The
annual meeting of SJPS was held with all the pomp and show. The meeting
was held every year in the same Victoria Jubilee Town Hall (VJT Hall) a
day after Sreemoolam Praja Sabha was held there. Ayyankali had gained
the permanent right to hold the annual meeting there. This meeting was
called 'Jubilee-koottam' (jubilee Get together). Representatives of SJPS
arrived from all its branches and converged towards the meeting site in
processions. The branches from afar sent only their representatives.
Those from nearby came through foot paths since they were still not
allowed to travel on main roads. The procession was accompanied by
drummers, cymbals, ornamental umbrellas, flags and other decorations.
The procession winded its way through the town in a massive
demonstration and reached VJT Hall. The Black skinned people were
everywhere. They thronged the main roads and side lanes and alleys.
It was the Dewan-ji who chaired the meeting representing Sreemulam Thirunal Maharaja. Dewan-ji insisted on the presence of Chief Secretary, Departmental heads and all the important officials at the meeting. The officials sat on the stage along with Ayyankali, the general secretary of SJPS
The Meeting commenced with a prayer song written by Mooloor Padmanabha Panikkar and sung by Chakkola Kurumban Deivathan.
Hear ye, hear ye the song
Of trials of poor and weary;
'where do we go from here?'
They cry and cry and cry...
Have no home no country,
Forests are our refuge.
Clear the forest at daytime,
Sleep in the clearing at night.
After the seeds are sown,
And fruits ripen on the trees,
Master will take them away,
Lord! Lird! We can only weep.
We cannot walk the streets,
We cannot enter the shops,
We who do all the labour
Will go on, go on, go on...
The song brought tears to the eyes of people in the audience.
The General Secretary Ayyankali always presented a charter of problems and needs of the community along with his welcome speech. Every word he spoke was listened to attentively by the Chairman and officials. For each issue raised, the respective department heads gave the answers within the time frame fixed for dealing with each issue.
The atrocities committed on the untouchables were enumerated and officials had to give replies for the same. To wind up, it was the responsibility of the Chairman to make a shortlist of things that could be done immediately to be submitted to the Maharaja.
The 1930 annual meeting of SJPS was held under the chairmanship of Dewan-ji VS Subrahmania Iyer. Ayyankali began his welcome address thus:
"I donot know how to read or write. I donot even know the meaning of the word 'swagatam'. I have been given the responsibility to say welcome only to embarass me. But this duty is not more difficult than what I suffered for my people. Before I bid you all welcome, let me inform one thing to Dewan-ji and senior officers present here. All the men and women thronging this building have come to see Dewan-ji. My people have great affection for the good people who take part in our meetings. My people are aiming at fulfilling two desires at the cost of one. That is, to see Dewan-ji and take part in the meeting. Since Dewan-ji and speakers are sitting together on the dais, my people have difficulty in recognising the Dewan-ji. So allow me to point out to my people that the man seated in the middle is the Dewan-ji.
"Let me welcome you once again, Dewan-ji.
"Long ago, ignoring all consideration of caste, Lord Subrahmanian (Kartikeya the son on Siva) married a low caste Kurava girl. Likewise, we are able to go to schools and other public places like markets without fear. We have reached a stage where we can speak our mind to the government about our needs. This honourable gentleman from the upper caste helped us put an end to untouchability to a very great extent. That is why I consider today's Dewan-ji not as Subrahmanya Iyer but as Lord Subrahmanyam himself. I am sure my people also think likewise.
"I want to welcome all the officials next. To avoid taking more time, I just say 'welcome'."
Ayyankali's deep, sonorous and powerful voice echoed within the walls of VJT hall like it had been doing in all parts of Kerala for quarter of a century.
It was the Dewan-ji who chaired the meeting representing Sreemulam Thirunal Maharaja. Dewan-ji insisted on the presence of Chief Secretary, Departmental heads and all the important officials at the meeting. The officials sat on the stage along with Ayyankali, the general secretary of SJPS
The Meeting commenced with a prayer song written by Mooloor Padmanabha Panikkar and sung by Chakkola Kurumban Deivathan.
Of trials of poor and weary;
'where do we go from here?'
They cry and cry and cry...
Have no home no country,
Forests are our refuge.
Clear the forest at daytime,
Sleep in the clearing at night.
After the seeds are sown,
And fruits ripen on the trees,
Master will take them away,
Lord! Lird! We can only weep.
We cannot walk the streets,
We cannot enter the shops,
We who do all the labour
Will go on, go on, go on...
The General Secretary Ayyankali always presented a charter of problems and needs of the community along with his welcome speech. Every word he spoke was listened to attentively by the Chairman and officials. For each issue raised, the respective department heads gave the answers within the time frame fixed for dealing with each issue.
The atrocities committed on the untouchables were enumerated and officials had to give replies for the same. To wind up, it was the responsibility of the Chairman to make a shortlist of things that could be done immediately to be submitted to the Maharaja.
The 1930 annual meeting of SJPS was held under the chairmanship of Dewan-ji VS Subrahmania Iyer. Ayyankali began his welcome address thus:
"I donot know how to read or write. I donot even know the meaning of the word 'swagatam'. I have been given the responsibility to say welcome only to embarass me. But this duty is not more difficult than what I suffered for my people. Before I bid you all welcome, let me inform one thing to Dewan-ji and senior officers present here. All the men and women thronging this building have come to see Dewan-ji. My people have great affection for the good people who take part in our meetings. My people are aiming at fulfilling two desires at the cost of one. That is, to see Dewan-ji and take part in the meeting. Since Dewan-ji and speakers are sitting together on the dais, my people have difficulty in recognising the Dewan-ji. So allow me to point out to my people that the man seated in the middle is the Dewan-ji.
"Let me welcome you once again, Dewan-ji.
"Long ago, ignoring all consideration of caste, Lord Subrahmanian (Kartikeya the son on Siva) married a low caste Kurava girl. Likewise, we are able to go to schools and other public places like markets without fear. We have reached a stage where we can speak our mind to the government about our needs. This honourable gentleman from the upper caste helped us put an end to untouchability to a very great extent. That is why I consider today's Dewan-ji not as Subrahmanya Iyer but as Lord Subrahmanyam himself. I am sure my people also think likewise.
"I want to welcome all the officials next. To avoid taking more time, I just say 'welcome'."
Ayyankali's deep, sonorous and powerful voice echoed within the walls of VJT hall like it had been doing in all parts of Kerala for quarter of a century.
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