Self-respect movements in Malaysia

by Mukilan Murugasan

In the 1920’s there were very few Indian political parties in Malaya. They showed little interest on estate workers. These political parties can be divided into two. One is the Indian Congress dominated by English educated Indians and the other is social organization which aims to bring about social reformation among the Tamil speaking laborers both in estates and urban areas[1].

90 percent of Indians living in Malaya before the Second World War were destitute and uneducated. They devoted their entire life in the Malayan agricultural sector. This situation hindered them from understanding the local political developments or India. They realized that the British needs only their labor and they will be sent back to India after their contract expires or if their services are no longer required due to sickness or old age.  As such they were only interested in earning money and sending it back to India. The Malayan political development had little impact on them.

However, after the Second World War, Indians showed more interest in local politics. Their nationalism and patriotism was influenced by the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru. They begin to associate themselves with several social organizations based in the urban areas. Some of the associations are Taiping Indian Association (1906), Kinta Indian Association and, Selangor Indian Association (1909). However, these associations were all located in the urban area and they were very regional. They concentrated only in socio-economic problems of Malayan Indian. In the 1920s, Dravidian associations begin to receive support form the Tamil speaking estate workers. These associations are radical and advocate Thanthai Periyar’s ideology. Their main objective is to eradicate the practice of casteism and to bring about social reformation among the estate workers. In 1925, All Malayan Indian Conference was established to protect the Indian workers[2].

According to Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Khoo Kay Kim, formation of Adi Dravidar Sangam did receive a lot of opposition with some claiming that the term “Adi Dravidar” refers to Untouchables and it is derogatory. However, Thanthai Periyar’s principle of self-respect received support from some Indian Muslims, educated and non-conventional and upper-caste South Indians. In Singapore, according to Dr. Khoo, Thanthai Periyar’s self-respect principle was popular and staunchly supported by Indians from all walks of life prompting Adi Dravidar Sangam and other smaller self-respect movements to joint hands eradicating casteism.

The Adi Dravidar Sangam survived until 1945. Members of Adi Dravidar Sangam and other smaller self-respect movements joined the newly formed Malaysian Dravidian Association in 1946.

However, in 1960 the Adi Dravidar Munnetra Sangam was formed in Kluang followed by Muar and Johor Bahru. Its principles were identical to Malaysian Dravidian Association. While the members of Malaysian Dravidian Association and Dravidar Kazhagam in Tamilnadu reject god and religion, the Adi Dravidar Munnetra Sangam of Johor Bahru on the other hand managed the Rajakaliamman Temple at Lorong 1, Jalan Tebrau, Johor Bahru. 

The Adi Dravidar Munnetra Sangam is believed to be defunct now and little is known about the activities or its leaders. Its founder, the late Mr. V.M. Appavoo was the Kluang branch chairman of Malaysian Dravidian Association. 

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[1] Dr. P. Ramasamy; The Struggles and Survival of Malayan Estate Workers; 1999; Kuala Lumpur; Semparuthi Publications

[2]  Ummadevi Suppiah; Tun V.T. Sambanthan – Pemimpin Berjiwa Malaysia; Penerbit Universiti Malaya; Kuala Lumpur; 2004; pp 4-5