The little songbooks that chronicled a historic temple entry
Over 87 years ago, this day – July 8 – witnessed a truly historic moment in Tamil Nadu. People belonging to the oppressed castes who
Over 87 years ago, this day – July 8 – witnessed a truly historic moment in Tamil Nadu. People belonging to the oppressed castes who, until then, had been barred from entering the Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple, made their way into the premises to offer worship. Though many newspapers and government documents have extensively recorded this temple entry, it was also documented in another fascinating manner. The cheaply priced Kummi songbooks (chapbooks), published during that era, captured the movement and its repercussions in an intriguing way. Even as some castes were traditionally barred from entering temples in Tamil Nadu, in the southern districts, the Nadar community, too, was kept out, along with the so-called untouchables. On July 8, 1939, a group, led by A. Vaidyanatha Iyer of Tamil Nadu Harijan Sevak Sangh, and comprising the ‘untouchables’ and a Nadar, entered the Meenakshi Amman Temple and offered prayers. Following this, a number of other temples across Tamil Nadu were opened to all who wished to offer worship, in a phased manner. The Madras government also enacted an ordinance to support this. During the 1930s and the 1940s, it was common practice to write songs about major events that caused a public stir, and publish them as books. Similarly, songbooks were published both in support of, and in opposition to, the Madurai temple entry.
Following the temple entry, a songbook welcoming the move, titled, ‘Madurai Aalaya Pravesam Ennum Aananda Geetham’ (The Joyful Song of Madurai Temple Entry), was published in 1939. It had nine songs written by Muthamizh Kshetra Madurakavi V. Nataraja Kavirayar. The songs celebrated the movement and blessed those who participated in and facilitated it. One song was even structured as a debate between an ‘untouchable’ and an orthodox Vedic practitioner. Another songbook published in 1939 supporting the cause was ‘Muthamizh Kshetra Madurai Meenakshi Amman Kovil Harijana Aalaya Pravesa Geetham’ (The Harijan Temple Entry Song of Madurai Meenakshi Amman Temple). Written by A.M. Abdul Karim from Pollachi, the book was published by S. Sundararaja Kon of Madurai. It was sold for 1 anna and contained seven songs. The songs in this book were of a slightly superior literary quality when compared to the ones written by Nataraja Kavirayar. Just as books in support of the cause were published, so were those strongly condemning the movement. The late writer and historian, Tho. Paramasivan, had recorded detailed information on the songbooks in one of his essays on the Madurai temple entry. Of the songs condemning the movement, one was published in 1939 and another in 1940. The book published in 1939 was titled, ‘Aalaya Ethirppu Kummi’ (The Kummi Song of Temple Entry Opposition), and was written by Bageerathi Ammal of Madurai Pechiyamman Kovil Raastha.
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