About Ayyankali and Kakkan.

Ayyankali and P. Kakkan

                   

June 18th - The death and birth anniversary of Ayyankali and Kakkan respectively:

About Ayyankali:

There have been so many leaders born among us. The Revolutionary works of our grandpa Ayyankali was one of the great and pioneer for many social movements. Tribute to a great human and a gem of our Indian Soil.

Facts:
Born - 28th August 1863.
Death - 18th June 1941.
ACHIEVEMENTS:
* He Pioneered many reforms, Social Movement against Casteism. He set apart his life to achieve dignity of Scheduled Classes, the right to use Public roads, the freedom of Scheduled Classes women to cover their torso, their Education.
* He established Kerala's 1st ever School for the Scheduled Classes in Venganoor.

* He was nominated to the Sri Moolam Legislative Assembly of Travancore. The membership continued for 25 years.

* He organized Kerala's first agricultural workers strike.

Ayyankali

EARLY LIFE:
Ayyankali was born in 1863 to Ayyan and Mala in Venganoor, Trivandrum, Travancore of today's Kerala. He was one of seven children of Ayyan of Pulaya an agricultural Labour. He never enter School. In 1888, he got married to Chellamma. The only daughter Thankamma was married T. T. Keshavan, a Speaker of Kerala Assembly.

SOCIAL REFORMS:

* During his younger days were not allowed to walk through the Public roads. He organized Scheduled Classes and fought against the untouchability. Through this in 1900, Scheduled Classes got freedom to walk through the Public roads.

* He led a historic procession of more than 2000 Pulayas and forcibly entered the Chengannoor Temple in 1917. This was the 1st temple entry movements in our nation.

* To get justice for Scheduled Classes, he started his own people’s courts, including a supreme court. Ayyankali created this parallel legal order despite himself being an illiterate.
* In those days Scheduled Classes were not allowed to join schools. He wanted at least the next generation of Scheduled Classes to have education. In 1904 under his leadership made efforts start their Own School. Since Scheduled Classes were defined entry into Schools. The 1st school was established in Venganoor. But it was destroyed by the Caste Hindus. He established Theeyankara Pulaya School and Shankumukham School later 1916 and 1919 respectively.

* He formed "Sadujana Paripaalana Sangham" in 1907. It discuss the problem of the Scheduled Classes and also take steps for getting Rights.

He died on June 18, 1941. Scheduled Classes in Kerala will remain grateful to him for giving them civil liberties and breaking the chains of slavery for ever. It is a great shame that nobody is aware of his great deeds outside Kerala. The state which sells itself as hundred percent literate and empowerment of women has nothing to say about his greatest son Ayyankali. The caste prejudice against which Ayyankali fought through out his life made sure that his life and message does not reach to masses outside or even in Kerala.

Kakkan

About P. Kakkan:

Indian freedom fighter, Man of simplicity and honest, left no property in his name, People's Minister, Trusted Person for Kamaraj the former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.

Facts:

Born- June 18,1908.

Died- Dec 23,1981.

He was born in Madurai district of Tamil Nadu. He served as M.L.A and M.P and in various Ministerial posts in golden age of Tamil Nadu i,e Chief Minister Kamaraj government in Tamil Nadu between 1957 and 1967. He was drawn to Independence movement from an early stage in his life. He participated in the Quit India movement and was sent to Alipore jail. He contributed for the upliftment and welfare of Scheduled Classes and as a Minister, construction of the Vaigai reservoir and formed two Agriculture Universities in Tamil Nadu. The govt of India released a postage stamp for his contribution to the nation. He was called as man of simplicity, a great human who led a simple honest life. He amassed no property and left no wealth for the family.

Reference/Source: 

* “Social Reformers of Modern India” by D. Padmavathy.

* Wikipedia.

Jai bheem..!