Question

Given below are two statements, one is labelled as Assertion (A) and the other is labelled as Reason (R).

Assertion (A): C.P Ramaswami Ayyar was the Dewan of Travancore when the Temple Entry Proclamation was issued.

Reason (R): In June 1947, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, the Maharaja of Travancore, proclaimed the state's independence from British rule.

In the context of the above two statements, which one of the following is correct?

• A. Both (A) and (R) are true, and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
• B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
• C. (A) is true, but (R) is false.
• D. (A) is false, but (R) is true.

Answer 1

Answer:

B. Both (A) and (R) are true, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).

Temple Entry Proclamation

• The Temple Entry Proclamation was issued on 12 November 1936 by the Maharaja of Travancore, Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma.
• This historic proclamation abolished the ban on low-caste people entering Hindu temples in the princely state of Travancore.
• Sir C.P. Ramaswami Ayyar was appointed as the Dewan of Travancore in 1936 and was holding the office when this landmark reform was declared.

Independent Travancore Movement

• In June 1947, the Dewan C.P. Ramaswami Ayyar, with the backing of Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, declared that Travancore would become an independent nation after the British left India.
• This decision to declare an "Independent Travancore" was highly controversial and faced immense public opposition and protests from the State Congress.
• The declaration of independence was a political response to the impending Partition of India and the lapse of British paramountcy.

Relationship Between the Statements

• Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are historically accurate and true facts regarding the modern history of Travancore.
• However, the political move to declare Travancore's independence in June 1947 (Reason) has no causal connection or logical relationship to the social reform of the Temple Entry Proclamation issued in November 1936 (Assertion).