Why were Jyoti Rao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker critical of the national movement? Did their criticism help the national struggle in any way?
Answers
Answer:
They were critical of the national movement run by upper- caste leaders because they held that this would serve the purposes of upper-castes. After the movement, these people would again talk of untouchability. Again they would say, "Me here and you over there". Periyar left the Congress in the reaction of an incidence of untouchability. Yes their criticism helped the national struggle as unity. The forceful speeches, writings and movements of such lower caste leaders did lead to rethinking and some self-criticisms among upper caste nationalist leaders.
Answer:
Both Jyotirao Phule and Ramaswamy Naicker were critical of the national movement. Phule believed that mostly the upper caste leaders were involved in the nationalist movement against the British. He believed that once the British would leave, the people of upper caste would again use their power and authority oppress and subjugate the people belonging to lower castes. This would result in division amongst the people.
Naicker had joined Congress early in his years. He gradually realised that even Congress was not free from the evil practice of casteism. When a feast was organised by the nationalists within the party, different seating arrangements were made for the people of upper and lower castes. This made Naicker to believe that the lower castes have to fight their own battle.