ABSTRACT
The legacy of the Kerala model of social development, viewed as the concrete representation of social tolerance and fulfillment of democratic aspirations, has evolved through the processes of the renaissance movement. The Sree Narayana Movement (SNM), led by the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam established in 1903, pioneer among renaissance initiatives, was largely instrumental in modernizing and democratising Kerala society. This chapter attempts to map a decisive historical context of the SNM, i.e. the demand for temple entry of Ezhavas in Travancore, the former princely state on India’s southwest coast. Unraveling the complexities of this struggle would also help in an appraisal of the prevalent notions of social justice that form the bedrock of the Kerala model.
