The
Caste System was rife in Kerala throughout the 19th and early
part of the 20th century. The Caste System was fierce than
the apartheid system of South Africa. The purpose was for
the minority of so called 'Upper Castes' to control the majority
by labelling them as 'Lower Castes'. Caste was based on the
type of job one did, but it also ensured if your parents were
of a particular caste, then you are also of the same caste
and must, therefore, do the same job. If you happened to be
of a lower caste, then based on the category , lots of rules
had to be obeyed; rules such as you cannot go to school, you
cannot go to temples, you cannot touch an upper caste, you
cannot walk within a certain distance of an upper caste, women
cannot wear tops etc. Anyone breaking the rules was dealt
with harshly with fines, chopping breasts off, cutting hands
off etc.
Sree
Narayana Guru led a unique Social revolution against this
horrible system. The revolution was probably the most peaceful
Social Revolution the world has ever seen. There was no bloodshed
and it began like this:
The
Guru tackled freedom of worship first. He built temples where
anyone regardless of caste and religion can come and pray.
He wrote hymns praising god that can be used by any religion.
The number of temples gradually increased and this eventually
forced the Government to alter legislation so that people
of any caste can enter temples run by upper castes.
The
Guru then turned his attention to freedom of Education. Guru
started building schools. Guru advised people to progress
through education. This really opened the gates for freedom
and progress; there are now numerous schools, colleges and
hospitals throughout Kerala in the name of the Guru. Also
several other groups took inspiration from Guru's work and
established educational and health facilities. As a result,
kerala now has 100% literacy rate; it is the cleanest state
in India; it produces a very high proportion of highly educated
people.
Guru's
teachings also made a great impact on the political front.
Guru stressed the importance of achieving strength through
organising. Kerala is highly unionised and Marxism thrived
after Guru's successful fight against castism and other social
evils. Later the government introduced positive discrimination
for lower castes in areas of education, health and jobs. Inter-cast
marriage is quite common. As a result the evils of Caste system
has disappeared, though recently political parties have been
exploiting it to their advantage. There are now highly educated
people in all castes and they are working all over the world,
especially in the Middle East and the USA. Guru also advised
people to enter into business. In fact, the majority of the
population in places like Dubai and Abu Dhabi are from Kerala.
It
is a pity that a Saint and Philosopher who also masterminded
one of the most peaceful Social Revolution the world has ever
seen, and achieved freedom and progress for millions of under
privileged, is little known outside of Kerala.
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