Narayana Guru - 1856-1928
The Vykom Satyagraha
The leadership of the Satyagraha
Movement was taken up by three young men, T.K.Madhavan,
K. Kelappan and Krishnaswamy. T.K.Madhavan managed to get
"the abolition of untouchability" to be included
in the national program of the Congress at Kakinada Meeting.
Satyagraha took place in a town called 'Vykom'. At Vykom,
the way to the temple of Lord Shiva lay through a particular
street; Low-castes were not allowed to walk there. The Satyagraha
was to put an end to this unjust rule. Narayana Guru did
not participate in the Satyagraha. He encouraged the volunteers
who were all his devotees and gave the Vellor Matom at the
disposal of the volunteers. People who believed in very
old practices opposed the Movement. The Satyagrahis suffered
much trouble at their hands. But the Satyagrahis bore them
with patience. At last, in April 1925, Gandhiji himself
came to Vykom to see that the question was settled. It was
on this occasion that the Guru and Gandhiji met. Gandhiji
had great regard for the Guru.
The Satyagraha succeeded only partially. Of course, the
right of way in the public street was given to all people.
But it was only in 1936 that the Travancore State Government
issued an order in the name of the Maharaja and gave the
right of entry to temples to the Harijans also, for the
first time in the whole of India.
The Satyagraha ended. The Guru got a Primary School constructed
for the use of poor children, as a memorial to it, on the
spot where the Satyagraha was conducted.
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