Topics Covered: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present- significant events, personalities, issues.
Mahatma Ayyankali:
Context:
PM remembers Mahatma Ayyankali on his 157th Birth Anniversary- 28th August.
Who is Mahatma Ayyankali?
Born on August 28th, 1863 in a small village in the princely state of Travancore, now within the south of the modern-day nation of Kerala,
The caste discrimination he faced as a child turned him into a leader of an anti-caste movement and who later fought for basic rights including access to public spaces and entry to schools.
- Mahatma Gandhi called Ayyankali as ‘Pulaya king’. Indira Gandhi described him as ‘India’s greatest son’.
His contributions to Dalit developments:
- Ayyankali in 1893 rode an ox-cart challenging the ‘ban’ on untouchables from accessing public roads by caste-Hindus.
- He also led a rally to assert the rights of ‘untouchables’ at Balaramapuram. The walk Ayyankali took came to be known as ‘walk for freedom’ and the consequent riots as ‘Chaliyar riots’.
- Ayyankali efforts influenced many changes that improved social wellbeing of those people, who are today referred to as Dalits.
- Ayyankali became a stated protestor for Pulayar rights. Because of the protests led through Ayyankali, in 1907 a decree turned into issued to confess students from the untouchable network to government schools.
- Inspired by Sree Narayana Guru, a social reformer from Ezhava caste, Ayyankali started Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham (association for the protection of the poor) which later raised funds to start their own schools.
InstaLinks:
Prelims Link:
- Who gave Ayyankali the title ‘Pulaya king’?
- Chaliyar riots are related to?
- About Sree Narayana Guru and his key contributions.
- Who started Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham?
Mains Link:
Write a note on key contributions made by Mahatma Ayyankali for the welfare of Dalit community.
Sources: pib.
