70-th Year of Temple Entry Proclamation (Padmanabha)

70-th Year of Temple Entry Proclamation

- Padmanabha


Year 1925

Place Kaudiar Palace Thiruvananthapuram

Mahatma Gandhi was in conversation with the Regent Maharani Sethu Lekshmi Bayi and the heir apparent Sree Chithira Tirunal Rama Varma. Gandhiji asked 13 year old Prince Rama Varma: “Would you remove untouchability and throw open the temples to the oppressed caste and community, when you mount on the throne?”

‘Certainly” said the Prince.

Year 1936

As promised he issued The Temple Proclamation on 12th November 1936, in connection with his 25th birth day. It is indeed a land mark in the history of Travancore.

70th anniversary of Temple Entry Proclamation would be observed on 12th of this month.

The Background

In 1921, when Swami Vivekananda visited Malabar, Kochi and Travancore which had so greatly accentuated the sub divisions of castes and imposed such humiliations, restrictions, dividing man from man that madness was the only term he found apt to describe.

VAIKKAM SATYAGRAHA

It was Vaikkom Satyagraha [1924] that revealed to India the depth of untouchability. The agitators convened at Vaikkom and their immediate demand was to ban unapproachability.. They also demanded the use of wells schools and public roads to the Harijans.

Gandhiji’s intervention

He wrote in Young India: “To lose patience is to lose the battle. Breaking of heads will serve no purpose. To attempt to force the entry would invite stronger barricade……I hope therefore that the Satyagraha will not swerve from their ranks may be thinned and victory may seem further off, than ever. Satyagraha is self effacement, greatest humiliation and greatest patience and brightest faith. It is its own reward.”

Temple entry committee

The State had appointed a Temple Entry Committee composed of nine members, on 25th of November 1933, soon after the accession of His Highness to the throne. The conference on 3rd November 1936 submitted a memorial signed by 50522 Savarnas of Travancore.

Nine days later the Maharaja of Travancore issued Temple Entry Proclamation as his 25th Birth day gift to his Subjects.

The Proclamation

The TEMPLE ENTRY PROCLAMATION

BY

HIS HIGHNESS SRI PADMANABHA DASA VANCHI PALA SIR RAMA VARMA KULASEKHARA KIRTIPATI MANNEY SULTHAN MAHARAJA RAMA VARMA BHADUR SHAMSHERJUNG, KNIGHT GRAND COMMANDER OF THE MOST EMINENT ORDER OF THE INDIAN EMPIRE, MAHARAJA OF TRAVANCORE, ISSUED UNDER DATE THE 27TH THULAM 1112 CORRESPONDING TO THE 12TH NOVEMBER 1936.

Profoundly convinced of the truth and validity of Our religion, believing that it is based on divine guidance and on all –comprehending toleration , knowing that in its practice it has, throughout the centuries, adapted itself to the needs of the changing times solicitous that none of Our Hindu subjects should , by reason of birth , or cast, or community, be denied the consolations and the solace of the Hindu faith We have decided and here by declare, ordain and command that subject to such rules and conditions as may be laid down, and imposed by Us for preserving their proper atmosphere here and maintaining their rituals and observances, there should henceforth be no restriction placed on any Hindu by birth or religion on entering or worshipping at the temples controlled by Us and Our Government.

ROLE OF AMMA MAHARANI & SIR C P RAMASWAMY IYER

With this he has lived up to the implications of the title of Padmanabhadasa-by emancipating the humblest of his people.

It is all due to the influence of one woman-Her Highness Amma Maharani.It was the most courageous act to issue the proclamation and still more courageous to carry it out through. The credit for its implementation is shared by Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer as well.

Gandhiji’s misgivings

C. Rajagopalachari who paid a visit to Travancore watched the working of the proclamation and was overwhelmed with joy and gratitude. Before the Proclamation, Gandhiji addressed large gatherings at many places. After the Proclamation he had many misgivings. Was it a political document with loopholes? What would be its effect on caste Hindus if it was a superimposed thing? What would be its effect on Harijans? Would it not leave them cold? Clouds of doubts vanished he congratulated Their Highness.

Ganhiji convinced

“The enthusiasm of the Harijans the absence of all oppositions to their entrance to the farthest limit permissible to the highest caste and the willing nay, the hearty co-operation of the officiating priests show the utter genuineness of the great and sweeping reform. What seemed impossible for man has been made possible by God……What was quoted to me as Sankara Smrithi has given place to the Maharaja Smrithi.” The Mahatma remarked.. He visited 24 temples including Sree Padmanabha, Kanyakumari, Sucheendram, Varkala, Ambalapuzha, Vaikkom, Thiruvattar, and Kottarakkara.

This decision was purely voluntary act on the part of the Sovereign made it more solemn and sublime.

Memorial to the Maharaja

People had a general feeling that this land mark should be commemorated with a permanent memorial. A public meeting held at Thiruvananthapuram on 10th of December 1936 under the presidency of K. Parameswaran Pillai made an appeal on 27th to donate liberally for the installation of a statue of His Highness.’

D P ROY CHOUDRY & THE STATUE OF THE MAHARAJA

The committee commissioned D.P.Roy Choudry MBE, a well known sculptor to make a bronze statue of His Highness the Maharaja. On the beautiful relief which adorns the pedestal of the statue is depicted the entry of Harijans into the temple. It was erected at Iron Villa Ground close to the ancestral home of His Highness and Padmanabha Temple.

Address by the Maharaja of Bikaner

Maharaja of Bikaner the chief guest installed the pedestal and spoke thus: “I rejoice to observe that His Highness’ place is in the centre of the heart of the people and the erection of the statue as the outcome of the decision of the public committee and public subscription, is a visible symbol of love and loyalty of the people of Travancore”

The statue unveiled

The statue was installed on 11 July 1940 at 10.15 am in the presence of Sir C.P. and was unveiled on 20th of July 1940 at 2.30pm by the Maharaja Rana of Dholpur.His Highness Rana of Dholpur said: “Temple Entry Proclamation is the biggest charity any ruler can give to his subjects” and paid rich tribute to Amma Maharani and Sir C.P. A movie was taken by United Artistes Corporation Ltd Madras on this occasion.

The supreme act of Dharma

This supreme act of Dharma His Highness Chithira Tirunal had with one stroke of the pen erased for ever the custom of untouchability and unapproachability and has placed the Hindu way of life on a new path of progress and glory.

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