Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 28 (PTI) Kerala commemorated the 162nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Ayyankali on Thursday, a prominent figure who fought against caste-based oppression and social inequality in the region. Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and various political leaders paid heartfelt tributes to the revered social reformer.
Ayyankali (1863-1941) led significant movements to assert the rights of the oppressed classes in the caste-dominated society of the former princely state of Travancore. He remains a pivotal figure in Kerala's history.
Governor Arlekar shared his thoughts on Facebook, highlighting Ayyankali's legacy of "courage, equality, and social justice." He remarked, "My humble pranams to #MahatmaAyyankali on his Jayanti. A visionary reformer, he fought caste oppression and pioneered education for the marginalized, inspiring generations with his courage, equality, and social justice."
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan also paid tribute via social media. Through an FB post, Vijayan emphasized that Ayyankali's struggles were crucial in shaping modern Kerala and altering its historical narrative. Ayyankali empowered the oppressed people of Travancore, enabling them to fight against the caste-landlord dominance, rejecting travel restrictions, poor wages, and a lack of educational opportunities.
Vijayan noted the importance of Ayyankali’s leadership in challenging caste-based superiority, highlighting key events like the Villuvandi (cart) journey and the ‘Kallumala’ struggle, which significantly undermined upper-caste dominance.
Furthermore, the CM recalled Ayyankali’s relentless battle for allowing Dalit children into schools and advocating for enhanced wages for agricultural workers. "The social progress that Kerala has achieved to date is backed by the struggles led by Ayyankali. The memory of his struggles will give us the strength to protect these achievements and transform Kerala into a society based on equality, overcoming communal differences and social inequality," the CM stated.
Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, V D Satheesan, also honored Ayyankali in a social media post, acknowledging his "relentless struggle for the rights of the poor" as an ongoing source of inspiration.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar described Ayyankali as a visionary reformer who dismantled caste barriers and championed education, dignity, and equality. "By opening access to schools, public spaces, and opportunities for the oppressed, his legacy laid the foundation of social justice and empowerment in Kerala," he expressed on Facebook.
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