Caste is the oldest and most enduring form of human oppression in South Asia, an evil stitched deep into the social fabric of the subcontinent. The Arya Sanatana Varnasrama Dharma engineered a rigid hierarchy to preserve Brahminical dominance, enforcing untouchability, slavery, exclusion, and social stratification through religious, economic, and cultural structures.
For the Tamil Nation, dismantling this system has been a central political and moral mission. From the Sangam era to the modern day, Tamils have resisted casteism in all its forms, tying the struggle for social equality to the broader fight for self-respect, dignity, and national liberation.
This blog series traces that history how caste abolition, social reform, and Tamil liberation became inseparable, especially in Eelam. It will examine the thinkers, movements, and political forces that challenged caste oppression and reshaped Tamil society.
In this part we look at a decisive but often overlooked moment in the social justice history of the Tamil Nation. It was the events of 9 July 1956, when several major temples in Jaffna opened their doors to oppressed caste devotees. Though sometimes misrepresented as “temple entry protests,” what happened that day was far more profound.
At dawn on 9 July 1956, Nallur Kandaswamy Temple one of the most revered temples in the peninsula became the first major temple in Jaffna to welcome oppressed-caste devotees. There were no marches, slogans, or confrontations. This was not a protest. It was the culmination of decades of work by Tamil nationalist thinkers, social reformers, and community organisers who believed caste equality was fundamental to Tamil unity.
At 5:30 a.m., oppressed caste devotees entered the temple along with a group of politicians and activists:
C. Coomaraswamy, former High Commissioner for Ceylon in India;
A. K. Selvadurai of the Minorities Tamil Maha Sabhai;
A. S. Nadarajan, teacher at Chinateru Nandavar Vidyasalai;
Saiva Pulavar S. Vallipuram;
and Pandit M. Chelliah of Alvai.
They were joined by lawyers, teachers, doctors, and community workers who understood the historical weight of the moment and ensured it unfolded with dignity and clarity of purpose.
A Hindu Organ media account of the events that unfolded on that day notes how emotional that moment was for all the devotees;
As the devotees entered the temple, they began reciting the Thirumurais with deep feeling. Tears rolled down their cheeks as they finally worshipped in a place that had been closed to them for generations. The social workers and leaders who walked beside them were also visibly moved. They had worked for years to make this moment possible, and seeing the devotees pray with such sincerity brought tears to their eyes as well. It was a quiet, powerful moment of faith, dignity, and long-awaited belonging.
Nallur’s decision triggered immediate change. That same morning, the trustees of Vannarponnai Shri Venkadewara Perumal Temple and Vaideeswara Sivan Temple opened their doors during the morning pooja. By evening, the Sithi Vinayagar Temple in Arialai followed. On 10th of July, Temples in Kankesanturai embraced the same reform.
Within 24 hours, a social wall that stood for centuries began to crack.
The significance of July 9 goes far beyond temple rituals. These openings reflected a deliberate and strategic intervention by Tamil nationalist leaders who recognised that a society fractured by caste could not defend itself against rising Sinhala-majoritarian aggression.
By integrating social justice into nationalist ideology, these leaders turned religious reform into a political statement, which was that Tamil liberation demanded Tamil equality.
The Nallur opening was a declaration that Tamil nationalism was not merely reactive to external oppression, it was also self-critical, willing to confront internal injustices to build a united political community.
Today, Nallur Temple is celebrated not only as a major cultural landmark but also as a space revered by pious devotees for its discipline, simplicity, and moral clarity. There are no VIP privileges, no inflated archanai fees and every devotee is treated with equal respect. Its management remains humble, its festivals aesthetically pleasing, and its rituals deeply rooted in tradition. Yet above all these qualities, it is Nallur’s legacy of inclusiveness, its willingness, even in 1956, to open its doors to all that stands as its most admirable and enduring virtue.
-@mrpaluvets
22/11/2025
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