Ayyankali
Dalit Voice of Rebellion
Ayyankali was born in a Pulaya family. Pulayans were considered untouchables in those days. They were not allowed to walk through public roads, women were not allowed to cover their breasts, and children were abstained from education.
As a Dalit he was restricted from education and so he remained illiterate throughout his life.
His first step towards revolution – Earned the right of the dalits to walk on the public roads
Rebelled with the existing system, he once drove his bullock cart into a market in Venganoor. The upper castes started pelting (hitting with stones) him. He did not stop. His courage encouraged other Dalits. He was supported by a group of youngsters. Together they formed a young team called AyyankaliPada. Inspired by the group led by the legend, the dalits of entire Southern Kerala launched a movement that earned them the right to walk on the public roads. This later came to be known as the Chaliyar riots in 1900.
Pulaya Revolution – 1910
Ayyankali took a Dalit girl to a school in Balaramapuram. He and his followers were attacked for doing so. He and his team and the other Dalits fought back. The upper caste thugs attacked their huts, molested women, murdered many men. The revolt lasted for 10 days and was later called as Pulaya Revolution.
The revolution also earned the right for education. But even after such a big struggle, the Dalit children were discriminated and were physically abused. So, Ayyankali opened schools for Dalits where they could learn in peaceful environment.
Worker’s Strike – Agrarian Strike & the RIGHT FOR FISHING
Ayyankali demanded to stop whipping of workers, make them permanent, freedom of movement, etc. But he was never listened. So he called out for a protest. He got immense support from the suffering Dalits. This was the biggest Agrarian Strike in India.
They stopped going to the fields. The landlords were stubborn assuming they would come back starving. But, Ayyankali approached the fishermen community. He made
an agreement with them that one person from each family would be put in each boat.
The furious landlords announced a sum of Rs 2000/- to bring Ayyankali alive and Rs 1000/- dead. They made his body guard Yakub arrested. Ayyankali made a continous protest in front of the police station and achieved his release.
Pullattu riot – Dalits entering the public schools persisted. Because of the fight between the upper caste and lower caste on the matter, a school was set on fire. Ayyankali got involved in the matter and was the main cause of the Pullattu riot.
Perinadu riot – the riot was began by the prodigy for the worker community. Their main demands were wage revision and working hours.
People community court – As Dalits were done injustice with law too, he started special courts for them called People community court
The social reformer died on 18 June 1941.
Author: Subhashini Rajendran, a freelance writer. She writes at
http://www.durofy.com/author/
http://www.durofy.com/author/
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