Caste Movements
Modern History › Quick Reference for Revision · Topic 33.5
Caste movements of the nationalist period challenged Brahminical dominance and untouchability, from Jyotiba Phule's Satyashodhak Samaj of 1873 to Ambedkar's Depressed Classes Institution of 1924 and Gandhi's Harijan campaign. This revision table lists each movement with its leader, year, region, aim and the institutions, journals and orders that resulted.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Quick Reference for Revision
At a Glance
- Earliest Satyashodhak Samaj, 1873, Maharashtra
- Kerala Sri Narayana Guru, Nair movement, Vaikom
- Tamil Nadu Justice Party (1916), Self-Respect (1925), Nadar
- Ambedkar Depressed Classes Institution, 1924
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Quick Reference for Revision
Where Does It Fit?
This is the fifth topic of the category on quick reference for revision. The previous topic listed famous trials. This topic lists caste movements. The next topic lists peasant movements in order of time. Previous topic: Bahadur Shah Zafar, 1858 Tilak Trials of 1897, 1908 and 1916 Gandhi Sedition trial of 1922; six years,…">Famous Trials of the Nationalist Period.
Which Caste Movements Arose in Maharashtra, Kerala and Bengal?
| Movement and leader | Year and region | Aim and result |
|---|---|---|
| Satyashodhak Movement, Satyashodhak Samaj, Jyotiba Phule | 1873, Maharashtra | Against Brahminical domination and for the emancipation of low castes, untouchables and widows |
| Aravippuram Movement, Sri Narayana Guru | 1888, Kerala | For the rights of the depressed classes, especially the Ezhavas or Iravas; the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam was set up in 1902-03 |
| Nair Movement, C.V. Raman Pillai, K. Ramakrishna Pillai and M. Padmanabha Pillai | 1891, Kerala | Against Brahmin domination; the Malayali Memorial of 1891 and the Nair Service Society of 1914 |
| Depressed Classes (Mahar) Movement, B.R. Ambedkar | 1924, Maharashtra | For the upliftment of untouchables; the Depressed Classes Institution (1924), the Marathi fortnightly Bahishkrit Bharat (1927), the Samaj Samta Sangh (1927) and the Scheduled Castes Federation (1942) |
| Kaivartas’ Movement | 1897 onwards, Midnapore, Bengal | The Kaivartas who later became Mahishyas sought a higher status; the Jati Nirdharani Sabha (1897) and the Mahishya Samiti (1901) |
The reformers are in Satyashodhak Samaj and Jyotirao Phule, SNDP Movement, Vokkaliga Sangha, Justice Movement and Self-Respect Movement and Temple Entry Movement and the Indian Social Conference, and the wider theme in Struggle Against Caste-Based Exploitation.
Which Caste Movements Arose in Tamil Nadu and in the Congress?
| Movement and leader | Year and region | Aim and result |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Party Movement, T.M. Nair, P. Tyagaraja Chetti and C.N. Mudaliar for the intermediate castes | 1916, Madras | Against Brahmin domination in government service, education and politics; the South Indian Liberation Federation (SILF) was formed in 1916, and its efforts led to the Government Order of 1930 providing reservations |
| Self-Respect Movement, E.V. Ramaswami Naicker, Periyar | 1925, Tamil Nadu | Against caste bias by Brahmins; he began the journal Kudi Arasu |
| Nadar Movement, the Shanans who imitated Kshatriya customs and emerged as Nadars | Tamil Nadu | Against social bias and to promote education and welfare; the Nadar Mahajan Sangam was formed in 1910 |
| Congress Harijan Movement | 1917 onwards | To raise the status of the lower and backward classes; the All-India Anti-Untouchability League was set up in 1932 and Gandhi began the weekly Harijan in 1933 |
The dates in the Tamil movements are sometimes mixed in older lists: Kudi Arasu was started in 1925, a year of the Self-Respect Movement, and not in 1910, which is the year of the Nadar Mahajan Sangam. The Poona Pact of 1932 and the Harijan campaign are in Separate electorates for the depressed classes Seats…">Poona Pact and Its Impact on Dalits and Gandhi’s Harijan Campaign and Thoughts on Caste.
How Do the Movements Compare?
As an analytical point, the movements can be sorted by what they asked for. Some asked for equality in public life, jobs and education, as the Justice Party, the Nair movement and Ambedkar’s organisations did. Some asked for a higher place within the caste order, as the Nadars and the Kaivartas did by adopting the customs of higher castes. Some attacked the religious basis of caste, as the Satyashodhak Samaj, Sri Narayana Guru and Periyar did, in different ways. The Congress approach under Gandhi, in contrast, called for the removal of untouchability from within Hinduism. The differences between Gandhi and Ambedkar on this are in Gandhi and Ambedkar: Ideological Differences and Similarities. The effect of these movements on the reservation policy is in Communal Award, 1932. The Justice Party order of 1930 in Madras was one of the earliest government reservation orders for the backward castes, which makes the Tamil movements the first to win a lasting share of public jobs through legislation and executive orders.
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Leaders and organisations Matching questions on caste movements are frequent
- Regional pattern Maharashtra, Kerala and Madras were centres
- Journals and institutions Dates of papers and sabhas are asked
What Came Next?
The next topic lists the peasant movements of the nationalist period in order of time. Next topic: Titu Mir, 1830s, Bengal Gandhian Champaran 1917, Kheda 1918, Bardoli 1928 Laws Bengal Tenancy Act 1885, Punjab Land…">Peasant Movements: A Chronological Table.
Key People and Terms
- Satyashodhak Samaj Phule’s society of 1873
- SNDP Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam
- South Indian Liberation Federation Justice Party’s body, 1916
- Kudi Arasu Periyar’s journal
- Bahishkrit Bharat Ambedkar’s Marathi fortnightly
- Nadar Mahajan Sangam Association formed in 1910
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- Phule: 1873; Narayana Guru: 1888 and SNDP 1902-03.
- Justice Party: 1916; Self-Respect: 1925.
- Ambedkar: 1924 Institution; 1927 Bahishkrit Bharat; 1942 Federation.
- Nair Service Society: 1914.
- Harijan: 1933.
Do Not Confuse With
- Justice Party and Self-Respect 1916 non-Brahmin party versus Periyar’s 1925 movement
- Nair Movement and Ezhava movement Nairs versus the Ezhavas of Narayana Guru
- Harijan weekly and Bahishkrit Bharat Gandhi’s 1933 weekly versus Ambedkar’s 1927 fortnightly
Memory Hook
Phule starts, Narayana Guru builds, the Justice Party governs, Periyar disrupts, Ambedkar organises.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the regional pattern and the types of caste movement. These points add depth.
- Types Equality, mobility, rejection
- Regions West, south, east
- Link With nationalism
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Compare the caste movements of Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu in the nationalist period.”
How to Answer
- Maharashtra Phule, Ambedkar.
- Kerala Narayana Guru, Nairs.
- Tamil Nadu Justice, Self-Respect.
- Conclude Common themes.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
Who founded the Satyashodhak Samaj?
Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873 in Maharashtra to oppose Brahminical domination and work for the emancipation of low castes, untouchables and widows, and it gave the first organised form to the non-Brahmin movement in western India.
What was the Aravippuram Movement?
Led by Sri Narayana Guru in Kerala in 1888, it sought rights for the depressed classes, especially the Ezhavas, and led to the formation of the Sri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam in 1902-03, the organisation that carried his work forward.
What was the Justice Party?
Formed in Madras in 1916 by T.M. Nair, P. Tyagaraja Chetti and C.N. Mudaliar for the intermediate castes, it was started as the South Indian Liberation Federation against Brahmin domination and its efforts led to the 1930 Government Order on reservation.
What did Ambedkar's movement of the 1920s do?
Ambedkar's Depressed Classes movement set up the Depressed Classes Institution in 1924, the Marathi fortnightly Bahishkrit Bharat and the Samaj Samta Sangh in 1927, and later the Scheduled Castes Federation in 1942, to speak for untouchables.
Who began the Self-Respect Movement?
E.V. Ramaswami Naicker, known as Periyar, began the Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu in 1925 against caste bias by Brahmins, and he published the journal Kudi Arasu to carry the message across the Tamil country.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 Jyotiba Phule founded the Satyashodhak Samaj in 1873.
It was in Maharashtra.
2 The Justice Party was formed in Madras in 1916.
It began as the SILF.
3 Periyar began the Self-Respect Movement in Kerala.
He began it in Tamil Nadu.
4 Ambedkar founded the Depressed Classes Institution in 1924.
He started Bahishkrit Bharat in 1927.
5 Gandhi started the weekly Harijan in 1933.
The Anti-Untouchability League was set up in 1932.
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