The
SJPS branches mushroomed in all the villages and hamlets of Travancore.
There was some orderliness about the functioning of the organisation.
Due to some internal dissentions caused by secret instigation by the
enemies of the organisation, all other communities withdrew. Only
Pulayas remained.. Some weaknesses and mistakes committed just after the
birth of the SJPS was used by the detractors to produce the aforesaid
division within.
Ayyankali administered the matters of the Sangham with great managerial acumen. The office bearers of the organisation were given elaborate powers by the community.
On Sundays the branches held meetings and bhajans. Being a holiday, women and children also took part.
The brave leaders of SJPS were the 'branch managers'. There was no place for cowards in this post. They worked closely with Ayyankali in all the day to day activities and freedom struggles. They were the real captains of his 'army'. Those who had no guts to be members of his 'army' were asked to do other work. Of the managers, prominent were Mathu Manager, Narayanan Manager, Pachan Manager, Pappu Manager, Kurunjeri Manager, Vellomkolli Manager, Kunjan Manager, Chinnnan Manager, Ponnu Manager, Paramu Manager, Chellappan Manager, Puthenkaanam Raman Manager etc.
Though Ayyankali regularly went on tour of Northern Travancore, towards later stages he concentrated mostly on central Travancore where he had total support. He became one with them.
It was during the period of 1913 to 1930 that he carried out intense campaigns and work in all parts of Tiruvalla, Changanassery and Kottayam. Here he had very faithful followers like Chembundala Kali, Chocikkuruppan, K Paappen, M Pappen, P Pappen, Mailen, Manthana Kutty, P Vasudevan, VM Parameshwaran, Palapparambil Pappen, Valyathara Pappen; and in Kottayam; TC Kuttan, V Chodi, K Aninjjan, T Kandankali etc. in Tiruvella; Deivathan in Aranmula and Gopaladasan in Kollam.
In that period,
After Sree Narayana Guru's SNDP the next most powerful and numerous was
Ayyankali's SJPS. Strength and unity were the hallmark of the
organisation. Within a short period it had close to a thousand branches
in all parts of the state. In many places the Sangham was able to
accumulate considerable amount of movable property. Prominent persons
donated land to build branch offices in their area. Some persons from
the Nair community also came forward to donate land. Thus SJPS was able
to have its own office buildings in a large number of places. There is
an unusual story behind the way money was collected to build these
office buildings. The money was got by women who sold 'a fistful of
rice' each. Thus the foundation of their community was laid with wealth
that trickled from harvesting sickles of untouchable women. Further, in
1922 two acres of land, next to MC Road in Changanassery on the west
part of Vazhappalli village were got allotted to SJPS as result of
efforts by Ayyankali and his colleagues.
To make the working of SJPS Ayyankali formulated a new way. He decided that SJPS should have its own magazine. The communities' whole hearted support to the endeavour gave the organisation strength to set out. The monthly 'Sadhu Jana Paripalini' began publication with Kali Chodikkuruppan as the editor. It was printed at Sudarshan Press in Changanassery. The regular contributors of articles to the monthly were CC Pappen, M Gopalan Nair, MA.,LT., et al. 'Sadhu Jana Paripalini' was perhaps the first magazine to be brought out by untouchables.
The aim behind all his efforts was education of his community. 'Progress through education and organisation' was the slogan of Ayyankali. He fully believed that the communities' salvation lay in education. He surged forward after kicking aside every impediment that came in the way of his efforts towards this end. He opened schools to open the eyes of his communities' darling progeny where the doors of public and private schools refused them entry.
Inspite of all this, Ayyankali was not for establishment of caste based educational institutions. He considered schools as a place where the whole humanity sat and feted on the riches of human endeavour; then only could fruits of knowledge become meaningful. Yet, he had to go against the grain of his beliefs and establish separate schools for his people, when he was at the end of his tether, due to obstructionist attitude of savarnas. Thus he established 'The Venganoor Puduval School' in 1936. The school had a weaving centre, library and other vocational units attached to it.
It would not be out of place to say a few words about the appearance of the man called Ayyankali, the uncrowned king of untouchables. Wherever he went, he was given a royal treatment. Mannathu Padmaanabhan, a revered leader of Nairs of Kerala said:
"When Ayyankali entered the Praja Sabha wearing a turban, crimson tilak on forhead and angavastram wrapped around his torso, many a visitor wondered if this was the Dewan..."
"...in 1924 December, a man entered the office of the paper 'Kerala Daasan'. He had a very impressive appearance. About 6 to 6 and a half feet in height and appropriate girth. He was of pale brown complexion. he had a turban with golden bands on it. He wore a whit dhoti with a border. He wore a black long coat that reached his knees. He had an aura around him that made everyone feel that they were in the presence of a great man. I couldnot help but come out of my room to the verandah to receive him. The visitor took out a visiting card and gave it to me and said, 'Ayyankali'." This is how Mr. MM Varky has written in his diary. That was Ayyankali, who attracted the attention of anyone who set eyes on him.
NK Venkateswaran the historian wrote thus in 1926:
"Pulayas are awakening at a rapid rate. They have a representative in
the Praja Sabha. The angel of change has waved a torch over this land.
The sparks from the torch will coalesce to become a fiery flood. The old
moth eaten social mores would be cleansed by fire. They will sit
alongside those who call themselves 'high ones'. They have already taken
the initiative in organising meetings and putting forward their just
demands. It is a pleasing sight to watch their future culture on the
rise
Ayyankali administered the matters of the Sangham with great managerial acumen. The office bearers of the organisation were given elaborate powers by the community.
On Sundays the branches held meetings and bhajans. Being a holiday, women and children also took part.
The brave leaders of SJPS were the 'branch managers'. There was no place for cowards in this post. They worked closely with Ayyankali in all the day to day activities and freedom struggles. They were the real captains of his 'army'. Those who had no guts to be members of his 'army' were asked to do other work. Of the managers, prominent were Mathu Manager, Narayanan Manager, Pachan Manager, Pappu Manager, Kurunjeri Manager, Vellomkolli Manager, Kunjan Manager, Chinnnan Manager, Ponnu Manager, Paramu Manager, Chellappan Manager, Puthenkaanam Raman Manager etc.
Though Ayyankali regularly went on tour of Northern Travancore, towards later stages he concentrated mostly on central Travancore where he had total support. He became one with them.
It was during the period of 1913 to 1930 that he carried out intense campaigns and work in all parts of Tiruvalla, Changanassery and Kottayam. Here he had very faithful followers like Chembundala Kali, Chocikkuruppan, K Paappen, M Pappen, P Pappen, Mailen, Manthana Kutty, P Vasudevan, VM Parameshwaran, Palapparambil Pappen, Valyathara Pappen; and in Kottayam; TC Kuttan, V Chodi, K Aninjjan, T Kandankali etc. in Tiruvella; Deivathan in Aranmula and Gopaladasan in Kollam.
To make the working of SJPS Ayyankali formulated a new way. He decided that SJPS should have its own magazine. The communities' whole hearted support to the endeavour gave the organisation strength to set out. The monthly 'Sadhu Jana Paripalini' began publication with Kali Chodikkuruppan as the editor. It was printed at Sudarshan Press in Changanassery. The regular contributors of articles to the monthly were CC Pappen, M Gopalan Nair, MA.,LT., et al. 'Sadhu Jana Paripalini' was perhaps the first magazine to be brought out by untouchables.
The aim behind all his efforts was education of his community. 'Progress through education and organisation' was the slogan of Ayyankali. He fully believed that the communities' salvation lay in education. He surged forward after kicking aside every impediment that came in the way of his efforts towards this end. He opened schools to open the eyes of his communities' darling progeny where the doors of public and private schools refused them entry.
Inspite of all this, Ayyankali was not for establishment of caste based educational institutions. He considered schools as a place where the whole humanity sat and feted on the riches of human endeavour; then only could fruits of knowledge become meaningful. Yet, he had to go against the grain of his beliefs and establish separate schools for his people, when he was at the end of his tether, due to obstructionist attitude of savarnas. Thus he established 'The Venganoor Puduval School' in 1936. The school had a weaving centre, library and other vocational units attached to it.
It would not be out of place to say a few words about the appearance of the man called Ayyankali, the uncrowned king of untouchables. Wherever he went, he was given a royal treatment. Mannathu Padmaanabhan, a revered leader of Nairs of Kerala said:
"When Ayyankali entered the Praja Sabha wearing a turban, crimson tilak on forhead and angavastram wrapped around his torso, many a visitor wondered if this was the Dewan..."
"...in 1924 December, a man entered the office of the paper 'Kerala Daasan'. He had a very impressive appearance. About 6 to 6 and a half feet in height and appropriate girth. He was of pale brown complexion. he had a turban with golden bands on it. He wore a whit dhoti with a border. He wore a black long coat that reached his knees. He had an aura around him that made everyone feel that they were in the presence of a great man. I couldnot help but come out of my room to the verandah to receive him. The visitor took out a visiting card and gave it to me and said, 'Ayyankali'." This is how Mr. MM Varky has written in his diary. That was Ayyankali, who attracted the attention of anyone who set eyes on him.
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