The path taken by the Devadasi Abolition Act
Since the practice of tying up women in Hindu temples was a source of influence and respect for prostitution in the country, a law was prepared in 1930 by Mrs. Muthulakshmi Ammal and sent to the Madras Provincial Assembly with the aim of preventing such acts from happening. Efforts have been made at various times since 1968 to eradicate this social evil, but to no avail. According to the law passed in 1924, the custom of tying up women below the age of 14 was changed. Tying up women below the age of 16 was made a punishable offence, and sections 372 and 373 of the Indian Penal Code were amended accordingly. Dr. Muthulakshmi Ammal took serious steps to find a permanent solution for the female community from this atrocity (23.3:1930). The bill brought by Dr. Muthulakshmi Ammal provided for making the custom of tying the female genitals a crime under the law, giving women who had been tying the female genitals the legal right to marry, and punishing those who performed rituals such as tying the female genitals.
'Kudiarasu'- 30.03.1930
When Dr. Muthulakshmi Ammal's bill came up for debate in the Assembly, many members of the Assembly objected. Therefore, it was decided to take a decision based on the public opinion. Accordingly, a copy of the bill was sent to Periyar and his opinion was sought. It was the government that should find a solution to this long-standing atrocity. It was ridiculous to ask the public for its opinion on this matter, said Periyar. He strongly condemned the members of the Assembly who had raised objections in the name of sending it for public opinion and had voted in favor of it, as well as the members of the Justice Party who had voted in favor of it. He warned that if the bill was not passed, the government and the Justice Party would lose the public's trust.
'Kudiarasu' - 23.03.1930
Periyar requested that public meetings be held in every town, resolutions passed in support of the bill, and the public should send them to the Assembly Secretary.
'Kudiarasu' - 30.03.1930
In a letter sent by Periyar to the Secretary of the Legislative Assembly expressing his opinion on the above bill, he said that it was necessary to prevent the practice of tying up some women in Hindu temples, as they were becoming prostitutes and thereby spreading the disease, and that Dr. Muthulakshmi Ammal's bill would prevent the spread of prostitution in the name of religion. Since a law had already been passed prohibiting the tying up of minor women, and religious rules had been violated, the government should not back down from enacting a law out of fear of the scriptures. He stated that he wholeheartedly supported the bill, aiming at the self-respect of the Hindu community.
'Kudiarasu' -30.03.1930
11.5: In 1930, at the second self-respect conference held at Erode under the leadership of Dr. Muthulakshmi Ammal, the women's conference was attended by Mr. Jayakar in the Indian Legislative Assembly and Mrs. Muthulakshmi in the Madras Legislative Assembly. Self-respect associations emerged in those places. Invitations were received from abroad for Periyar and his comrades. This movement became very strong in Tamil Nadu and Malayalam. All the Ezhavas there supported it. In July 1930, a portrait of Periyar was unveiled at the self-respect conference held at Tirunelveli. Mr. M. Govindan, a former High Court judge and the secretary of the Ezhava Sangam called S.N.D.P. Yogam, presided over the event and spoke,
"At the S.N.D.P. conference held in Kottayam, a resolution was passed in support of his speech on the principles of the Self-Respect Movement to more than ten thousand people, supporting the Devadasi Abolition Act, and calling for its expeditious enactment."
'Kudiarasu' 18.5.1930
-Thandhai Periyar's 146th Birthday Celebration festival year book, 17.09.2024,
page-142,143
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