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Commissioner, Department of Employment and Training History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu Socio-Political movements in Tamil Nadu The Justice Party rule in the Madras the Dravidian concept. Later the ancient Tamil Presidency constitutes an important chapter in literature had been rediscovered and printed the history of South India. The ideology and by various Tamil scholars including Arumuga objectives of the Justice Party had been unique Navalar, C.V.Damodaram Pillai and U.V. and somewhat different from those of the Swaminatha Iyer. V. Kanakasabhai Pillai in his Congress Party. The Justice Party represented famous historical work, The Tamils 1800 Years the Non-Brahmin Movement and engineered Ago pointed out that Tamils had attained a a social revolution against the domination of high degree of civilization before the Advent Brahmins in the sphere of public services and of the Aryans. This led to the growth of education. Dravidian feelings among the non-Brahmins. Birth of the Justice Party These factors collectively contributed to the Various factors had contributed to birth of the Non-Brahmin Movement and the the formation of the Justice Party, which Justice Party. represented the Non-Brahmin Movement. The precursor of the Justice Party was the The social dominance of the Brahmins was Madras United League which was renamed the main cause for the emergence of the Non- as the Madras Dravidian Association in Brahmin Movement. Their high proportion November 1912. Dr.C.Natesa Mudaliar played in the Civil Service, educational institutions a significant role in nurturing this organization. and also their predominance in the Madras In 1916 the South Indian Liberal Federation Legislative Council caused a great worry was formed for the purpose of ‘promoting the among the non- Brahmins. The Brahmins had political interests of non-Brahmin caste Hindus’. also monopolized the Press. The rediscovery The leaders who stood behind the formation of the greatness of the Tamil language and of this organization were Pitti Theagaraya literature also provided a stimulus to the non- Chetti, Dr.T.M. Nair, P.Ramarayaninger (Raja Brahmins. Particularly, the publication of the of Panagal) and Dr. C. Natesa Mudaliar. The book entitled A Comparative Grammar of the South Indian Liberal Federation published an Dravidian or South Indian Family of Languages English newspaper called Justice and hence by Rev. Robert Caldwell in 1856 gave birth to this organization came to be called the Justice History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu Party. The other news paper which supported to lead the ministry, A.Subbarayalu Reddiar the Justice Party was Dravidan (in Tamil). formed the ministry. In the election of 1923 Besides, the Justice Party organized a series it fought against the Swarajya Party. The of public meetings, conferences, lectures to Justice Party again won the majority and the popularise Non- Brahmin movement. Similarly, ministry was formed by Raja of Panagal. In the the Justice Party formed District Associations, election of 1926 a divided Justice Party faced the Non-Brahmin Youth League. the opposition of a united Congress. Therefore, The Justice Movement an independent, A.Subbarayan with the help The Justice Party’s rule in the of the Swarajya Party formed the ministry. Madras Presidency constitutes In 1930 when the next election was held the an important chapter in the Justice Party won the majority and formed a history of South India. The ministry with B. Muniswami Naidu as the Justice Party represented the leader. In 1932 Raja of Bobbili replaced him as Non-Brahmin movement and Prime Minister of the Presidency. In 1934 Raja engineered a social revolution against the of Bobbili formed his second ministry, which domination of Brahmins in the sphere of public continued in power until the election of 1937. services and education. Then Justice party came under the leadership The Justice Party, officially known as South of Periyar E.V.Ramasamy and his self-respect Indian Liberal Federation was a political party movement. In 1944 at Salem conference. in the Madras Presidency of Periyar transformed the Justice Party into a British India. This party was social organization called Dravidar Kazhagam established in 1916 by T.M. and withdrew it from the electoral politics. Nair and Thiyagaraya Chetty. There were many causes for its failure. During its early eyars, the party The Justice Party came to power involved in petitioning to the when the world was in economic imperial administrative bodies demanding depression. more representation for non-Brahmins in The Nationalist Movement was administration. This party published popular and heading for freedom. ‘Dravidian’ in Tamil, ‘Andhra Prakasika’ in Caste and Wealth played vital role. Telugu and ‘Justice’ in English. Hence it came Hence the party lost its hold. to be called as the ‘Justice Party’. The rise of Congress under the Justice Party Rule Thus the Justice Party lost its vitality after a The Justice Party came to power following few years of its existence. the election of 1920 held according to the Achievements of the Justice Montague-Chelmsford Reforms. The Justice Party Party captured sixty three out of ninety The Justice Party remained in power for eight elected seats in the Madras Legislative a period of thirteen years. Its administration Council. As Pitti Theagaraya Chetti declined was noted for social justice and social reform. History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu Justice rule gave adequate representation temples. Justice Party Government introduced to non-Brahman communities in the public economic reforms. To assist the growth of services. It improved the status of depressed industries State Aid to Industries Act, 1922 was classes through education reforms. Justice passed. This led to the establishment of new Party introduced following reforms in the field industries such as : sugar factories, engineering of Education : works, tanneries, aluminium factories, cement 1. Free and compulsory education was factories and oil milling so on. This act provided introduced for the first time in Madras. credits to industries, allotted land and water. 2. Nearly 3000 fisher boys and fisher girls This proved favourable for industrial progress. were offered free special instruction by Similarly, Justice Party Government the Department of Fisheries. introduced schemes for rural development 3. Midday Meals was given at selected to help agrarian population, public health corporation schools in Madras. schemes to prevent diseases. To improve 4. The Madras Elementary Education Act village economy village road scheme was was amended in 1934 and in 1935 to introduced. In the city of Madras the Town improve elementary education. Improvement Committee of the Madras 5. The Education of girls received Corporation introduced Slum Clearance encouragement during the Justice rule in and Housing Schemes. As a social welfare Madras. measures the Justice Party Government gave 6. Education of the Depressed Classes was waste lands in village to Depressed Classes. entrusted with Labour Department. The Devadasi system, a disgrace to women, 7. Encouragement was given to Ayurveda, was abolished. The Justice administration Siddha and Unani medical education. reorganized the working of the University of The government took over the power of Madras. During the administration of Justice appointing district munsiffs out of the control Party, the Andhra University was established of the High Court. The Communal G.O.s in 1926 and Annamalai University in 1929. (Government Orders) of 1921 and 1922 provided It inaugurated the era of rural development for the reservation of appointments in local through economic and social reforms. bodies and educational institutions for non- The Justice Party government set right Brahmin communities in increased proportion. the imbalances in the representation The Staff Selection Board, created by the of different communities and improved Panagal Ministry in 1924, was made the Pubic the status of Depressed Classes. Service Commission in 1929. It was the first of The Communal G.O’s of 1921 its kind in India. The women were granted the and 1922 provided reservation of right to vote on the same basis as was given to appointments in local bodies and men. The Hindu Religious Endowment Act of educational institutions for Non- 1921, enacted by the Panagal Ministry, tried Brahmins. to eliminate corruption in the management of History, Culture, Heritage and Socio-Political Movements in Tamil Nadu To avoid Nepotism, Favouritism and Thus, the rule of Justice Party which introduced other influences in the process of important social legislations came to an end. selection, this government created a In 1944 the Justice party conference was held staff selection board in 1924 and it in Salem. There Peraringar Anna passed a became the Public Service regulate resolution thereby the name of justice party the higher educational institutions. was changed as Dravidar Kazhagam. In 1925 Andhra University and in 1929 During the 19th and 20th centuries great Annamalai University were opened. leaders like V.O.C, Subramaniya Bharathi, Bala To regulate temple accounts, Temple Gangadhar Tilak, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Committees were created.