In Western India, Jyotirao Govindrao Phule struggled for the upliftment of lower castes through his Satya Shodhak Samaj. Belonging to the Mali caste, which supplies flowers to the Peshwa’s family, he had suffered humiliation, which made him to turn against caste inequalities. He strongly criticized the Brahmanical domination in the name of religion. He was also critic of Indian National Congress for neglecting the weaker sections.
The aim of his organization was to achieve social justice for weaker sections of the Society. He opened a number of schools, orphanages for the children and Women belonging to all castes. He was elected as a member of the Poona Municipal committee in 1876. His writings include Dharma Tritiya Ratna, Ishara, Life of Shivaji, etc.
In 1888, he was honored with the title of Mahatma. Soon Dr B.R. Ambedkar took up the mantle of fighting for the cause of depressed castes in the twentieth century as part of Indian National Movement. His efforts culminated in the form of enactment of the reservation system for socially underprivileged sections in the Constitution of India.
Shri Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam Movement: The non-Brahmin movement found reflection in Kerala under the Leadership of Shri Narayana Guru who belonged to the backward Ezhava caste. He established the SNDP Yogam with its branches outside the Kerala State also. He launched a two-point program for the upliftment of the Ezhavas to root out-the practice of untouchability.
As a second step Narayana Guru built a number of temples, which were declared open to all castes. He also simplified rituals regarding marriage, religious worship, and funerals. Narayana Guru achieved a notable success in transforming the untouchable groups into a backward class. He criticized Gandhi for his faith in Chaturvarna, which he considered the parent of the caste system and untouchability. He gave a new slogan “one religion, one caste and one God for mankind”.
Justice Party
In reaction to the incipient nationalist movement, represented by the nineteenth century Hindu revivalism, which led to improving the position of the Brahmin caste, the non- Brahmins of Madras Presidency sought to ally with the colonial regime, hoping that foreign rule would protect their position and somewhat neutralize power differences within the Population. Mindful of the importance of Literacy as the base of the Brahmins’ virtual monopoly of government offices, the non-Brahmin elite sought to advance their communities through Education.
Dr T.M. Nair, P. Thyagaraja Chetty, and C.N. Mudaliar came together and founded the Justice Party in 1916. It was resolved to form an association of non-Brahman Hindus under the name of South Indian Peoples’ Association. Chetty asked all non-Brahmins to unite and draw the attention of the government to the grievances voiced in the Manifesto.
He said, “Let all non-Brahmins do everything needful to ensure a continued educational, social, political, and Economic Development as broad and enduring basic; and, then, their future as British subjects will be brighter and more prosperous than it is today.”
With the proclamation of the non-Brahmin Manifesto, it was argued that an association for the political advancement of the non-Brahmin community should also be formed to function alongside the South Indian Peoples’ Association. In August 1917, the South Indian Liberal Federation came into existence.
It was announced that the Justice Party’s objective was justice for all Dravidians through the establishment of a separate state under the watchful guidance of the British rule. His idealism, however, was influenced by the immediate practicalities of securing required reforms for the betterment of the non-Brahmin community.
The Self-respect Movement
The Self-respect Movement was founded by Ramaswamy Naicker in 1925. It was designed to improve the living conditions of the Dravidian people, to expose the Brahmin tyranny, and the deceptive methods by which they controlled all spheres of Hindu life.
He organized the “Dravida Nadu Conference” for the advocacy of a separate and independent “Dravida Nation”. The demand was reiterated the following year in response to the Lahore Resolution passed by the Muslim League demanding the creation of Pakistan.
Naicker supported the creation of Pakistan and tried to enlist the support of the Muslim League for the creation of the “Dravida Nation”. The basic presupposition of the movement toward a separate nation was that the Dravidian non-Brahmin peoples were of different racial stock and culture from that of the Aryan Brahman.
In 1944, Naicker founded the Dravida Kazagham and asked the members to wear black shirts whenever possible to symbolize the present day downtrodden condition of the Dravidians. The organization of the party was to be based upon units in each village, taluq and district.
The main objective of the Dravida Kazagham was proclaimed to be the achievement of a sovereign, independent Dravidian Republic federal in nature with four units representing the linguistic division, each division having residuary power and the autonomy in the matter of internal administration.
It would be an egalitarian society to which the depressed and downtrodden could pledge allegiance. Naicker called upon the people to renounce all the titles conferred upon them by the British. This increased the Dravida Kazagham’s popularity among the masses.
The principal objective of Naicker was to remove all “superstitious beliefs” based on religions. No member was allowed to wear any religious marks on the forehead. He called upon the non-Brahmin community to boycott Brahmins at ceremonies.
Miller Committee Report
This Committee was appointed on 23rd August 1918 by the then Maharaja of Princely State of Mysore which is now called as Karanataka. The Maharaja believed in mass representation of non-Brahmins in the service ofthe state. Surprisingly Dewan Sir M.Vishvesvaraiah who was himself an enlightened person advocating meritocracy, opposed the view of the Maharaja. Finally the Maharaja appointed this committee under the chairmanship of Sir Leslie Miller, the then ‘Chief Judge of the Chief Court of Mysore’ to recommend/advise the necessary steps to be taken for the adequate representation of deprived communities in the Public Service.
The committee maintained that again under the present System of Government, the officers ofthe Government in the higher grades of service have necessarily much influenced in framing the policy of administration and the efficiency of Services viewed as machines for securing the even and uniform progress of the state is likely to be increased by the presence in their ranks of officers of different communities.
The committee’s view with reference to field level jobs in the government service is – “It is these officers who come most frequently in contact, in their official capacity, with all classes of the state and, from the point of view of general administration, it seems desirable that in these grades a full representation of all important communities should be found”.
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The Backward Class Movement is a social movement in India that seeks to improve the social, economic, and political status of the Backward Classes, also known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The OBCs are a heterogeneous group of castes and communities that are considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged. The Backward Class Movement has been active since the early 20th century, and has achieved some significant successes, including the implementation of affirmative action policies for the OBCs. However, the movement continues to face a number of challenges, including caste discrimination and lack of access to education and EMPLOYMENT opportunities.
The Backward Class Movement has its roots in the early 20th century, when a number of social reformers began to campaign for the rights of the OBCs. These reformers argued that the OBCs were being discriminated against on the basis of their caste, and that they were being denied access to education, employment, and other opportunities. They called for the government to take steps to improve the status of the OBCs, and to provide them with affirmative action benefits.
The Backward Class Movement gained momentum in the 1970s, when the government of India implemented a number of affirmative action policies for the OBCs. These policies included quotas for OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions. The implementation of these policies led to a significant improvement in the social and economic status of the OBCs.
However, the Backward Class Movement continues to face a number of challenges. One of the biggest challenges is caste discrimination. The OBCs continue to face discrimination from the upper castes, and they are often denied access to education, employment, and other opportunities. Another challenge is lack of access to education and employment opportunities. The OBCs are often underrepresented in government jobs and educational institutions. This is due to a number of factors, including POVERTY, lack of access to quality education, and discrimination.
Despite the challenges, the Backward Class Movement has made significant progress in improving the status of the OBCs. The implementation of affirmative action policies has led to a significant improvement in the social and economic status of the OBCs. The movement has also raised awareness of the problems faced by the OBCs, and has put pressure on the government to take steps to address these problems.
The future of the Backward Class Movement is uncertain. The movement faces a number of challenges, including caste discrimination and lack of access to education and employment opportunities. However, the movement has made significant progress in improving the status of the OBCs, and it is likely to continue to play an important role in Indian Society.
Here are some of the leaders of the Backward Class Movement:
B. R. Ambedkar was a Dalit leader who campaigned for the rights of the OBCs. He is considered to be the father of the Indian Constitution.
K. Kamaraj was a Tamil Nadu politician who was instrumental in the implementation of affirmative action policies for the OBCs.
Chandra Shekhar was an Indian politician who served as the Prime Minister of India from 1990 to 1991. He was a strong advocate for the rights of the OBCs.
Mayawati is an Indian politician who is the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh. She is a leader of the Bahujan Samaj Party, which is a political party that represents the interests of the OBCs.
Here are some of the achievements of the Backward Class Movement:
The implementation of affirmative action policies for the OBCs.
The raising of awareness of the problems faced by the OBCs.
The putting of pressure on the government to take steps to address the problems faced by the OBCs.
Here are some of the challenges faced by the Backward Class Movement:
Caste discrimination.
Lack of access to education and employment opportunities.
Poverty.
Lack of access to quality education.
Discrimination.
What is the Backward Class Movement?
The Backward Class Movement is a social movement in India that seeks to improve the status of the Backward Classes, also known as Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The OBCs are a heterogeneous group of castes and communities that are considered to be socially and economically disadvantaged. The Backward Class Movement has been successful in securing a number of concessions and benefits for the OBCs, including affirmative action in education and employment.
What are the main goals of the Backward Class Movement?
The main goals of the Backward Class Movement are to improve the social, economic, and political status of the OBCs. The movement seeks to achieve these goals through a number of means, including education, employment, and political representation.
What are some of the key figures in the Backward Class Movement?
Some of the key figures in the Backward Class Movement include Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, K. Kamaraj, and M.G. Ramachandran. Dr. Ambedkar was a Dalit leader who played a key role in the drafting of the Indian Constitution. K. Kamaraj was a Tamil Nadu politician who was instrumental in the formation of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party. M.G. Ramachandran was a Tamil Nadu politician who was the founder of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) party.
What are some of the key events in the history of the Backward Class Movement?
Some of the key events in the history of the Backward Class Movement include the Poona Pact of 1932, the Mandal Commission Report of 1980, and The Supreme Court judgment in the Indra Sawhney Case of 1992. The Poona Pact was an agreement between Dr. B.R. Ambedkar and Mahatma Gandhi that granted separate electorates to the Depressed Classes (now known as Dalits). The Mandal Commission Report was a report that recommended affirmative action for the OBCs. The Supreme Court judgment in the Indra Sawhney case upheld the Mandal Commission Report, but placed restrictions on the implementation of affirmative action.
What are some of the challenges faced by the Backward Class Movement?
Some of the challenges faced by the Backward Class Movement include caste discrimination, poverty, and lack of education. Caste discrimination is a major problem in India, and it can prevent members of the OBCs from accessing education, employment, and other opportunities. Poverty is another major problem, and it can make it difficult for members of the OBCs to improve their lives. Lack of education is also a problem, and it can prevent members of the OBCs from getting good jobs.
What are some of the successes of the Backward Class Movement?
Some of the successes of the Backward Class Movement include the implementation of affirmative action, the formation of Political Parties that represent the OBCs, and the increase in the number of OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions. Affirmative action has helped to improve the social and economic status of the OBCs. The formation of political parties that represent the OBCs has given the OBCs a voice in government. The increase in the number of OBCs in government jobs and educational institutions has helped to improve the opportunities available to the OBCs.
Question 1
Which of the following is not a reason for the Backward Class Movement?
(A) To improve the social and economic condition of the backward classes (B) To provide reservation in education and employment for the backward classes (C) To fight against discrimination against the backward classes (D) To demand a separate state for the backward classes
Answer
(D)
The Backward Class Movement is a social movement that aims to improve the social and economic condition of the backward classes. It does not demand a separate state for the backward classes.
Question 2
Which of the following is not a feature of the Backward Class Movement?
(A) It is a non-violent movement (B) It is a democratic movement (C) It is a secular movement (D) It is a caste-based movement
Answer
(D)
The Backward Class Movement is a non-violent, democratic, and secular movement. It is not a caste-based movement.
Dr. B.R. Ambedkar is the leader of the Backward Class Movement. He is also known as the “Father of the Indian Constitution”.
Question 4
What is the main goal of the Backward Class Movement?
(A) To improve the social and economic condition of the backward classes (B) To provide reservation in education and employment for the backward classes (C) To fight against discrimination against the backward classes (D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
The main goal of the Backward Class Movement is to improve the social and economic condition of the backward classes. It also aims to provide reservation in education and employment for the backward classes, and to fight against discrimination against the backward classes.
Question 5
What is the main achievement of the Backward Class Movement?
(A) The implementation of the Mandal Commission Report (B) The enactment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (C) The establishment of the National commission for Backward classes (D) All of the above
Answer
(D)
The main achievement of the Backward Class Movement is the implementation of the Mandal Commission Report. The Mandal Commission Report recommended that 27% of government jobs and seats in educational institutions be reserved for the Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The report was implemented in 1990, and it has had a significant impact on the lives of the OBCs.
The Backward Class Movement has also achieved other important milestones, such as the enactment of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, and the establishment of the National Commission for Backward Classes.