-Cooperation Movement (NCM), viewing Gandhi as pro-Brahmin.
Non-Brahmin Manifesto: Issued this document articulating their demands and opposing the Home Rule League (UPSC Prelims question mentioned).
Political Participation:
Contested elections under the 1919 Act (Dyarchy).
Won consecutive elections from 1920 to 1937 in Madras Presidency, forming governments. (INC boycotted elections during NCM, aiding Justice Party's success).
First Chief Minister (Madras, 1920): Subbarayalu Reddiar (సుబ్బరాయలు).
Decline & Transition:
1937 Elections: Justice Party lost heavily to the INC (which contested this time).
New INC CM: C. Rajagopalachari (సి. రాజగోపాలచారి).
Rajagopalachari's Controversial Policy: Made Hindi compulsory in primary schools.
Rise of Periyar: After the 1937 defeat, E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker ("Periyar") became the leader of the Justice Party.
Background: Periyar left INC in 1925 (due to Vaikom Satyagraha issues/Gandhi's stance).
Anti-Hindi Agitation: Periyar led strong protests against compulsory Hindi.
Renaming (1944): Periyar renamed the Justice Party to Dravida Kazhagam (DK) (ద్రవిడ కజగం).
IV. Self-Respect Movement (ఆత్మగౌరవ ఉద్యమం)
Founder: E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker (Periyar).
Year Started: 1925 (Same year Periyar joined Justice Party).
Core Ideology: More radical than the Justice Party.
Casteless Society (కుల రహిత సమాజం).
Atheism: Society without religion (మతం లేని) or God (దేవుడు లేని).
Rationalism: Emphasis on reason over tradition/superstition.
Natural Human Rights (సహజమైన మానవ హక్కులు).
Focus: Equality within OBCs as well, not just anti-Brahmin.
Key Actions:
Promoted "Self-Respect Marriages" - Marriages conducted without Brahmin priests.
Tamil Nadu was the first state to legally recognize such marriages. Puducherry followed in 1971.
Publications (Periyar's Journals):
Kudi Arasu (కుడి అరసు - People's Government).
Viduthalai (విడుతలై - Liberation/Freedom).
Pagutharivu (పకుతరివు - Rationalism).
Periyar's Title: "Periyar" (పెరియార్ - Great Man/Elder). Given by Meenambal Sivaraj (మీనాంబల్) (associated with Justice Party).
V. Dravidian Party Lineage (Post-DK)
Dravida Kazhagam (DK) - 1944: Formed by Periyar from Justice Party.
Split (1949): C.N. Annadurai (సి. అన్నదురై) broke away from Periyar/DK.
Reason: Periyar (aged 70+) married a young woman (Maniammai, 20s), which Annadurai and others opposed.
Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) - 1949: Founded by C.N. Annadurai.
Continued the Anti-Hindi stance.
Split (1972): M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) broke away from DMK (led by Karunanidhi after Annadurai's death).
All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) - 1972: Founded by MGR.
Political Lineage: MGR -> Jayalalithaa.
DMK Lineage: Annadurai -> Karunanidhi -> M.K. Stalin.
VI. Nair Movement (నాయర్ ఉద్యమం - Kerala/Travancore)
Against: Nambudiri Brahmin (నంబూద్రి) dominance.
Specific Practice Opposed: The custom requiring Nair women to appear half-naked (అర్ధనగ్నంగా) before Nambudiri men and the associated exploitative relationships.
Key Leaders (The "Pillai" Trio):
C.V. Raman Pillai (రామన్ పిళ్ళై):
Wrote the novel Marthanda Varma. Purpose: To instill pride by highlighting the historical rule of Nair king Marthanda Varma in Travancore.
K. Ramakrishna Pillai (రామకృష్ణ పిళ్ళై):
Editor of the newspaper Swadeshabhimani (స్వదేశాభిమాని). (Distinguish from Deshabhimani by Madhavan).
Mannathu Padmanabhan Pillai (పద్మనాభన్ పిళ్ళై):
Founded the Nair Service Society (NSS).
VII. Sanskritization (సంస్కృతీకరణ)
Definition: A process where lower caste groups emulate/adopt the rituals, customs, and lifestyle of dominant upper castes (often Brahmins or Kshatriyas) to improve their own social standing in the caste hierarchy. (Moving up the ladder - నిచ్చెన).
Goal: To gain social prestige and acceptance.
Examples:
Shanans (శానన్లు - Toddy tappers/Agri labourers) -> Claimed Nadar (నాడార్) status, linking themselves to former rulers. Followed Nadar practices.
Pallis (పల్లీలు - Agri labourers) -> Claimed Vanniya Kula Kshatriya (వన్నియ కుల క్షత్రియ) status. Adopted related practices.
Mechanism: Imitation of higher caste practices.
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