INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR INNOVATIVE RESEARCH IN MULTIDISCIPLINARY FIELD ISSN: 2455-0620 Volume - 6, Issue - 8, Aug – 2020 Monthly, Peer-Reviewed, Refereed, Indexed Journal with IC Value: 86.87 Impact Factor: 6.719 Received Date: 13/08/2020 Acceptance Date: 29/08/2020 Publication Date: 31/08/2020 VAIKUNDA SWAMIKAL AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION IN SOUTH INDIA Dr.Padmanabhan. N. Principal, CAS College, Madayi-Kannur Email -
[email protected] Abstract: The second half of the 19th and the early decades of the 20th century, the society of South India underwent a great change. The social change ultimately resulted to the abolition of social evils in the society. The social reformers of the period identified various socio-economic disabilities of the downtrodden sections of the society. All men are potentially intellectuals in the sense of having an intellect and using it, but not all are intellectuals by social action. The Nadars of Kerala were compelled by circumstances to rise up to the occasion. They were longing for an agency to liberate them from the clutches of the feudal anarchy. The Christian Missionaries and the enlightened social reformers became the harbingers of such a change. The social reformers like Vaikunda Swamikal who hailed from among the Nadars tried to educate and enlighten the masses and thereby empower them to bargain for their legitimate rights. He was the first social reformer and social revolutionary leader for the upliftment of Avarnas of South India. Key Words: Nadar Community-Samatuva Samajam- -Nizhalthankals- Thuvayalpanthy- Muttirikinaru- Love Flag- Inter Dining -Liberation of the Deprived Classes. 1. INTRODUCTION: During the 19th century, a number of reform movements that attempted to change the socio--religious life of the people, emerged in different parts of South India.