Non Brahman Movement


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

Non Brahman Movement

The non-Brahman movement: The non-Brahman movement started. The initiative came from those non-Brahman castes that had acquired access to education, wealth and influence. E.V. Ramaswamy Naicker, or periyar, as he was called, came from a middle class family. Periyar was an outspoken critic of Hindu scriptures, especially the codes of Manu, the ancient lawgiver, and the Bhagavad Gita and the Ramayana. He said that these texts had been used to establish the authority of Brahmans over lower castes and the domination of men over women. These assertions did not go unchallenged. The forceful speeches, writings and movements of lower-caste leaders did lead to rethinking and some self-criticism among upper-caste nationalist leaders. Orthodox hind society also reacted by founding Sana tam Dharma sabhas and the bharat dharma mahamandal in the north, and associations like the Brahman sabha in Bengal. The object of these associations was to uphold caste distinctions as a cornerstone of Hinduism, and show how this was sanctified by scriptures

 
 
 


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