The Justice Party rule in the Madras Presidency constitutes an important chapter in the history of South India. The ideology and objectives of the Justice Party had been unique and somewhat different from those of the Congress Party. The Justice Party represented the Non-Brahmin Movement and engineered a social revolution against the domination of Brahmins in the sphere of public services and education.
Birth of the Justice Party
Various factors had contributed to
the formation of the Justice Party, which
represented the Non-Brahmin Movement.
The social dominance of the Brahmins was
the main cause for the emergence of the NonBrahmin Movement. Their high proportion
in the Civil Service, educational institutions
and also their predominance in the Madras
Legislative Council caused a great worry
among the non- Brahmins.
The Brahmins had
also monopolized the Press. The rediscovery
of the greatness of the Tamil language and
literature also provided a stimulus to the nonBrahmins. Particularly, the publication of the
book entitled A Comparative Grammar of the
Dravidian or South Indian Family of Languages
by Rev. Robert Caldwell in 1856 gave birth to the Dravidian concept.
Later the ancient Tamil
literature had been rediscovered and printed
by various Tamil scholars including Arumuga
Navalar, C.V.Damodaram Pillai and U.V.
Swaminatha Iyer. V. Kanakasabhai Pillai in his
famous historical work, The Tamils 1800 Years
Ago pointed out that Tamils had attained a
high degree of civilization before the Advent
of the Aryans. This led to the growth of
Dravidian feelings among the non-Brahmins.
These factors collectively contributed to the
birth of the Non-Brahmin Movement and the
Justice Party.
The precursor of the Justice Party was the
Madras United League which was renamed
as the Madras Dravidian Association in
November 1912. Dr.C.Natesa Mudaliar played
a significant role in nurturing this organization.
In 1916 the South Indian Liberal Federation
was formed for the purpose of ‘promoting the
political interests of non-Brahmin caste Hindus’.
The leaders who stood behind the formation
of this organization were Pitti Theagaraya
Chetti, Dr.T.M. Nair, P.Ramarayaninger (Raja
of Panagal) and Dr. C. Natesa Mudaliar.
The
South Indian Liberal Federation published an
English newspaper called Justice and hence
this organization came to be called the Justice Party. The other news paper which supported
the Justice Party was Dravidan (in Tamil).
Besides, the Justice Party organized a series
of public meetings, conferences, lectures to
popularise Non- Brahmin movement. Similarly,
the Justice Party formed District Associations,
the Non-Brahmin Youth League.
The Justice Movement
The Justice Party’s rule in the
Madras Presidency constitutes
an important chapter in the
history of South India. The
Justice Party represented the
Non-Brahmin movement and
engineered a social revolution against the
domination of Brahmins in the sphere of public
services and education.
The Justice Party, officially known as South
Indian Liberal Federation was a political party
in the Madras Presidency of British India. This party was
established in 1916 by T.M.
Nair and Thiyagaraya Chetty.
During its early eyars, the party
involved in petitioning to the
imperial administrative bodies demanding
more representation for non-Brahmins in
administration.
This party published
‘Dravidian’ in Tamil, ‘Andhra Prakasika’ in
Telugu and ‘Justice’ in English. Hence it came
to be called as the ‘Justice Party’.
Justice Party Rule
The Justice Party came to power following
the election of 1920 held according to the
Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. The Justice
Party captured sixty three out of ninety
eight elected seats in the Madras Legislative
Council. As Pitti Theagaraya Chetti declined to lead the ministry, A.Subbarayalu Reddiar
formed the ministry. In the election of 1923
it fought against the Swarajya Party.
The
Justice Party again won the majority and the
ministry was formed by Raja of Panagal. In the
election of 1926 a divided Justice Party faced
the opposition of a united Congress. Therefore,
an independent, A.Subbarayan with the help
of the Swarajya Party formed the ministry.
In 1930 when the next election was held the
Justice Party won the majority and formed a
ministry with B. Muniswami Naidu as the
leader.
In 1932 Raja of Bobbili replaced him as
Prime Minister of the Presidency. In 1934 Raja
of Bobbili formed his second ministry, which
continued in power until the election of 1937.
Then Justice party came under the leadership
of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy and his self-respect
movement. In 1944 at Salem conference.
Periyar transformed the Justice Party into a
social organization called Dravidar Kazhagam
and withdrew it from the electoral politics.
There were many causes for its failure.
- The Justice Party came to power when the world was in economic depression.
- The Nationalist Movement was popular and heading for freedom.
- Caste and Wealth played vital role. Hence the party lost its hold.
- The rise of Congress under the Thus the Justice Party lost its vitality after a few years of its existence.
Achievements of the Justice Party
The Justice Party remained in power for
a period of thirteen years. Its administration
was noted for social justice and social reform.Justice rule gave adequate representation
to non-Brahman communities in the public
services. It improved the status of depressed
classes through education reforms.
Justice
Party introduced following reforms in the field
of Education :
- Free and compulsory education was introduced for the first time in Madras.
- Nearly 3000 fisher boys and fisher girls were offered free special instruction by the Department of Fisheries.
- Midday Meals was given at selected corporation schools in Madras.
- The Madras Elementary Education Act was amended in 1934 and in 1935 to improve elementary education.
- The Education of girls received encouragement during the Justice rule in Madras.
- Education of the Depressed Classes was entrusted with Labour Department. Encouragement was given to Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani medical education
The government took over the power of
appointing district munsiffs out of the control
of the High Court. The Communal G.O.s
(Government Orders) of 1921 and 1922 provided
for the reservation of appointments in local
bodies and educational institutions for nonBrahmin communities in increased proportion.
The Staff Selection Board, created by the
Panagal Ministry in 1924, was made the Pubic
Service Commission in 1929.
It was the first of
its kind in India. The women were granted the
right to vote on the same basis as was given to
men. The Hindu Religious Endowment Act of
1921, enacted by the Panagal Ministry, tried
to eliminate corruption in the management of temples. Justice Party Government introduced
economic reforms. To assist the growth of
industries State Aid to Industries Act, 1922 was
passed.
This led to the establishment of new
industries such as : sugar factories, engineering
works, tanneries, aluminium factories, cement
factories and oil milling so on. This act provided
credits to industries, allotted land and water.
This proved favourable for industril progress.
Similarly, Justice Party Government
introduced schemes for rural development
to help agrarian population, public health
schemes to prevent diseases. To improve
village economy village road scheme was
introduced. In the city of Madras the Town
Improvement Committee of the Madras
Corporation introduced Slum Clearance
and Housing Schemes.
As a social welfare
measures the Justice Party Government gave
waste lands in village to Depressed Classes.
The Devadasi system, a disgrace to women,
was abolished. The Justice administration
reorganized the working of the University of
Madras. During the administration of Justice
Party, the Andhra University was established
in 1926 and Annamalai University in 1929.
It inaugurated the era of rural development
through economic and social reforms.
- The Justice Party government set right the imbalances in the representation of different communities and improved the status of Depressed Classes.
- The Communal G.O’s of 1921 and 1922 provided reservation of appointments in local bodies and educational institutions for NonBrahmins.
- To avoid Nepotism, Favouritism and other influences in the process of selection, this government created a staff selection board in 1924 and it became the Public Service regulate the higher educational institutions.
- In 1925 Andhra University and in 1929 Annamalai University were opened.
- To regulate temple accounts, Temple Committees were created. In 1926 the Hindu Religious Endowment Bill was passed.
- The Women were granted the right to vote in 1921, abolished Devadasi system, prevented immoral traffic of Women and passed Industries Act.
- The system of giving free pattas for housing sites to the poor was introduced.
- By way of introducing mid-day meal schemes at Thousand lights Thiyagaraya Chettiar strengthened the school.
- It gave encouragement to Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani Medical Education.
End of Justice Party Rule
The Government of India Act of 1935
provided for provincial autonomy and the
electoral victory meant the assumption of a
major responsibility in the administration
of the province. K. V. Reddi Naidu led the
Justice Party, while C. Rajagopalachari led the
Congress in the South.
In the election of 1937,
the Congress captured 152 out of 215 seats in
the Legislative Assembly and 26 out of 46 in the
Legislative Council. In July 1937 the Congress
formed its ministry under C. Rajagopalachari.
Thus, the rule of Justice Party which introduced
important social legislations came to an end.
In 1944 the Justice party conference was held
in Salem. There Peraringar Anna passed a
resolution thereby the name of justice party
was changed as Dravidar Kazhagam.
During the 19th and 20th centuries great
leaders like V.O.C, Subramaniya Bharathi, Bala
Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal
Nehru, Rajaji were actively involved in the
Freedom Struggle. Some of the great leaders
of Tamilnadu not only fought for political
freedom has no meaning when people are
denied social justice, self respect and dignity.
Self Respect Movement
E.V.Ramasamy Periyar was
the greatest social reformers of
Tamil Nadu. He was the first
leader, the country had ever
seen to inculcate self respect,
rationalism, women liberation
and social equality in the minds of the people.
E.V.Ramasamy was born on September 17,
1879 in Erode in a very rich Hindu family. He
got married at 13th year and renounced his
life in his 19th year. by wearing saintly dress,
he went to many holy places.
He went to Kasi
where he noticed that the Brahmins ill-treated
the Non-Brahmins. He condemned it and
returned to Tamilnadu. He joined the Congress
in 1919 to realize his ideas. He was elected as the
Secretary of Madras State Congress Committee
in 1921 and its President in 1923.
He joined the non-cooperation Temple.
Finally the Travancore government relaxed
such segregation and allowed the people to
enter into the temple. Hence Periyar was given
the title of ‘Vaikam Hero’.
Periyar visited a school on Gurukulam style
run at Sheramandevi out of congress funds. He
noticed the segregation of Non-Brahmin students
from the Brahmins by providing drinking
water and food in separate places. He protested
against this anti-social practice and resigned
the Secretaryship of Madras State Congress.
He
moved a resolution for reservation in government
services for non-brahmins in the state Congress
conference held at Kanchipuram. But this was
not allowed. So Periyar left the Conference and
started Self Respect Movement in 1925 to spread
and execute his ideas and policies.
Aims
- The self respect movement condemned and fought against Brahmin domination over other castes, society, politics and religion.
- It fought to abolish traditionalism and superstitions
- It advocated women education, widow remarriage, intercaste marriages and opposed child marriage.
Achievements
Periyar criticized the meaningless ideas,
superstitious beliefs and unbelievable puranic
stories in the public meetings. He spread self
respect principles through Kudiarasu, Puratchi,
Viduthalai. He also published some books
against social evils propagated 14 points of the
Socialists Manifesto. The Justice Party accepted
the same and tried to propagated it.
In order to check the growing population and
to keep good health, he suggested the family
planning. He also encouraged Tamil Script
reform and suggested to adopt Roman Script to
ensure easy learning. He was given the title of
‘Periyar’ by Ladies Conference held at Madras.
In 1937 election, the Justice Party was
defeated and its decline became inevitable. At
Salem conference of 1944, the name of Justice
Party was changed as ‘Dravidar Kazhagam’.
Periyar’s ambitions were fulfilled by DMK and
AIADMK.
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