Question

What types of social movements in Kerala helped create a positive environment for legal reforms?

• A. A. Economic and political movements
• B. B. Industrial and labor movements
• C. C. Caste and religion-based social reform movements
• D. D. Environmental and cultural conservation movements

Answer 1

Answer:

C. C. Caste and religion-based social reform movements

Social Reform Movements and Legal Reforms in Kerala

• The late 19th and early 20th centuries witnessed significant social reform movements in Kerala, primarily focusing on caste and religion-based inequalities. These movements were instrumental in challenging established social hierarchies and creating a fertile ground for progressive legal reforms.
• These movements articulated demands for equality, social justice, and human dignity, which directly pressured the then-rulers (Princely states of Travancore, Cochin, and British Malabar) to enact laws and proclamations to address long-standing grievances.

Key Movements and Their Impact on Legal Reforms:

• Sree Narayana Guru (1856-1928) and SNDP Yogam:
  • Sree Narayana Guru championed the cause of the Ezhava community and other backward castes. His philosophy of 'One Caste, One Religion, One God for Man' challenged caste discrimination.
  • The Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, founded in 1903, became a powerful organization advocating for the rights of Ezhavas, including access to education, public spaces, and temple entry.
  • His movement directly influenced the legal recognition of equality, laying the groundwork for future laws abolishing untouchability and promoting educational access for all.
• Ayyankali (1863-1941) and Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (SJPS):
  • Ayyankali led the struggle for the rights of the Pulaya (Dalit) community, demanding their right to use public roads, access schools, and engage in land-related work without discrimination.
  • The Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham, established in 1907, was crucial in advocating for the right to education for untouchable children, leading to government orders granting them access to public schools.
  • His struggles, like the Kallipeedika Agitation (1905) and the Villuvandi Samaram (1893), were direct calls for legal recognition of their mobility and access rights.
• Chattampi Swamikal (1853-1924):
  • A contemporary of Sree Narayana Guru, Chattampi Swamikal also worked against caste discrimination and for the rights of lower castes.
  • He advocated for the right of all castes to study the Vedas and challenged the Namboothiri brahminical supremacy, contributing to a broader intellectual climate that questioned traditional legal and social norms.
• Vaikunta Swamikal (1809-1851) and Samatva Samajam:
  • Considered one of the earliest social reformers, Vaikunta Swamikal challenged the caste system and idol worship, advocating for equality among all people.
  • His Samatva Samajam (Society for Equality) promoted inter-dining and challenged feudal practices, thereby indirectly setting the stage for legal reforms against social discrimination. He famously coined the slogan 'Irunda Lokam' (Dark World) for British rule and 'Oru Jathi Oru Matham Oru Deivam' (One Caste One Religion One God).
• Mannathu Padmanabhan (1878-1970) and Nair Service Society (NSS):
  • While primarily focused on the welfare and upliftment of the Nair community, the NSS (founded in 1914) played a role in modernizing social customs, including marriage and inheritance laws within the Nair community, moving away from the traditional matrilineal system towards patrilineal practices.
  • The efforts for reform within the Nair community contributed to legal changes like the Nair Regulation of 1925, which standardized marriage and inheritance among Nairs.
• V.T. Bhattathirippad (1896-1982) and Yogakshema Sabha:
  • The Yogakshema Sabha (founded in 1908) worked for the reform of the Namboothiri Brahmin community, addressing issues like child marriage, polygamy, and the education of Namboothiri women.
  • Their efforts contributed to the passing of the Namboothiri Bill of 1933, which allowed Namboothiri women to inherit property and limited polygamy, reflecting the broader push for women's rights and social modernization.

Direct Influence on Legal Reforms:

• Temple Entry Proclamations: The intense agitations, particularly the Vaikom Satyagraha (1924-25) and the Guruvayoor Satyagraha (1931-32), led by leaders like K. Kelappan and supported by Gandhiji, put immense pressure on the Travancore state. This culminated in the landmark Temple Entry Proclamation of 1936 by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma, legally opening Hindu temples to all castes.
• Abolition of Untouchability: The social movements' relentless advocacy for human dignity led to legal measures that gradually criminalized discrimination based on caste, paving the way for the later constitutional abolition of untouchability in independent India.
• Education Reforms: The demand for universal education by these movements resulted in legal provisions ensuring access to schooling for all, irrespective of caste or social background, a foundational element of Kerala's human development.
• Women's Rights and Family Laws: Reforms within various communities (e.g., Nair Regulation, Namboothiri Bill) led to significant legal changes in marriage, divorce, and inheritance, granting women more rights and dismantling archaic practices.