The peaceful struggle (Satyagraha) for the equality of humans in the public streets surrounding the Mahadeva Temple is considered as the first struggle for Human rights in India. The struggle was conducted symbolically to get equal rights for the so called untouchables in the temple adjoining street, on a par with others that was prevalent in the then Princely State of Travancore in the British India. The denial of access to the streets and walk on them was the worst form of untouchability to say like T.K. Madhavan, K.P. Kesava Menon, George Joseph, Kurur Neelakandan Namboodhiri. Especially, the unapproachability restriction was inhuman.
The progressive minded leaders, many of whom were from the Congress party, irrespective of their religion, started the struggle on 30th March, 1924 demanding entry on the prohibited streets. The Princely State Authority arrested the agitators and lodged them in prison. The struggle was bound to discontinue for the need of leaders to lead. They wrote letters to the leaders in the then Madras Presidency. No one came forward, except Periyar E.V.Ramasamy (1879-1973) who was the then President of Tamil Nadu Congress Committee. Responding to the request made by the Travancore leaders, Periyar went to Vaikom on 13th April 1924. Periyar carried out hectic propaganda in the surrounding villages of Vaikom for the cause of the struggle and mobilised the support of the common people. The agitation turned out to be a mass struggle. Periyar got arrested twice. He was first sentenced to one month simple imprisonment and after the release, continued the agitation for which he was prevented from entering Vaikom. He vigorously led the struggle.
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He was arrested again and sentenced to four months rigorous imprisonment. While he was in prison, the priestly Namboodhiri appraised the King of the Princely State to conduct ‘Sathru Samhara Yagam’, the effect of which could have been the death of the people who led the agitation. While the yagna was being held, contrary to the ‘prediction’ of the priests, the King died (Ofcourse a superstition). As a mark of respect, the Regent, who succeeded on behalf of the young prince, a minor at that time, released all the imprisoned leaders. After the release, Periyar returned to Erode, with a plan to continue the agitation more vigorously.
Anticipating the move of Periyar to return to Vaikom, the British authority in the Madras Province arrested Periyar on an earlier sedition case which was not taken for trial till then.
The struggle continued and the purpose of it was likely to be achieved. Gandhi was invited to end the struggle. He came to Travancore and held discussion with Namboodhiri brahmin heads for amicable settlement in the struggle for which the brahmin heads were not ready. Even the Innamthiruthi Home, brahmin head did not entertain Gandhi inside. He made arrangement at the front-yard of this residence since, Gandhi was not a brahmin. The brahmin head discussed thus with Gandhi in this manner since Gandhi was a Vaishya as per Varnashrama Dharma, respected much and valued by brahmins.
Later Gandhi went; met the Regent and held discussion about the Vaikom struggle. The Regent expressed her willingness to permit all the people to use the prohibited streets provided, the agitators did not prolong the struggle to seek entry into the temples for the ‘untouchables’.
Gandhi held discussion with Periyar on the reservation of the Regent. Periyar assured that the demand for entry into the temple would not be immediately made, but said that the agenda of temple entry was there in their plan of struggle and that the struggle cannot be avoided when the need arises in future. Gandhi again met the Regent and assured to fulfil her expectation. The movement on the streets surrounding the Mahadeva temple at Vaikom was allowed for all without any discrimination.
The victory of Vaikom struggle was celebrated in May, 1925. Periyar, and his wife Nagammaiar who had also participated in the struggle were invited. After the success of the struggle Periyar was praised as the ‘Hero of Vaikom’.
Later in 1939, Temple Entry Proclamation was declared by the Princely State of Travancore as per the series of plan of action in the Vaikom struggle. The human right agitation, started at Vaikom symbolically threw open the entry of ‘untouchables’ in the public pathway and later into the temple. This is the brief history of Vaikom struggle which inspired Babasaheb B.R.Ambedkar to conduct the struggle of ‘untouchables’ to fetch water from the public tank in Magad, Maharashtra.
V. Kumaresan
