SJPS
had become a gigantic organisation as a result of thirty years of
service and growth. The unity it created among the depressed people and
strength created a lot of heartburn among its detractors. Many tricks
were tried to destroy SJPS. Their first efforts at breaking up SJPS
seemed to be succeeding. Those who fell into the trap of opponents went
on to form separate caste wise oranisations instead of a united body
like SJPS. Cherumer Maha Sabha, Paraya Maha Sabha, Kurava Maha Sabha,
Ayyanava Maha Sabha are some of the splinter groups that were formed.
In 1929 a young man named TT Keshavan passed 'sastri' examination. He became well known as a speaker of rare talent. He became a strong rival to Ayyankali among the depressed people. The question of membership in the Praja Sabha also became a bone of contention between the two. Their rivalry grew and spread into organisational field. This gave chance to the enemies of SJPS to sow the seeds of division into Northerners and Southerners.
Sastri made efforts of organise Pulayas as a separate body. He got many supporters for his plans. The government made efforts to see that no split took place in the Sangham. Thus Dewan Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyer (Sir CP) brought together the rivals through the marriage of Ayyankali's daughter Thangamma with Sastri. This pacification program of Sir CP struck at the root of SJPS.
Ayyankali retracted from any efforts to compete in organisational matters with his son in-law in public; and a clear divide had formed in the body of the Sangham. Their personal struggle for supremacy ended with only Pulaya members remaining in the SJPS.
While Sastri's organisation grew in strength, SJPS became progressively inactive. Finally Ayyankali withdrew from the active front.
With the efforts of Sastri, different Pulaya organisations coalesced to form 'Samastha Kerala Pulaya MahaSabha'. With Sastri as president, Idyaranmula PK Das as general secretary, and, kesavan Writer, PK Velukkutty, TV Thevan and Kunjukrishnan Manager were committee members. The Sabha held its first meeting in the first week of July 1937 with Sir CP in the chair. In 1938 the Sabha was registered under the Companies Act.
Ayyankali, in his mid 60s already, expressed a desire to withdraw completely from the activities of the Sangham. Still he couldnot distance himself from his people; he was seen in the forefront whenever his people needed him.
In 1929 a young man named TT Keshavan passed 'sastri' examination. He became well known as a speaker of rare talent. He became a strong rival to Ayyankali among the depressed people. The question of membership in the Praja Sabha also became a bone of contention between the two. Their rivalry grew and spread into organisational field. This gave chance to the enemies of SJPS to sow the seeds of division into Northerners and Southerners.
Sastri made efforts of organise Pulayas as a separate body. He got many supporters for his plans. The government made efforts to see that no split took place in the Sangham. Thus Dewan Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyer (Sir CP) brought together the rivals through the marriage of Ayyankali's daughter Thangamma with Sastri. This pacification program of Sir CP struck at the root of SJPS.
Ayyankali retracted from any efforts to compete in organisational matters with his son in-law in public; and a clear divide had formed in the body of the Sangham. Their personal struggle for supremacy ended with only Pulaya members remaining in the SJPS.
While Sastri's organisation grew in strength, SJPS became progressively inactive. Finally Ayyankali withdrew from the active front.
With the efforts of Sastri, different Pulaya organisations coalesced to form 'Samastha Kerala Pulaya MahaSabha'. With Sastri as president, Idyaranmula PK Das as general secretary, and, kesavan Writer, PK Velukkutty, TV Thevan and Kunjukrishnan Manager were committee members. The Sabha held its first meeting in the first week of July 1937 with Sir CP in the chair. In 1938 the Sabha was registered under the Companies Act.
Ayyankali, in his mid 60s already, expressed a desire to withdraw completely from the activities of the Sangham. Still he couldnot distance himself from his people; he was seen in the forefront whenever his people needed him.
No comments:
Post a Comment