Temple Entry Movement and the Indian Social Conference

At a Glance

• Temple Entry Vaikom Satyagraha 1924; Guruvayur 1931; Travancore Proclamation 1936
• Leaders T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava, K. Kelappan, Subramaniyam Tirumambu
• Social Conference Founded by Ranade and Raghunath Rao; first session Madras 1887
• Methods Satyagraha; the Pledge Movement against child marriage
• Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Reform Movements and Their Leaders

Where Does It Fit?

This is the twelfth topic of the category on reform movements and their leaders. The previous topic covered the anti-brahmin movements of the south. This topic covers the temple entry movement, which grew from them, and the Social Conference of Ranade. The next topic covers the Wahabi movement and its Muslim counterparts. Previous topic: SNDP Movement, Vokkaliga Sangha, Justice Movement and Self-Respect Movement.

How Did the Temple Entry Movement Begin?

Significant work in this direction had already been done by reformers and intellectuals such as Sree Narayana Guru and N. Kumaran Asan, as told in SNDP Movement, Vokkaliga Sangha, Justice Movement and Self-Respect Movement. T.K. Madhavan, a prominent social reformer and editor of Deshabhimani, took up the issue of temple entry with the Travancore administration. Nothing transpired. Meanwhile Vaikom, in the northern part of Travancore, became a centre of agitation for temple entry.

What Was the Vaikom Satyagraha?

In 1924 the Vaikom Satyagraha, led by K.P. Kesava, was launched in Kerala, demanding the opening of Hindu temples and roads to the untouchables. It was reinforced by jathas from Punjab and Madurai, and Gandhi toured Kerala in support of the movement.

What Happened at Guruvayur and After?

Again in 1931, when the Civil Disobedience Movement was suspended, a temple entry movement was organised in Kerala. Inspired by K. Kelappan, the poet Subramaniyam Tirumambu, called the singing sword of Kerala, led a group of sixteen volunteers to Guruvayur. Leaders such as P. Krishna Pillai and A.K. Gopalan were among the satyagrahis.

Rulers of Travancore, Indore and Devas had also opened state temples by proclamation, as noted in Struggle Against Caste-Based Exploitation.

What Was the Indian Social Conference?

The Indian Social Conference was founded by M.G. Ranade and Raghunath Rao and met annually from its first session in Madras in 1887, at the same time and place as the Indian National Congress. It focused attention on social issues of importance and could be called the social reform cell of the Indian National Congress. The conference advocated inter-caste marriages and opposed polygamy and kulinism. It launched the Pledge Movement to inspire people to take a pledge against child marriage.

Ranade’s work with the Prarthana Samaj, in Prarthana Samaj, and his Ladies Social Conference of 1904, noted in Reform Movements and the Position of Women, are connected.

As an analytical point, the two topics together show the two levels of the social reform struggle: mass action at the temple door, led by the excluded and their allies, and organised argument in an annual forum, led by the educated. The satyagraha methods used at Vaikom also reflect the Gandhian techniques that were entering Indian politics.

Why Is This Topic Important?

• Dates Vaikom 1924 and the 1936 Proclamation are frequent Prelims facts
• Leaders Kesava, Madhavan, Kelappan and Tirumambu are matched with movements
• Link to the Congress The Social Conference shows reform inside the national movement

What Came Next?

The next topic covers the Titu Mir Disciple of Syed Ahmed; Bengal peasants;…">Wahabi movement, Titu Mir and the Faraizi movement. Next topic: Wahabi Movement, Titu Mir and the Faraizi Movement.

Key People and Terms

• Vaikom Satyagraha The 1924 satyagraha for temple and road entry in Travancore
• Jatha A group of marchers reinforcing a satyagraha
• Travancore Proclamation The 1936 order opening government temples to all Hindus
• Pledge Movement A campaign to take a pledge against child marriage
• Kulinism A Bengal custom of high-status men marrying many girls
• Deshabhimani The paper edited by T.K. Madhavan

Exam Corner

Mains Angle

Questions ask about the temple entry movement. These points add depth.

• Satyagraha Gandhian methods were used for social causes
• State action Princely states opened temples by proclamation
• Social reform in the Congress The Conference met with the Congress