ERADICATION OF UNTOUCHABILITY But

open them to the untouchables. In 1937 the congress ministrq under the
leadership of Rajaji came to power in Madras. At first he ~vantcd to bring this
reform measure to the notice of the public. Accordingly this subject was
introduced in both the Houses in the form of resolutions and Bills. Sincc all thc
~olitical parties in India were ardent supporters of eradication of'
untouchability, this subject did not receive ti~uch criticistn from the n~cmbers of'
the opposition in both Houses. But they only criticized the proposed measure of
the Government to solve the problem.
I44
Rajaji at this juncture decided to makc use of the 'I'e~nple Entrj
Proclamation issued by the Maharaja of 'Trivancore on I2 November 1936, to
create a favourable climate for his own proposal to bc carried out in thc
Legislative Assembly soon. This remarkable mcasure pcrlilnncd by the
Maharaja of Trivancore was highly hailed by Rqjaji and hc dcclarcd that
Hinduism had been purified. He also moved a resolution in thc I louse in
appreciation of the Tranvancore ruler's gracious and peaceful achievements of
social reforms of far reaching value.
Following this M.C.Rajah introduced a Bill, to remove social disabilities
among certain classes of Hindu. The Bill was intended to secure thc legal rights
for the Harijans to use public places like the public roads, public welt etc; but it
did not include the temple entry right. As Rajaji himself was working for the
eradication of untouchability he directed his party members to support the Bill