Backward Class Movement in Karnataka

Causes for the backward class movement:

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This movement has many facets in Karnataka, the struggle of the non Brahmin's to attain social equality, opportunity in matters of employment education, political empowerment etc..

• Destruction of the traditional industries and De-industrialisation which caused the unemployment of many traditional craftsmen and also huge deaths due to Famine like conditions
• Gunny bag industry pursued by Goniga caste people who could not face the market competition caused by Industrial revolution in England were pushed to further backwardness
• Uppars who produced salt petre used for Gun powder lost their jobs because of the chemically produced substitute was found 
• salt units were shut down as a consequence of heavy duties
• Introduction of Kerosene oil led to the destruction of market value for locally produced oil used for lighting thus Ganigas lost jobs
• Imports of Crockery Enamel which ruined the traditional Pot makers Jobs Kamblis which lost importance as a result of Mill made blankets

Hence the Backward classes movement was led by Divergent Communities who lost their habitat resulting from the traditional caste systems and the Negativity created by the Colonial power.

Some Organisations which led the Backward classes movement

Lingayats:

• It was Lingayats ho first started the movement claiming Equal status as like Brahmin's
• When the census report of 1891 published which had lingayats as Shudras, was opposed by leaders like Yajaman Veerasangappa who started Mysore star , a Kannada Magazine to uphold that Veerashaivas were socially equal to brahmins
• Veerasangappa Encouraged PR Karibasava shastry and NR karibasava shastry who published many Sanskrit and Kannada Journals to prove that veerashaivas were not inferior to Brahmin's
• Mysore Star and  Veera Shaiva Mata Prakashika a monthly by PR Karibasava shastry led to the Awakening among Lingayats.
• Earlier to this Lingayat Vidyavardhaka sangha was founded aimed to seek higher education, Gurusiddappa gilganchi and Artal Rudragauda were the men behind this.

Justice Party 1916:

Congress and Home rule league were a conspiracy of Brahmin's to snatch power was the feeling of Non Brahmin's in Madras. 

This led to foundation of Justice party by Tyagaraja Chetty and Mudaliar brothers Ramaswamy and Lakshmana swamy .

Praja Mitra Mandali: 1917

Inspired by Justice Party This was set up, if Justice Party opposed Home rule and responsible government, the mandali to opposed the Responsible govt and Home rule. It pointed out that non-Brahmin's had a small % in Govt Service and demanded a Fair treatment of all communities. Demanded Expansion of educational facilities by Hostels and Scholarships . Prof CR Reddy and Kanthirava Narasimha raja Wodeyar who were working in Mysore University Encouraged Mandali's movement.

Rao saheb H. Channayya was the president.

Brahmanetara Parishat:

Sri Siddappa Kambli of Hubli founded Brahmanetara Parishat to which all non-Brahmin's like Muslim's Jain's and marathas also joined.

the First conf of its was presided by Tyagaraja Chetty of Justice party. 

Main aim of this to strive for progress of backward classes.

Kambli got elected for Legislative Assembly from Brahmanetara Parishat and became Deputy. speaker and once a education minister also strived for progress of community.

the Parishat was Anti Congress and was highly critical of Gandhi and its leaders. But Gandhi Irwin pact of 1930 convinced the whole nation that Congress as the Representative of people. 

After 1937 Elections which Made congress majority, in due course the backward classes were convinced that Congress itself could work for their Betterment.

Note: Reference: Suryanath U Kamath