T. K. Madhavan
Encyclopedia
T. K. Madhavan was an India
n social reformer from Kerala
. He led the struggle against untouchability
which was known as Vaikom Satyagraha
.
, son of Kesavan Channar of Alummoottil family and Ummini Amma of Komalezhathu family.
. He was the founder of the Temple Entry Movement, which fought for the entry of oppressed and low-caste communities to the temples of Kerala. In all his speeches he pressed for the right of temple entry for all.
In 1918 Madhavan was elected to the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha, a legislative council of Travancore
. In the same year he made his maiden speech at the Sree Moolam Assembly in lieu of his uncle Komalezhathu Kunju pillai chekavar
. He presented a resolution seeking permission of temple entry and right to worship to all people irrespective of caste and community. In 1924, Vaikom Sathyagraha was started under the leadership of Madhavan, K. Kelappan
, and K.P.Kesava Menon to get the right of oppressed class of people to travel through the road in front of Vaikom Mahadeva temple. Madhavan and Kesava Menon were arrested and imprisoned. Finally, the Maharaja
of Travancore agreed to open the road to all class of people and the Vaikom Sathyagraha was a great success. However, he had to continue his struggle for the temple entry. In 1927 he was made organizing secretary of the SNDP Yogam.
, and persuaded him to visit Vaikom
. Vaikom Satyagraha was a struggle of the backward class people of Kerala for establishing their right to walk through the temple roads of Vaikom, a small temple town in South Kerala. Gandhi agreed to include the issue in the agenda of the Indian National Congress
.
.
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n social reformer from Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He led the struggle against untouchability
Untouchability
Untouchability is the social practice of ostracizing a minority group by segregating them from the mainstream by social custom or legal mandate. The excluded group could be one that did not accept the norms of the excluding group and historically included foreigners, nomadic tribes, law-breakers...
which was known as Vaikom Satyagraha
Vaikom Satyagraha
Vaikom Satyagraha was a satyagraha in Travancore, India against untouchability in Hindu society. The movement was centered at the Shiva temple at Vaikom, near Kottayam.The Satyagraha aimed at securing freedom of movement for all sections of society through the public roads leading to the Sri...
.
Early life
Madhavan was born on September 2, 1885 at KarthikappallyKarthikappally
Karthikappally is a village in Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala.-History:Karthikappally was once a Buddhist center. About in the year 904-933 the Great ruler of Travancore, King Marthanda Varma, added Karthikappally to Travancore...
, son of Kesavan Channar of Alummoottil family and Ummini Amma of Komalezhathu family.
Career
In 1917 he took over the daily newspaper, DesabhimaniDesabhimani
Desabhimani is a Malayalam newspaper and the organ of the Kerala State Committee of the Communist Party of India . Started as a weekly in Kozhikode on September 6, 1942 and converted to a daily in 1946. Deshabhimani now has six different printing centres: Kozhikode, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram,...
. He was the founder of the Temple Entry Movement, which fought for the entry of oppressed and low-caste communities to the temples of Kerala. In all his speeches he pressed for the right of temple entry for all.
In 1918 Madhavan was elected to the Sree Moolam Praja Sabha, a legislative council of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
. In the same year he made his maiden speech at the Sree Moolam Assembly in lieu of his uncle Komalezhathu Kunju pillai chekavar
Chekavar
The Chekavar are a caste with origins in southern India, including Sri Lanka, Kerala and some parts of Tamil Nadu...
. He presented a resolution seeking permission of temple entry and right to worship to all people irrespective of caste and community. In 1924, Vaikom Sathyagraha was started under the leadership of Madhavan, K. Kelappan
K. Kelappan
K. Kelappan was born in the small village Muchukunnu in Calicut in Kerala. He studied in Calicut and Madras and graduated from the University of Madras. He began his career as a teacher at in St. Berchmans High School, Changanassery and was the founder President of the Nair Service Society. Later...
, and K.P.Kesava Menon to get the right of oppressed class of people to travel through the road in front of Vaikom Mahadeva temple. Madhavan and Kesava Menon were arrested and imprisoned. Finally, the Maharaja
Maharaja
Mahārāja is a Sanskrit title for a "great king" or "high king". The female equivalent title Maharani denotes either the wife of a Maharaja or, in states where that was customary, a woman ruling in her own right. The widow of a Maharaja is known as a Rajamata...
of Travancore agreed to open the road to all class of people and the Vaikom Sathyagraha was a great success. However, he had to continue his struggle for the temple entry. In 1927 he was made organizing secretary of the SNDP Yogam.
Meeting with Gandhi
He met Gandhi at TirunelveliTirunelveli
Tirunelveli , also known as Nellai , and historically as Tinnevelly, is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is the headquarters of the Tirunelveli District and the sixth biggest city in Tamil Nadu...
, and persuaded him to visit Vaikom
Vaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
. Vaikom Satyagraha was a struggle of the backward class people of Kerala for establishing their right to walk through the temple roads of Vaikom, a small temple town in South Kerala. Gandhi agreed to include the issue in the agenda of the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
.
Death
Madhavan died at his residence on April 27, 1930. A monument was raised in his honour at Chettikulangara. In 1964 T.K.Madhava Memorial College was founded at NangiarkulangaraNangiarkulangara
Nangiarkulangara is a relatively small town situated near Haripad, Alappuzha district in the state of Kerala, India.Nangiarkulangara is the central point of three major towns in central Travancore. Roads from Mavelikara, Thrikkunnappuzha and Kayamkulam meet at this pivot point. It is also known for...
.