Question

Under what circumstances did E. V. R. leave the Congress?

What was Cheranmadevi Gurukulam controversy? How did it lead E. V. R. to leave the Congress?

Answer 1

1. E. V. Ramaswamy, popularly known as E. V. R. played an active role in Tamil Nadu during the freedom struggle of India. But he was not satisfied with the Congress because he felt that it was promoting the interests of the Brahmins alone.
2. To further the cause of national education, a Gurukulam was established in Cheranmadevi by V. V. S. Iyer. It received funds from the Congress. However, students were discriminated on the basis of caste.
3. Brahmin and non-Brahmin students were made to dine separately and the food served too was different. The issue was brought to the notice of E. V. R. in 1925 who questioned the practice and severely criticized it along with another leader, Dr. P. Varadarajulu.
4. In Kanchipuram Conference of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee held on 21 November 1925, he raised the issue of representation for non-Brahmins in the legislature. But his efforts to achieve this since 1920 had met with failure.
5. When the resolution was defeated, E. V. R. left the Conference along with other non-Brahmin leaders who met separately. Soon he left Congress and started the Self-respect Movement. Thus, the Cheranmadevi Gurukulam controversy and opposition to communal rengress led E. V. R. to leave the Congress.