J. Nagappa
Topic: Framing the Indian Constitution · NCERT: Class 12, Ch 4 "Framing the Constitution"
Meaning
J. Nagappa was a Depressed Castes member of the Constituent Assembly from Madras. He argued that the Depressed Castes were not a minority in numbers. They made up about 20-25 per cent of the population. He said their real problem was systematic marginalisation, which means being pushed to the edges of society again and again. They had no education and no share in running the government. His point was that untouchability came from caste society, not from how many people there were.
Example
In the Assembly debates, Nagappa said that his people were "prepared to suffer no more". This showed that the Depressed Castes were now openly demanding their rights.
Don't confuse with
- K.J. Khanderkar: another Depressed Castes member, from the Central Provinces. He stressed thousands of years of suppression, not the 20-25 per cent figure.
Related concepts
- N.G. Ranga
- Jaipal Singh
- Adivasi
- K.J. Khanderkar
- Dakshayani Velayudhan
- Jagjivan Ram
- Hansa Mehta
- Abolition of untouchability
- Reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes