INTRODUCTION
- Mahatma Ayyankali is one of the prominent heroes of the Kerala who fought against the inequalities and injustices that existed in Kerala.
- Ayyankali fought for the establishment of human rights of the people who were excluded from the society.
A WALK THROUGH HIS LIFE
- He was born on August 28, 1863 (Year 1039, Chingam 14) in Plavara family of Perungatu Vala in the inland village Venganur of Thiruvananthapuram district.
- His Father’s name is Ayyan and Mother’s name is Mala.
- He was called Kali in his childhood.
- At that time the Pulaya-Paraya community was not even considered as human beings.
- This community was rejected from the society in every way.
- The Pulaya-Paraya communities were considered to be just a tool needed by the Janmi to farm.
- They had no right to walk on the road, wear clothes and get Education due to their caste.
- Ayyankali was the first to come forward and start working to change the degraded environment of Pulaya-Paraya.
- He was the first person to raise voice from the exploited against the evilness that was going around.
- During 1898-99,Under his leadership there occured angry clashes with the Madambis in areas of Balaramapuram, Kazhakootam, Kaniyapuram.
- He led the first strike of agricultural workers in Travancore.
- The struggle was against the injustice of the upper classes refusing Education to the children of the lower classes.
- The struggle was settled in 1905 when children were able to go to school.
- The Upper Class of that time traveled in bow carts wearing special clothes.
- The Villuvandi strike in 1893 was a protest against this as the lower classes who came in the middle of their journey had to take a deviation.
- In the past, Women in Kerala used to dress like men.
- Against this,In the historic Mahasabha in 1915, he called for the withdrawal of stones and necklaces as symbols of caste.
- He also asked the upper castes to respect this declaration of Independence by the Sadhus.
- This became a revolutionary social movement and the struggle is known as Kallumala struggle.
- In 1904, He built the First Dalit Schoolin Venganur along with his associates.
- In 1905, the Kutipallikutam built by Ayyankali and his colleagues became the Government Mosque.
- In 1907, there was an order allowing Pulayakutty children to enter the church.
- In 1914, the Government issued an order allowing a Malayalam church in Venganur Pudhuvalvilakatu.
- He passed away on Wednesday, June 18, 1941.
- A memorial and a school exist at Venganur, his birthplace in Thiruvananthapuram.
- A postage stamp was released in 12 April 2002 as a respect to him.
- Victoria Jubilee Town(VJT) Hall in Thiruvananthapuram was renamed as Ayyangali Hall on 28th August 2019.
ayankali, ayyankaali,