Prohibition Movement in Tamil Nadu: Congress Strategy During Freedom Struggle

Summary

The prohibition movement in Tamil Nadu during the Indian freedom struggle was a significant Congress-led agitation against intoxicant consumption, driven by both temperance ideals and strategic political objectives. Initiated in the late 19th century, the movement gained momentum through Congress resolutions and conferences advocating for the eradication of alcohol. By 1920, the Madras Presidency saw widespread participation, with volunteers organizing picketing of liquor shops, disrupting toddy production, and persuading vendors to cease operations. Leaders like C. Rajagopalachari, E.V. Ramaswami Naicker, and N.S. Rangaswami Iyer played pivotal roles, mobilizing groups like the *thondar padai* to enforce boycotts. The campaign successfully reduced government excise revenue temporarily, though it faced violent suppression, including arrests and police brutality. Despite setbacks, the movement persisted through the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements, with the Congress reviving picketing and tree-cutting tactics in 1929–1931. The Government of Madras, reliant on alcohol revenue, resisted prohibition efforts, but sustained pressure led to the Madras Prohibition Act of 1937 under Congress leadership. The movement highlighted the interplay of social reform and political resistance, though rising liquor consumption in the Madras Presidency post-1928 underscored ongoing challenges.