The Trajectory of the Non-Brahmin Movement in Princely Mysore (1917–1937)

Abstract

This paper analyses the historical evolution, ideological dimensions, and structural transformations of the non-Brahmin movement in Princely Mysore from the formation of the Praja Mitra Mandali in 1917 to the ultimate merger of the Samyuktha Praja Paksha into the Mysore State Congress in 1937. Utilizing extensive documentary evidence from the text, this study demonstrates that unlike contemporary radical nativist or racialized movements in the Madras Presidency and Maharashtra, the non-Brahmin movement in Princely Mysore developed primarily around socio-economic issues, prioritizing access to administrative offices, bureaucratic representation, and state-backed educational facilities. The paper explores the appointment and socio-political impact of the Miller Committee (1918–1921), examines the internal cleavages among dominant and minor backward communities that led to the decline of early caste-political associations, and charts the structural transition from the elite-led Praja Mitra Mandali to the agrarian-focused Praja Paksha and Samyuktha Praja Paksha. Finally, it highlights how this distinct anti-monopolistic regional consciousness culminated in a comprehensive mass mobilization strategy that reshaped the nationalist landscape, culminating in a programmatic takeover of the regional Congress apparatus.

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