Temple Entry Proclamation

The Temple Entry Proclamation issued by Maharaja Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma in 1936 abolished the ban on the so-called 'low-caste people' or avarnas from entering Hindu temples in the Princely State of Travancore (now part of Kerala, India).[1]

The proclamation was a milestone in the history of Travancore and later in rest of Kerala as well. Today, the Temple Entry proclamation day is considered as social reformation day by the Government of Kerala.

History

In Travancore the movements for at least the reduction of the severities of caste, if not its total abolition, have been popular. The teachings of Sree Narayana Guru and other social reformers gave a momentum to the forces and the tolerant policy pursued by the state in recognising the legitimate claims of the backward communities. A deputation of six leaders appointed by the Harijan Sevak Sangh toured throughout Travancore to mobilise signatures of "Savrnars" (Caste Hindus) in support of Harijans and other Avarnars entering state-held temples.[2] "The conversion of the Valiya Raja of Ennakkad" to temple-entry for 'Harijans' and "the propaganda that the Raja, K. Kumar and Pandavathu Sankara Pillai carried out produced excellent results".[3] It is worth noting that the efforts of K. Kumar had already led to the throwing open of the Bhagavathy Temple at Elanthoor, for every community to worship. This was a transformation of attitude that the local people underwent much before the movements to establish temple-entry-rights began.[4] The sincerity of the supporters of "temple-entry" touched the hearts of the aggrieved-masses.[2] The decision of the 12 year old Maharaja of Travancore to be persuaded by Gandhi and the sentiments of the masses, became the most critical factor in the success of the movement. This decision of the young Raja was in spite of the stand taken by the Regent Maharani. The promulgation of the Temple Entry Proclamation was a reform of far-reaching importance, was a milestone in the history of Travancore and later in rest of Kerala as well.

Vaikom Sathyagraha

One of the important movements that led to temple entry was the Vaikom Satyagraha. It was conducted in order to get the permission to use the roads near temples for the dalits as well. The right for ‘untouchables’ to enter the temple roads and use other spaces which were exclusively meant for the upper caste people were the initial demands of the agitators who later on raised the demand for temple entry. The movement was not confined to a single event. It went through a number of stages in the form of Vaikom Satyagraha which took place in Travancore in 1924, the Guruvayur Sathyagraha(in Malabar) of 1931, and the declarations in Kochi in 1947 gave the lower castes access to temples. The movement was not confined to any single section of the society even though it was for the cause of a particular section of it. The movement never turned violent and was marked by its peaceful nature. The teachings of Sree Narayana Guru, the efforts of Dr. Palpu, T. K. Madhavan, Mannathu Padmanabhan, K. Kumar,[5][6][7] K. P. Kesava Menon, K. Kelappan, Ayyankali in the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly, poet Kumaran Aasan etc. gave a momentum to the movement.[8][9]

It received national attention when Mahatma Gandhi visited Vaikom to support the leaders of the sathyagraha. Gandhi met the Regent Maharani as well as the then minor King Sree Chithira Thirunal. He discussed the matter of temple entry as well as Vaikom Sathyagraha with the regent. As a result, the roads (except the eastern one) to the temple were opened for the use of dalits as well, it also served as a catalyst for the temple entry.[10]

Involvement of Periyar[edit]: E. V. Ramasami (affectionately called Periyar by the Tamilians) came with his wife Nagamma and a group of followers and offered Satyagraha on 14 April. As the head of the Satyagraha, Periyar was imprisoned twice. Gandhi, who was also present on the Vaikom scene, was disturbed about the whole affair but seemingly unable to stop it. His concern grew when other religious groups became involved. Thus the Sikh community offered to meet expenses. Money was also said to have come in from Burma, Singapore, and Malaysia, from non-Brahmin immigrants, Muslims and Christians. Gandhi tried under the circumstances to keep the whole thing an inter-Hindu affair. However, in the end a compromise was reached. The streets in the temple area were opened to Harijans or Untouchables. In 1936, they were allowed to enter the temple. The Satyagraha paved the way for subsequent Temple Entry Act.[1][2]

Vaikom had been chosen as a place for Satyagraha organized by the heads of the Congress Party. Periyar who was touring Madurai district received "a private letter" asking him to join in the Satyagraha. He immediately proceeded to Vaikom where he violated the order not to address public meetings and was imprisoned for one month. a light punishment on order of the Raja. Gandhi became more and more troubled as the Satyagraha took a turn of communal riot because of conversions to Islam taking place. Vain efforts were made to return Periyar to Madras state. After his first release from prison Periyar was advised to stay away from Vaikom which he did not do. His second imprisonment was more severe, six months in the Central Jail Trivandrum. Meanwhile, Nakammai, Periyar's first wife, organized women's campaigning.[1]

Nagamma with Mrs. Joseph, Mrs. T. K. Madhavan and Mrs. Govindan Channar, among others formed a Women's committee to persuade the women of the villages and get them ready to participate in the Satyagraha. They went around villages explaining to the women, the meaning and purpose of this Satyagraha and collecting from them, handfuls of rice and small changes to maintain the volunteers' needs. The women started to offer Satyagraha on 20 May 1924. Nagamma was arrested along with Mrs. T.K. Madhavan and later released. Nagamma's leadership induced courage and solidarity in the women.

When the Raja unexpectedly died Periyar was released from the Trivandrum prison because additional trouble was feared, since the death of the Raja somehow connected with Periyar's imprisonment as a bad omen. Later, on the order of the Government, Periyar was, for breaking public laws sent to prison again in Madras to be kept out of the way. The compromise to open the streets in the temple areas was the outcome of the negotiations between Gandhi and the two Ranis. Gandhi had unsuccessfully done everything to keep Periyar out of Vaikom. Periyar on his side had to accept that the Vaikom Satyagraha ended in a compromise.[1] In 1925, the Madras Presidency (Tamil Nadu) Congress passed a resolution unanimously praising Periyar's contribution to the Vaikom Satyagraha and hailing him as the Vaikom Veerar (Vaikom Hero) in the Kanchipuram Session.[3]

Prior attempts

Another version of the story claims that in 1896 a Ezhava Memorial signed by more than 13,000 representatives of the Hindu Ezhava community of Travancore state submitted to the government a petition to recognize Ezhavas' right to enter government service. The upper caste Hindus of the state prevailed upon the then Maharajah Moolam Thirunal not to concede this demand. In frustration, many of the backward caste members embraced or wanted to convert to other religions. When it seemed that the fight for equality had not gone anywhere, Ezhava leadership threatened mass conversion to other faiths, rather than stay on as helots Hindus.[11]

The idea of leaving Hindu religion and converting to another religion also gained prominence among the lower castes. It was sparked by the Temple Entry Enquiry Committee which opposed temple entry to Dalits. Local social leaders and Hindu groups organized public meetings at Adoor, Mavelikkara, Ambalapuzha and Aranmula, in February 1935. At these meetings, volunteers explained to the Dalits present the folly of leaving the Hindu faith.Thus aA silent movement for temple entry spread throughout Travancore after the Temple Entry Committee submitted its Report.[12]

Temple Entry Committee

Sree Chithira Thirunal in 1932 appointed a committee to examine the question of Temple Entry for the dalits. The Committee made the following observations regarding the temple entry :

If temple entry is allowed, one result apprehended is that the opposition from a fairly large section of Savarnas (upper castes)is likely to lead to breaches of the peace. But the Government should be able to take the necessary precautionary measures. Any change in the matter of temple entry could be made only with the advice and concurrence of Vaidiks(Brahmin priests), Vadhyans(Hindu religious teachers), Thantris and the Azhvanchery Thamprakkal and men learned in the religion and conversant with present day world movements.
— quote

The Committee also suggested certain methods to the government by which the rigour of the custom, that excluded the dalits from the temple, might be softened. The Committee stated that Hindu community is bound to take immediate and adequate measures for the upliftment of the dalits, socially and economically, and it should be done independently of the question of temple entry.

The committee suggested for this following steps for the upliftment of dalits :

The above four observations were immediately put into action by the government and thus all restrictions on the usage of public amenities, like roads, wells, tanks etc. by the dalits, were removed. The practice of Theendal (distance of pollution) or untouchability was immediately banned too.

According to Mahatma Gandhi University researchers, the report made by the Temple Entry Enquiry Committee was not relevant and became useless as it could not make satisfactory recommendations in the matter of temple entry, for which it was primarily formed. After the submission of the Committee Report, people were not much interested in the temple entry movement in Travancore. But the temple entry question was discussed occasionally in Travancore without any serious organised attempts. The committee expressed their opinion that a panel of learned persons, well versed in the theory and practice of Hinduism, should be summoned, and that the reform might be effected by the ruler with their approval. They also suggested certain methods by which the rigour of the custom excluding the dalits from the temple might be softened.[12]

Based on the research material on Shodganga site, the researchers say that efforts of "Kerala Harijan Sevak Sangh" played a big part in bringing the attention of the people, back to the cause. On 22 March 1936, at the annual meeting of Kerala Harijan Sevak Sangh, held at Trivandrum, a Temple Entry Committee was appointed for starting temple entry agitation in Kerala. By the decision of the Temple Entry Committee, several temple entry conferences were held at the capitals of Harijan Sevak Sangh in Kerala. After the conference, volunteers marched at various places to focus the attention of people in the matter of temple entry. In Travancore, though holding processions were prohibited at the time, they were permitted to conduct it by the government. Kerala Harijan Sevak Sangh also managed to gather the support of upper castes for the temple entry question and observed 19 April 1936 as the "Temple Entry Day" in Kerala. About 55,000 signatures of upper castes in Travancore were collected by their efforts. The Kerala State Temple Entry Conference held at Trivandrum on Mary 9th and 10th, presided by Srimathi Rameshwari Nehru, gathered more force and voice to the temple entry agitation. The resolution of temple entry, on equal status to all Hindus introduced by K. Kelappan, was unanimously passed in that conference. A team was also created in the Conference to introduce matter of the temple entry before Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal. Srimathi Rameshwari Nehru made a two weeks tour throughout Kerala and achieved public support for the temple entry movement. The study done by Mahatma Gandhi University researchers, published in the website, Shodhganga, has pointed out that, Sree Chithira Thirunal was indeed in full favour of a proper temple entry even when, the Maharajah of Cochin and British Malabar's Zamorin, opposed it vigorously. G. D. Birla, the then President of "All India Harijan Sevak Sangh" had an audience with the Maharajah and did an interview with him in the third week of June, 1936, which is mentioned in the research paper, "TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA". The interview with Maharajah revealed that he indeed had favourable attitude towards the temple entry for dalits. A. V. Thackar, the Secretary of All India Harijan Sevak Sangh, in his speech at Calicut on 6 November 1936 too said that the Maharajah of Travancore may be taking the decision about the matter on the next birth day of Maharajah on 12 November, same year. The team from Kerala State Temple Entry Conference also met the then Prime Minister of Travancore, Sir C. P. Ramaswamy Aiyer and handed over the memorial for submitting it to the Maharajah.[13]

Attitudes of Travancore Rulers

Proclamation in Thiruvananthapuram district

The historians point out the fact that both the immediate predecessors of Sree Chithira Thirunal, i.e., Maharajah Moolam Thirunal as well as Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, were against temple entry for dalits. The Vaikom Satyagraha leaders and volunteers were arrested and imprisoned on a large scale, during the reign of Moolam Thirunal. The book, Gandhi Marg, states that during the Regency of Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, Mahatma Gandhi visited Travancore and posed the question of temple entry to her. At the request of Gandhi those imprisoned, during the Vaikom Satyagraha, were released and also opened the west, south & north public roads to Vaikom Mahadeva Temple to all castes. But she refused to open the eastern road to the same temple as it was used by Brahmins. When asked by Gandhi about the matter of Temple Entry for dalits, the Regent Maharani glossed over the question by saying that, it was wrong and most unfortunate but she had no power to do so as she was just a 'Regent' for her then minor nephew, Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal and that Gandhi should the pose the question to him. According to the book Gandhi Marg, this reply by the Regent disgusted Gandhi so much; he repeated the question to the then 12-year-old Maharajah of Travancore. But much to the embarrassment of Regent Maharani Sethu Lakshmi Bayi, the minor Maharajah Sree Chithira Thirunal, readily and without any consultation, replied Of Course and promised Gandhi that he would allow temple entry during his reign.[14] This incident was later quoted by Dr. K. R. Narayanan also, the former President of India, in his speech referring to the progressive mind of Sree Chithira Thirunal, even as a young boy.

Many of the things, the Maharajah did, were influenced his mother and by his Dewan, Sir C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer. But, behind all this, there was a mind of his own. There was a philosophy and personality of his own. This was shown by one fact. During the Vaikom Sathyagraha, Mahatma Gandhi visited Kerala. At that time, Sree Chithira Thirunal was a young man, and he has not ascended the throne. Gandhiji asked "When you attain majority and when you assume full authority, will you allow Harijans to enter the temple". The twelve-year-old Maharajah said without hesitation "Certainly". This was not the result of anybody's advice. This arose from his own mind; from his own thinking and that is why I say, in spite of all the advice and influences in which he was enveloped, he had a mind and he had a policy of his own.
— quote

[15]

For Regent Maharani's refusal for temple entry, she was criticized by the likes of Mannathu Padmanabhan who accused that the Regent Maharani was under the influence of Tamil Brahmins, and her excuse that as the Regent she had no power to decide, was a lie. He retorted that she had complete power to give temple entry as Regent but she simply refused to do the same.[16] The book Gandhi Marg, written in collaboration by "Gandhi Peace Foundation (New Delhi, India)" & "Gandhi Smarak Nidhi", states that Gandhi was also disgusted and frustrated by the attitude of Sethu Lakshmi Bayi.[14]

The many documents provided on Shodganga website, point to the fact that the Travancore government as well as the Maharajah indeed had a favourable attitude towards temple entry freedom, as the result of the Vaikom Satyagraha, influence of Mahatma Gandhi & other social reformers and the fast of K. Kelappan. Sir C.P. was also documented to possess a positive mind towards it; his assistant himself was a dalit.[13][17]

The Royal Proclamation and its aftermath

With an outlook which no Indian monarch had been able to entertain for thousands of years, Sree Chithira Thirunal signed the Proclamation. It was on the eve of the Maharajah's 24th birthday in 1112 (1936 A.D.) that the edict was promulgated. The Proclamation was received throughout India with delight and admiration; to the Hindus it was matter of pride and fresh hope. Dr. C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer referred to the day of the Proclamation as a unique occasion in the history of India and specially of Hinduism.

The full edict of Temple Entry Proclamtion by His Highness Sree Padamanabhadasa Vanchipaala Sir Rama Varma Chithira Thirunal Kulasekhara Kireetapathi Manney Sulthan Maharajah Ramarajabahadur Shemsherjung, KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER OF THE MOST EMINENT ORDER OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE Maharajah of Travancore, as follows :
Maharaja Sree Chithira Thirunal in 1931

Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyer, the then Prime Minister of Travancore credited the Proclamation to the conviction of the young Maharajah and said :

The Proclamation is a unique occasion in the history of India and specially of Hinduism. It fell to the lot of His Highness, not as a result of agitation, although some people have claimed to result as due to agitation, but Suo moto and of his own free will, to have made it possible for every Hindu subject to enter the historic temples of this land of faith and bend in adoration before the Supreme. Such an act required may minority vision and usage amidst difficulties and handicaps. when it is remembered that this decision was a purely voluntary act, on the part of sovereign, solicitous for the welfare of this subjects and was not the result of any immediate pressure, the greatness of the achievement becomes even more apparent. This action broke the calamity of Hindu religion and helped to strengthen the Hindus.
— quote

[18]

The Prime Minister of Madras described the Proclamation as the greatest religious reform in India after the time of Asoka termed Sree Chithira Thirunal as the Modern Asoka of India.[19]

The act brought forth notable praise for the Maharajah and his government from Mahatma Gandhi in an open letter, addressed to Sree Chithira Thirunal, wrote:

People call me "The Mahatma" and I don’t think I deserve it. But in my view, you have in reality become a "Mahatma"(great soul) by your proclamation at this young age, breaking the age old custom and throwing open the doors of the Temples to our brothers and sisters whom the hateful tradition considered as untouchables. I verily believe that when all else is forgotten, this one act of the Maharajah- the Proclamation- will be remembered by future generation with gratitude and hope that all other Hindu Princes will follow the noble example set by this far-off ancient Hindu State.
— quote

[20] The letter was published in the Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi in the 98th volume.[21]

The historians believe that it was Sir C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar's legal skill that over came all the practical difficulties, posed by the orthodox section, before the Proclamation. He foresaw all the objections that could be raised against Temple Entry and dealt with them one by one. He was also able to ensure that the actual declaration was known beforehand to only very few people. To the people of Travancore, it came as a momentous announcement. The Universities of Andhra and Annamalai conferred D.Litts on the Maharajah. A life size statue of Sree Chithira Thirunal was erected in Trivandrum as well as Madras by the citizens there which were unveiled by the Rajah of Bilkanir and Lord Erstine, the then Governor of Madras, respectively.[22]

Thus, Travancore achieved equal temple entry freedom of worship to all classes of Hindus in 1930s itself. Sociologists believe that the Proclamation struck right at the root of caste discrimination in Travancore. They believe that it went on to unite Hindus and prevented further conversions to other religions. The Proclamation was the first of its kind in Princely States as well as in British India. Even though there were agitations in various parts of India as well as rest of Kerala for temple entry, none managed to achieve their aim. The Travancore Temple Entry Proclamation could not make any serious effects in Cochin or British Malabar. The attitude of the Zamorin and the Maharajah of Cochin was not favourable towards it. Neither Zamorin nor the Maharajah of Cochin had any wishes to change the existing customs and usages in temples. According to historians, in such a context, the proclamation has far more importance, and through it, Travancore achieved the popularity as an enlightened progressive Princely State.[23]

Temple Entry In Cochin And Malabar

Both the Maharajah Of Cochin[24] as well as Zamorin Of Calicut were staunch opponents of temple entry for dalits. Despite repeated requests and petitions, neither considered the matter of temple entry. The Cochin Maharajah went to the extent of declaring the whole people of Travancore as untouchables and forbade any Travancore citizen from entering temples under the control of Cochin government due to the fear of pollution. The Cochin ruler even forbade the rituals like Arattu(holy bath) and Para(holy procession) in Tripunithura and Chottanikkara Temples. Even when temple entry was given in 1947, the Cochin Maharajah made an exemption clause in the Bill so as to keep his family temple "Sree Poornathrayeesha" out of the purview of temple entry. This ban was lifted in 1949 after the Thiru-kochi union. The Malabar Temple Entry Act was formed in 1938 but the Bill became an Act only on 2 June 1947. The attitude of the Zamorin was not favourable to temple entry in Malabar. The Zamorin had no wishes to change the existing customs and usages in temples. For this reason, when hearing the news of the Travancore Temple Entry proclamation from the 'Mathrubhumi' news reporter he said that the Travancore Maharajah had freedom to give temple entry right to his subjects. But he was unable to do so as he Zamorin was only a trustee of the temples which were under the supervision of Hindu Religions Endowment Board: and had been pressing the trustees to act without any default in the ancient usages and proceedings of temples. He blamed the 40th Section of the Hindu Religions Act and told that its amendment would be helpful to act him as free. But after hearing about the Bill, Zamorin send a memorandum to the authorities claiming no one had the authority to take decisions regarding temple entry as they are private properties. This clearly shows Zamorin was also against temple entry. Malabar region finally got temple entry only in 1947 after India's independence.[25]

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Religion and Social Conflict in South Asia By Bardwell L. Smith, p42, Google book
  2. 1 2 The Epic of Travancore Mahadev Desai
  3. ↑ The Epic of Travancore- Mahadev Desai - Navjeevan -Karyalaya- First Published 1937 (Pages 35 and 36)
  4. ↑ Gandhi's talk at Elanthoor - Collected Works of Gandhi -
  5. ↑ Page 1214 entry number 9, Appendix VI vide answer of Chief Secretary to an interpellation (number 373 raised in the Travancore Legislative Council) on 12th June 1924 by member Sri V. Kunjukrishna Pillai of Chirayinkil
  6. ↑ K. Karunakaran Nair, Freedom Fighters of Kerala - First Michigan Edition
  7. ↑ "Charkha in Trivandrum Jail" - K. Kumar - Young India -19 June 1924
  8. ↑ "Madhavan T.K.". Kerala Press Academy. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  9. ↑ Special Correspondent (22 July 2009). "Extreme injustice led to Vaikom Satyagraha, says Romila Thapar". The Hindu. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Srikandath, Sivaram (21 October 2012). "The New Savarnas". manorama online. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Dr .Palpu, Treatment of Thiyas in Travancore (Thiruvananthapuram).
  12. 1 2 3 Digital Concepts Cochin, BeeHive Digital Concepts Cochin for; Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. "TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac. CHAPTER VI: 1–46. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  13. 1 2 Digital Concepts Cochin, BeeHive Digital Concepts Cochin for; Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. "TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac. CHAPTER VI: 1–46.
  14. 1 2 Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Gandhi Peace Foundation (New Delhi, India). Gandhi Marg. The University of California: Gandhi Peace Foundation, 2007. pp. 93–103.
  15. ↑ K. R. Narayanan, His Excellency. "'INCARNATION OF MODESTY'- First Sree Chithira Thirunal Memorial Speech delivered at Kanakakunnu Palace, Trivandrum on 25-10-1992". Retrieved 14 February 2014.
  16. ↑ Keith E. Yandell Keith E. Yandell,, , John J. Paul. Religion and Public Culture: Encounters and Identities in Modern South India.
  17. ↑ Council, Travancore Malayalee. "INCARNATION OF MODESTY by His Excellency K. R. Narayanan (Vice President of India)". tmcgulf.com. Travancore Malayalee Council.
  18. ↑ inflibnet.ac.in, shodhganga. "CHAPTER - VI TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA" (PDF). shodhganga. RESEARCHERS OF MAHATMA GANDHI UTY, KOTTAYAM, KERALA. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  19. ↑ http://india.gov.in/knowindia/state_uts.php?id=64
  20. ↑ Of India, Supreme Court. "Good Governance: Judiciary and the rule of law" (PDF). Sree Chitira Thirunal Memorial Lecture, 29 December 2007. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  21. ↑ "Setting the record right". The New Indian Express. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 17 February 2014.
  22. ↑ Mahadevan, G. "Temple Entry Proclamation the greatest act of moral freedom: Uthradom Tirunal". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 June 2014.
  23. ↑ inflibnet.ac.in, shodhganga. "CHAPTER - VI TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA" (PDF). shodhganga. RESEARCHERS OF MAHATMA GANDHI UTY, KOTTAYAM, KERALA.
  24. ↑ "The Casabianca of Travancore". The Hindu. 26 March 2002. Incidentally it came as a surprise to many at the time that the then Maharaja of adjacent Cochin State who was later applauded by Nehru for being the first princely ruler in 1946 to constitute a responsible government was a staunch opponent of temple entry.
  25. ↑ Digital Concepts Cochin, BeeHive Digital Concepts Cochin for; Mahatma Gandhi University Kottayam. "TEMPLE ENTRY FREEDOM IN KERALA" (PDF). shodhganga.inflibnet.ac. CHAPTER VI: 1–46. Retrieved 14 February 2014.
Deihl, Anita, "E.V. Ramasamy Naicker-Periyar", pp. 22–24

Jump up ^ Kent, David. "Periyar". ACA. Retrieved 2007-06-21. Jump up ^ Veeramani, K., Periyar on Women's Rights, p. 14.

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