Vaikom satyagraha

The Vaikom Satyagraha of 1924-1925 was a significant event in Kerala's history, as it marked a milestone in the fight against the practice of untouchability. The Satyagraha took place in the village of Vaikom, situated in the Kottayam district of Kerala. The temple in Vaikom was the epicenter of the town, and Dalits were prohibited from entering the temple premises or even using the road that encircled the temple. During a tour of the region by leaders like K. Kelappan, a demand was made to allow everyone to use the road, but the temple authorities refused. This refusal led to the commencement of Satyagraha. The Satyagraha was led by prominent leaders such as K. Kelappan, T. K. Madhavan and K. P. Kesava Menon, among others. Young volunteers from all over Kerala joined the Satyagraha to fight against untouchability. To stop the Satyagrahis from accessing the roads, the authorities erected barricades, but the Satyagrahis continued their peaceful protest. On March 30th, 1924, the first batch of satyagrahis under Kesava Menon, while attempting to enter the temple premises, were arrested and imprisoned for six months, but new Satyagrahis soon replaced them, and the movement continued to succeed. Mahatma Gandhi also supported the movement unconditionally and visited Vaikom in 1925. Despite the authorities' attempts to suppress the Satyagraha, it ultimately succeeded in opening the temple roads to everyone. The movement had a profound impact on raising political consciousness in Kerala and contributed to the Gandhian agitation for India's freedom from British rule.