Ayyankali (1863-1941)

Another social reformer who fought for the eradi- cation of untouchability in Travancore was Ayyankali. He was born on 28th August 1863 into a Pulaya fami- ly at Venganoor near Trivandrum as the eldest son of Ayyan and Mala. His first attempt at asserting his rights and freedom was when he bought a bullock-cart which was then a "Luxury' for the Pulayas. Sadananda Swami came to Trivandrum to organize the Nairs to prevent the conversion of the low castes to Christianity. But his attempt was a total failure due to the lack of co-operation from the Nairs. He then came into contact with Ayyankali and formed a branch of his organization, "Brahma Nishta Matam Chitsabha' for Ayyan Kali and his people. Through this organization Sadananda Swami and Ayyan Kali tried to bring the pitiable condition of the Pulayas towards the attention of the Maharaja. But they miserably failed to secure any significant advantages In 1907, Ayyan Kali formed an organization by name 'Sadhu Paripalana Sangham'. The main objective of this was the socio-economic emancipation of the
Pulayas. When the higher castes used violence against
the assertion of social rights by the Sadhu Paripalana Sangham', Ayyankali and his followers retaliated violence with violence. Subsequently Sangham spread to
Cochin and Malabar In 1910 a representative for the Pulayas was
appointed in the Sree Moolam Assembly. The representative, P.K. Govinda Pillai, was from Nair community. He pleaded for the cause of the Pulayas very strongly. In
accordance with his proposal, a representative was
nominated from the Pulaya caste in 1911, and thus
from 1912 Ayyan Kali represented his community in
the Sri Mulam Popular Assembly. He continued to be a
nominated member for the next 28 years
He opened a school for the Pulayas at Venganoor
in 1904. Ayyankali instigated the Pulayas of his area to
refuse to work for the Nair landlords until they permit-
ted the Pulaya children to enter those schools for
which the Government had already granted permission. In his address in the Assembly of 1915, Ayyankali
acknowledged the help and sympathy of the Government in the matter of education for the Pulayas.