https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Salem_riots_of_1882Salem riots of 1882 - Revision history2026-10-31T12:53:20ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Salem_riots_of_1882&diff=259008&oldid=prev117.202.181.56 at 07:35, 1 April 20212021-04-01T07:35:15Z<p></p>
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{{Use Indian English|date=July 2020}}<br />
The '''Salem riots of 1882''' is a term used to refer to serious Hindu-Muslim disturbances which took place in the city of [[Salem, Tamil Nadu]] in the then [[Madras Presidency]] in August 1882.<br />
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== Causes ==<br />
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The riots are believed to have originated by the objection of the Muslims of the Shevapet area of the city of Salem, to a religious procession of Hindus along the same street where a [[mosque]] had been constructed.<ref name="cambridgehistoryp269">{{cite book|title=The Cambridge history of the British Empire, Volume 7, Part 1|pages=269|publisher=CUP Archive|authors=John Holland Rose, Arthur Percival Newton, Henry Dodwell, Ernest Alfred Benians|year=1929}}</ref> When the Hindus of Salem insisted upon their right to continue their procession through the mosque, riots followed.<ref name="sindiap62">{{cite book|title=Gazetteer of South India|author=W. Francis|pages=62|year=1906}}</ref><br />
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== Events ==<br />
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Full-scale riots erupted in August 1882.<ref name="dawnp8">{{cite book|title=Dawn and achievement of Indian freedom: being the life and times of C. Vijiaraghavachariar, patriot and thinker|pages=8|author=R. T. Parthasarathy|year=1953}}</ref> For three days, the British government had no authority in Salem city.<ref name="dawnp8" /> The mosque was pulled down and 8 Hindu temples were also burnt and 17 Hindu temples were damaged and vandalized. There was indiscriminate killing on both sides.<ref name="cambridgehistoryp269" /> Eventually, peace was restored. Large number of alleged suspects were arrested, speedily convicted and given harsh imprisonment terms at the [[Andaman Cellular Jail]].{{fact|date=July 2020}}<br />
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== Aftermath ==<br />
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The atmosphere continued to remain tense till 1884. The police arrested a large number of [[Indian nationalists]] accusing them of instigating the violence. The partisan behaviour of the Madras government and Governor's handling of the situation were sharply criticized by the Indian media. Indian nationalist newspaper ''[[The Hindu]]'' criticised the administration thus:<br />
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{{Quotation|... the prosecution of the so called Salem Rioters and their convictions were the result of a premeditated design, hastily formed and executed in a vindictive spirit, not very honourable and utterly unworthy of a civilised Government....}}<br />
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One of the arrested suspects, [[C. Vijayaraghavachariar]], a member of the Salem municipality, eventually proved his innocence and even won back his municipality seat along with a compensation sanctioned by the [[Secretary of State for India]]. Vijayaraghavachariar would eventually emerge as one of the pioneers of the [[Indian National Congress]] and foremost leaders of the [[Indian Independence movement]].<br />
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== Notes ==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
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== Bibliography ==<br />
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* {{cite book|title=The Salem riots, 1882: judiciary versus executive in the mediation of a communal dispute, Issue 78 of International conference on Asian history|author=R. Suntharalingam|publisher=Dept. of History, University of Malaya|year=1968}}<br />
{{Riots in India}}<br />
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]<br />
[[Category:1882 in India]]<br />
[[Category:1882 riots]]<br />
[[Category:Salem district]]<br />
[[Category:Social history of Tamil Nadu]]<br />
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]<br />
[[Category:Crime in Tamil Nadu]]</div>117.202.181.56