After being ostracised for more than two decades, Dalits in Tamil Nadu’s Madurai district finally entered the Uthapuram temple. For generations, they were forbidden from entering the temple and performing prayers by the upper caste Pillai community. A wall was built around the temple to keep the Dalits away. A few years ago, the wall […]

The Tamil Nadu Untouchability Eradication Front (TNUEF) which had its inception here in Madurai three years ago was borne out of historic necessity as the place had been a centre to various forms of overt and covert practices of untouchability, said S.K. Ponnuthayi, district secretary, All India Democratic Women’s Association. Delivering the presidential address at […]

Social Developments This century witnessed some most remarkable changes or revolutions on the social scene of Kerala. This region which was the most caste-ridden of all the regions of India is today the least caste-ridden area. However, this volt-face did not happen all of a sudden, by means of a bloody revolution, but gradually by […]

Aravipuram Movement was launched by Sri Narayana Guru on Shivaratri day of 1888. On that day, Sri Narayana Guru defied the religious restrictions traditionally placed on the Ezhava community, and consecrated an idol of Shiva at Aravipuram. Sri Narayana Guru, born in a low-caste Ezhava family, had studied Sanskrit, Malayalam, Tamil and astrology. The Aravipuram […]

The Aravipuram movement was of far-reaching importance in South India. Inspired by its success, a number of socio-religious reform movements were launched in the South. The Temple Entry Movement is the more prominent among them. The struggle against the disabilities imposed on the avarnas or members of depressed classes in various parts of South India […]