NOVEMBER 20 (1916):
The first document of Dravidian movement on Social Justice.
One Hundred Year ago, 1t was on this day, on 20th December 1916, Justice Party released the non-brahmin manifesto thro’ its Secretary Sir.Pitty.Theagaraya, one of the founder leader of Justice party.
The manifesto exposed the dark pages of history and stark realities of the socio-political-economic conditions of Sudras, Panchamas in every field of the then Madras Presidency.
It was this manifesto that paved the way for greater improvement and advancement of Sudras and Panchamas in social, political and economic fields of Tamilnadu.
Sir Alexander Cardew, then a Member of Madras Executive Council, in his evidence before the Public Service Commission in 1913, described in detail the relative positons of the Brahmins and the non-brahmins in the Public Service of the Madras Province (presently Tamilnadu State) between 1892 to 1904.
At a meeting of the Madras Legislative Council held in November 1914, in reply to an interpellation by the late Mr.Kunhi Raman Nayar, it was stated that the total number of registered graduates of the University was 650 out of whom 452 graduates were Brahmins, 124 non-brahmin Hindus and 74 belonging to other communities.
The non-brahmin manifesto released on 20th December 1916 was the first document at the All India level exposing the dominance of Brahmins.
The document not only gave a detailed account of the ill treatment meted out to non-brahmins but also exhorted them their social obligation.
On the duty of the non-Brahmins the Manifesto said, in conclusion, "By their attitude of silence and inaction they have failed to make their voice heard and others more astute than they have used them for their own ends, with the result that there is a great deal of discontent among the non-Brahmins about their present lot as compared with that of their Brahmin fellow countrymen, of which perhaps, the Government is not fully aware.
The discontent is growing every day, and the attention of the Government will be drawn to it. But the non-Brahmin must first help them. Let them do everything needful to ensure a continued educational, social, political and economical development on a broad and enduring basis; and then, their future as British subjects will be brighter and more prosperous than it is today."
Today, at the All India level, Tamilnadu stands atop on the social justice front and the foundation was laid on 20th December 1916 thro the Non Brahmin manifesto by the Dravidian movement. The younger generation should go thro this history and to march ahead to achieve further at the all India level.
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