Justice Party (India)

Justice Party (India)

The Justice Party (Tamil: நீதிக்கட்சி), officially known as South Indian Liberal Federation, was a political party in the Madras Presidency of British India. The party was established in 1917 by T. M. Nair and Theagaroya Chetty as a result of a series of non-Brahmin conferences and meetings in the presidency. Communal division between Brahmins and non-Brahmins began in the presidency during the late 19th and early 20th century, mainly due to caste prejudices and disproportionate representation of Brahmins in government jobs. The party's foundation marked the culmination of a series of failed efforts to establish an organisation to represent the non-Brahmins n the presidency. During its early years, the party was involved in petitioning the imperial administrative bodies and British politicians demanding more representation for non-Brahmins in administration and in the government. When a diarchial system of administration was established due to the Montagu-Chelmsford reforms, the Justice party took part in presidential governance. In 1920, it won the first direct elections in the presidency and formed the government. During 1920-37, it formed four out of the five ministries and was in power for thirteen out of the seventeen years. It was the main political alternative to the nationalist Indian National Congress in the presidency. It was defeated in the 1937 election and never recovered from the defeat. It came under the leadership of Periyar E. V. Ramaswamy and his Self-Respect Movement. In 1944, Periyar transformed the party into a social organisation called Dravidar Kazhagam and withdrew it from electoral politics. A rebel faction that called itself the original Justice party, survived to contest one final election, in 1952.

The party was isolated in contemporary Indian politics by its many controversial activities. It opposed Brahmins in civil service and politics and its attitude towards Brahmins shaped many of its ideas and policies. It opposed Annie Besant and her Home rule movement, because it believed home rule would benefit the Brahmins. The party also campaigned against the non-cooperation movement in the presidency. It was at odds with Gandhi, primarily due to his praise for Brahminism. Its mistrust of the Brahmin–dominated Indian National Congress led it to adopt a hostile stance toward the Indian Independence Movement. Despite professing to represent the interests of all non-Brahmans, the party eventually lost the support of Muslims and Dalits, who accused it of serving the interests of only a few non-Brahmin castes like Vellalars (Mudaliars and Pillais), Balija Naidus, Beri Chettis, Kapus and Kammas.

The Justice party's period in power is remembered for the introduction of caste based reservations (affirmative action) and educational & religious reforms. In opposition it is remembered for its participation in the anti-Hindi agitations of 1937-40. The party was responsible for creating Andhra & Annamalai universities and for developing the area around present day Theagaroya Nagar in Madras city. The Justice party and the Dravidar Kazhagam are the ideological and political predecessors of the present day Dravidian parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which have ruled Tamil Nadu (one of the successor states to Madras Presidency) uninterrupted since 1967.