Discuss the non-Brahman movements in western and southern India.

 Non-Brahman movements in western and southern India:

In the Madras presidency the Brahmans constituted 3.3% of Hindus. In the traditional society, they were considered superior to other castes. Traditionally being a literate caste, the Brahmans were quick in adopting English education and taking full advantage of the opportunities in professions and colonial bureaucracy. This aroused the envy and hostility of the non-Brahman communities, which in turn, resulted in a non-Brahman movement.

Self-Respect Movement in Tamil Nadu:

Recent historical works show that the Tamil renaissance had resulted in the growth of Dravidian consciousness, and its political manifestation was the starting of non-Brahman movement. Based on the Tamil classical works like Pattupattu, Manimekalai, Cilappatikaram, published between 1887 and 1904, Tamil scholars had elaborated on a picture of classical Dravidian civilization which was distinct from the Aryan and Sanskritic culture.

Justice Party and Non-Brahman Politics:

The non-Brahman resentment took a political form in 1916 in Madras city with the formation of South Indian Liberal Federation, known as the Justice Party, which claimed to represent the interests of all non-Brahmans in the Madras Presidency including Muslims, Christians and Untouchables.

E.V. Ramasami Naicker and the SelfRespect Movement:

E.V. Ramasami Naicker, popularly known as Periyar, was born in Erode in 1879. Even at an early age he rebelled against the rules of caste purity and participated in inter-caste dining. As a Gandhian, he became a hero of Satyagraha at Vaikom, Kerala, when he vehemently supported the 'Harijans'. By 1922, while still a member of Congress, Periyar abandoned Hindu mythology.

Self-Respect Movement in Andhra:

In Andhra, Brahmanetharodyamamu which literally means the movement launched by those other than the Brahmans, was basically for cultural reform and social uplift of the non-Brahman groups like Kammas, Reddis, Balija and Velamas. These peasant groups, with their substantial landownership and economic dominance, lacked modern English education or the traditional ritual status on the basis of which they could claim a high social status in society. Naturally, they attacked the Brahman dominance over ritual status and the government jobs.

Non-Brahman Movement in Karnataka:

The Vokkaligas, among the dominant castes in Karnataka, had suffered subdivisions before being listed as a single unified caste by the Census of 1901. This categorization, argued one historian, "provided the leaders of the nonBrahman movement with a significant base for collective mobilization". Serious solidarity efforts were also made internally by different caste associations.

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