Ayyankali

Ayyankali (18631941) was a leader of the Indian lower caste Dalits. He pioneered many reforms to improve the lives of the Dalits. Shri Ayyankali was even praised by Mahatma Gandhi for his active leadership in social reforms to change the life of Dalit community .He called him king of pulayas when he visited Ayyankali's at his home town, Venganoor,. Ayyankali was born in 1863 in Venganoor, Trivandrum, Travancore. He was one of seven children born to a Pulaya family. He was illiterate as were all Dalits at that time. In those days Dalits were not allowed to walk along public roads. The Dalit women were not allowed to cover their breasts in public places. Ayyankali organized Dalits and fought against these discriminations. He was in the forefront of movements against casteism. He passed through the public roads of Venganoor on a bullock cart which was not allowed for the Dalits. Enraged by his boldness, the caste Hindus physically attacked him. Ayyankali persistent actions defeated their opposition. Ayyankali demanded right for Dalit children to study in school, which was not granted. He started a school to teach Dalit children at Venganoor which was set ablaze by caste Hindus. In response to this, in 1907 he led a strike at Venganoor which lasted for more than a year. He called for boycott of agricultural work raising certain demands. His demands included (a) stoppage of the practice of not giving tea in tea shops to Dalits who were given tea till then in coconut shells; (b) right to education for Dalit children; (c) resting time for workers during work hours; and (d) replacement of the system of wages inkind by payment of cash. Caste Hindus did not take it seriously. They tried many means and methods to defeat the workers. However, they realized that their families would starve to death if Ayyankali's demands were not met with. They, therefore, were forced to concede the demands of Ayyankali and his supporters. This may be the first labour strike of its kind in the history of India.

The significance of Ayyankali lies in the fact that he could spearhead a struggle for human rights of the untouchables raising demands which find expressions in international human rights documents well before their adoption. He pioneered a movement for democratizing public places and asserting the rights of workers even before the formation of any workers organisation in Kerala. The most amazing part of it is that he did all this in spite of his illiteracy. In recognition of his efforts to improve the social life of untouchables in the region and his leadership qualities Ayyankali was later nominated to the assembly of Travancore namely, Sri Moolam Legislative Assembly, in 1910 by the then rulers. By 1900 Dalits were given the freedom to walk on public roads, and by 1914, Dalit children were allowed to join schools. Dalit women were allowed to cover their nakedness in public through his efforts. Ayyankali founded the Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham (Association for the Welfare of the Poor) in 1905, which succeeded in obtaining a six-day week for agricultural laborers. Ayyankali died on June 18, 1941. In November 1980, Smt.Indira Gandhi unveiled sculptor Ezra David's commemorative statue of Ayyankali at Sasthamangalam square, in Trivandrum. With a view to bring to light the contributions made by Shri Ayyankali to the social fabric of the state of Kerala in general and Dalits of the State in particular and also to commemorate the centenary of his entry into Travancore Praja Sabha , the society would like to organize year long celebrations which include essay, quiz and commemorative lectures on the life of this social reformer among School/College going students and youths and the general population .