Ayyankali, the great Harijan leader of
Kerala, was born in 1863 at Perunkattuvila in
Venganoor in
Thiruvananthapuram District. At his time,
Harijans (members of the lower castes) were not allowed to walk along public roads. The Harijan women were not allowed to cover their breasts in public places. Ayyankali organized Harijans and fought against these discriminations. By 1900 Harijans got freedom to walk the public roads, and later, by 1914, Harijan children were allowed to join schools. Also, Harijan women got freedom to cover their nakedness by the efforts of Ayyankali. He founded the Sadujana Paripalana Sangom in 1905. He was also nominated to the Sri Moolam Legislative Assembly of Travancore in 1910. Ayyankali passed away in 1914.
