Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period. (UPSC CSE Mains 2016 - Sociology, Paper 1).
Anti-Brahminism or Anti-Manuvaad is the ideology of being opposed or expressing hostility towards the Brahminism, who are the priestly caste in Hinduism and traditionally the highest ranked social caste. Anti-Brahminism can manifest itself as the hatred, prejudice, or discrimination directed against Brahmins. Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period were:
- Dalit movement: In the traditional caste system, the lowest castes were at the bottom of the social ladder. They were subjected to various caste disabilities. The downtrodden Dalits raised various struggles to fight their social exploitation in all forms. Mahar movement, Ambedkar''s advocacy etc were directed against Brahminism.
- SATYA Shodak samaj: Mahatma Jyotiba Phule formed the Sayta Shodak Mandal in 1873 with the aim of liberating non-Brahmins from the clutches of Brahmanism. They totally rejected the Vedic tradition and the Aryan heritage. He regarded the Aryans as conquerors and destroyers of the indigenous non-Aryan culture. He launched a vigorous attack on the Vedas. He made fun of the puranas and ridiculed those who believed in the absurd stories narrated by their Brahmin authors.
- DRAVIDA KAZHAGAM MOVEMENT: It was based on the rejection of the Brahmanical Aryan religion and culture. The DK movement in Tamil Nadu idealized the Dravidian culture and religion and attacked the Aryan culture and religion. The self-respect movement started by Ramaswamy Naickar advocated that his followers should have their own priests. The movement drew its support from low castes. Its leaders worked hard to escape the tyranny of the Brahmins and to extol the virtues of the Dravidian culture.
- SNDP movement: It pertains to the Ezhavas of Kerala who were untouchables. The ideology of the movement was formulated by Sri Narayana Guru Swami. He gave them a new religion of one God and one caste which transformed their life>set of religious institutions parallel to that of the variety of Brahmanical Hinduism.
Thus, Anti-Brahmanical movements during the colonial period attacked Brahmanic supremacy and all privileges granted to them. It intended to reform the society and generate self respect to those who were oppressed by caste hierarchy.
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