AYYANKALI (1863-1941)

  • Ayyankali was born at Perumkattuvila, Plavathara Veedu at Venganoor in Trivandrum in the year 1863 August 28

  • Born in Pulaya Community which had suffered from social disabilities through the ages.

  • ‘Villuvandi Agitation’ was led by Ayyankali in 1893 (from Venanoor to Trivandrum).

  • Started ‘Kudipallikoodam’ in 1905 at Venganoor for getting educational rights.

  • Kallumala Strike is also known as ‘Perinadu Riot’ (1915).

  • First Agricultural labour strike under Ayyankali was ‘Thonnooramandu Lahala or Ooruttambalam Lahala (1915).

  • He founded Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam in 1907

  • The journal published by Sadhujana Paripalana Snagam was ‘Sadhujana Paripaalini’.

  • The first editor of Sadhujana Paripalini was ‘Kaalichothi Karuppan’

  • Ayyankali was nominated in the Travancore Legislature on 1911 December 16.

  • Gopaladasan, Kurumban Daivathan, Vellikkara Chothi, Visakhan Thevan, Thiruvarpadu Kuttan were the important leaders of Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham.

  • In recognition of his outstanging services to the community Ayyankali was nominated to the Sreemoolam popular Assembly in 1914.

  • During the time of Ayyankali the lower caste people can only stand 64 feet away from upper class.

  • First organized agricultural strike in Kerala was conducted under the leadership of Ayyankali.

  • Ayyankali started a hostel at Vellayambalam for the students from backward classes.

  • Former President K.R. Narayanan was a resident of this hostel during his teenage.

  • He died in 18th June 1941.

  • Ayyankali Memorial is at Venganoor.

  • In 1980 November, Indira Gandhi installed the Sculpture of Ayyankali at Kowdiar Square Trivandrum.

  • Indira Gandhi called him as ‘The Great son of India’. Ezra David was the architect of this Statue.

  • Mahatma Gandhi visited Ayyankali at Venganoor in 1937, Gandhi called him as ‘Pulaya Raja’.

  • In the year 2002 Govt of India released Ayyankali memorial Stamp.

  • Ayyankali Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme launched by Govt of Kerala in 2010.