The Dravidian movement in British India started with the formation of the Justice Party on 20 November 1916 in Victoria Public Hall in Madras by C. Natesa Mudaliar along with T. M. Nair and P. Theagaraya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency. Communal division between Brahmins and non-Brahmins began in the presidency during the late-19th and early-20th century, mainly due to caste prejudices and disproportionate Brahmins representation in government jobs. The Justice Party's foundation marked the culmination of several efforts to establish an organisation to represent the non-Brahmins in Madras Presidency.[1][2][3]
The Brahmins in Madras Presidency enjoyed a higher position in India's social hierarchy. By the 1850s, Telugu Brahmins and Tamil Brahmins comprising only 3.2% of the population began to increase their political power by filling most of the jobs which were open to Indian men at that time.[4] They dominated the administrative services and the newly created urban professions in the 19th and early 20th century.[5] The higher literacy and English language proficiency among Brahmins were instrumental in this ascendancy. The political, social, and economical divide between Brahmins and non-Brahmins became more apparent in the beginning of the 20th century. This breach was further exaggerated by Annie Besant and her Home Rule for India movement. The following table shows the distribution of selected jobs among different caste groups in 1912 in Madras Presidency.[4][6]
Caste group
Deputy collectors
Sub judges
District Munsifs
% of total male population
Brahmins
77
15
93
3.2
non-Brahmin Hindus
30
3
25
85.6
Muslims
15
nil
2
6.6
Indian Christians
7
nil
5
2.7
Europeans and Eurasians
11
nil
3
.1
The dominance of Brahmins was also evident in the membership of the Madras Legislative Council. During 1910–20, eight out of the nine official members (appointed by the Governor of Madras) were Brahmins. Apart from the appointed members, Brahmins also formed the majority of the members elected to the council from the district boards and municipalities. During this period the Madras Province Congress Committee (regional branch of the Indian National Congress) was also dominated by Brahmins. Of the 11 major newspapers and magazines in the presidency, two (The Madras Mail and Madras Times) were run by Europeans sympathetic to the crown, three were evangelical non–political periodicals, four (The Hindu, Indian Review, Swadesamithran and Andhra Pathrika) were published by Brahmins while New India, run by Annie Besant was sympathetic to the Brahmins. This dominance was denounced by the non-Brahmin leaders in the form of pamphlets and open letters written to the Madras Governor. The earliest examples of such pamphlets are the ones authored by the pseudonymous author calling himself "fair play" in 1895. By the second decade of the 20th century, the Brahmins of the presidency were themselves divided into three factions.[7] These were the Mylapore faction comprising ChetpetIyers and VembakkamIyengars, the Egmore faction led by the editor of The Hindu, Kasturi Ranga Iyengar and the Salem nationalists led by C. Rajagopalachari. A fourth non-Brahmin faction rose to compete with them and became the Justice party.[8]
Referencesedit
^Joshua Fishman; Ofelia Garcia (2010). Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity:The Success-Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts (Volume 2): The Success-Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts. Oxford University Press, USA. pp. 230–. ISBN978-0-19-539245-6. Retrieved 7 July 2016.
^"A century of reform The Dravidian movement has left its progressive imprint on Tamil Nadu". Manuraj Shunmugasundaram. The Indian Express. 22 November 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
^"The Inner Grammar Of Dissent Lives". K.S. Chalam. Outlook India. 12 December 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
Irschick, Eugene F. (1969). Political and Social Conflict in South India; The non-Brahmin movement and Tamil Separatism, 1916–1929. University of California Press. OCLC 249254802.
Irschick, Eugene F. (1986). (PDF). Madras: Cre-A. OCLC 15015416. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2010. Retrieved 4 March 2010.
Rajaraman, P. (1988). . Poompozhil Publishers. OCLC 20453430. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011.
December 18, 2023
dravidian, movement, british, india, started, with, formation, justice, party, november, 1916, victoria, public, hall, madras, natesa, mudaliar, along, with, nair, theagaraya, chetty, result, series, brahmin, conferences, meetings, presidency, communal, divisi. The Dravidian movement in British India started with the formation of the Justice Party on 20 November 1916 in Victoria Public Hall in Madras by C Natesa Mudaliar along with T M Nair and P Theagaraya Chetty as a result of a series of non Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency Communal division between Brahmins and non Brahmins began in the presidency during the late 19th and early 20th century mainly due to caste prejudices and disproportionate Brahmins representation in government jobs The Justice Party s foundation marked the culmination of several efforts to establish an organisation to represent the non Brahmins in Madras Presidency 1 2 3 Contents 1 Background 1 1 Brahmin non Brahmin divide 2 References 2 1 Works citedBackground editBrahmin non Brahmin divide edit The Brahmins in Madras Presidency enjoyed a higher position in India s social hierarchy By the 1850s Telugu Brahmins and Tamil Brahmins comprising only 3 2 of the population began to increase their political power by filling most of the jobs which were open to Indian men at that time 4 They dominated the administrative services and the newly created urban professions in the 19th and early 20th century 5 The higher literacy and English language proficiency among Brahmins were instrumental in this ascendancy The political social and economical divide between Brahmins and non Brahmins became more apparent in the beginning of the 20th century This breach was further exaggerated by Annie Besant and her Home Rule for India movement The following table shows the distribution of selected jobs among different caste groups in 1912 in Madras Presidency 4 6 Caste group Deputy collectors Sub judges District Munsifs of total male populationBrahmins 77 15 93 3 2non Brahmin Hindus 30 3 25 85 6Muslims 15 nil 2 6 6Indian Christians 7 nil 5 2 7Europeans and Eurasians 11 nil 3 1The dominance of Brahmins was also evident in the membership of the Madras Legislative Council During 1910 20 eight out of the nine official members appointed by the Governor of Madras were Brahmins Apart from the appointed members Brahmins also formed the majority of the members elected to the council from the district boards and municipalities During this period the Madras Province Congress Committee regional branch of the Indian National Congress was also dominated by Brahmins Of the 11 major newspapers and magazines in the presidency two The Madras Mail and Madras Times were run by Europeans sympathetic to the crown three were evangelical non political periodicals four The Hindu Indian Review Swadesamithran and Andhra Pathrika were published by Brahmins while New India run by Annie Besant was sympathetic to the Brahmins This dominance was denounced by the non Brahmin leaders in the form of pamphlets and open letters written to the Madras Governor The earliest examples of such pamphlets are the ones authored by the pseudonymous author calling himself fair play in 1895 By the second decade of the 20th century the Brahmins of the presidency were themselves divided into three factions 7 These were the Mylapore faction comprising Chetpet Iyers and Vembakkam Iyengars the Egmore faction led by the editor of The Hindu Kasturi Ranga Iyengar and the Salem nationalists led by C Rajagopalachari A fourth non Brahmin faction rose to compete with them and became the Justice party 8 References edit Joshua Fishman Ofelia Garcia 2010 Handbook of Language and Ethnic Identity The Success Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts Volume 2 The Success Failure Continuum in Language and Ethnic Identity Efforts Oxford University Press USA pp 230 ISBN 978 0 19 539245 6 Retrieved 7 July 2016 A century of reform The Dravidian movement has left its progressive imprint on Tamil Nadu Manuraj Shunmugasundaram The Indian Express 22 November 2016 Retrieved 8 August 2018 The Inner Grammar Of Dissent Lives K S Chalam Outlook India 12 December 2016 Retrieved 8 August 2018 a b Irschick 1969 pp 1 26 Myron Weiner and Ergun Ozbudun 1987 Competitive elections in developing countries American Enterprise Institute p 61 ISBN 0 8223 0766 9 K Nambi Arooran 1980 Tamil renaissance and Dravidian nationalism 1905 1944 p 37 Rajaraman 1988 ch 2 The Genesis of the Justice Party Irschick 1986 pp 30 31 Works cited edit Irschick Eugene F 1969 Political and Social Conflict in South India The non Brahmin movement and Tamil Separatism 1916 1929 University of California Press OCLC 249254802 Irschick Eugene F 1986 Tamil revivalism in the 1930s PDF Madras Cre A OCLC 15015416 Archived from the original PDF on 10 June 2010 Retrieved 4 March 2010 Rajaraman P 1988 The Justice Party a historical perspective 1916 37 Poompozhil Publishers OCLC 20453430 Archived from the original on 21 July 2011 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dravidian movement amp oldid 1166275567, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
