T.K. Madhavan (Aged 45), born on September 2, 1885 in Karthikapally in the Alappuzha district, was a freedom fighter and social reformer from a low-caste Ezhava family in Kerala. He dedicated his life to the eradication of untouchability in Kerala and was a firm believer in the Gandhian philosophy. In 1921, Madhavan met with Gandhiji in Tirunelveli and informed him about the pitiful state of lower caste communities in Kerala.
Madhavan started a newspaper called Deshabhimani in Kollam in 1917, and later became its editor. Through his newspaper, he called for the end of social evils such as untouchability. As a result, he became popularly known as Deshabhimani T. K. Madhavan. It is widely believed that Madhavan’s influence compelled Gandhiji and the Indian National Congress to include the abolition of untouchability in their national agenda.
Madhavan was an active participant in the Kakinada Session of the Indian National Congress in 1923 and moved a resolution for the eradication of untouchability with the support of Jawaharlal Nehru. He also became a prominent leader of Sree Narayana Darma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, which was formed for social reform among the Ezhava community.
In 1924, Madhavan initiated the Vaikom Satyagraha in front of the Vaikkom Mahadeva Temple, demanding the right of oppressed and lower caste people to walk through the road in front of the temple. In 1925, Gandhiji visited Vaikom in support of the agitation, which had gained nationwide attention and attracted participants from different parts of India.
Finally, an agreement was reached between the Queen of Travancore and the supporters of the agitation, permitting all backward communities to walk on the roads in front of the temple. Madhavan passed away on April 27, 1930.
T.K. Madhavan
(1885 – 1930) – (Kerala)
T.K. Madhavan (Aged 45), born on September 2, 1885 in Karthikapally in the Alappuzha district, was a freedom fighter and social reformer from a low-caste Ezhava family in Kerala. He dedicated his life to the eradication of untouchability in Kerala and was a firm believer in the Gandhian philosophy. In 1921, Madhavan met with Gandhiji in Tirunelveli and informed him about the pitiful state of lower caste communities in Kerala.
Madhavan started a newspaper called Deshabhimani in Kollam in 1917, and later became its editor. Through his newspaper, he called for the end of social evils such as untouchability. As a result, he became popularly known as Deshabhimani T. K. Madhavan. It is widely believed that Madhavan’s influence compelled Gandhiji and the Indian National Congress to include the abolition of untouchability in their national agenda.
Madhavan was an active participant in the Kakinada Session of the Indian National Congress in 1923 and moved a resolution for the eradication of untouchability with the support of Jawaharlal Nehru. He also became a prominent leader of Sree Narayana Darma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, which was formed for social reform among the Ezhava community.
In 1924, Madhavan initiated the Vaikom Satyagraha in front of the Vaikkom Mahadeva Temple, demanding the right of oppressed and lower caste people to walk through the road in front of the temple. In 1925, Gandhiji visited Vaikom in support of the agitation, which had gained nationwide attention and attracted participants from different parts of India.
Finally, an agreement was reached between the Queen of Travancore and the supporters of the agitation, permitting all backward communities to walk on the roads in front of the temple. Madhavan passed away on April 27, 1930.
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