The
struggle for freedom continued. The demands moved to wage revision and
working hours. The landed dealt very cruelly with the workers. The black
people had reached the end of the tether, and, some of their youth got
ready to resist the upper caste inquisition.
Now, Ayyankali ordered the untouchable women to give up the habit of wearing necklaces of carved granite. The stone necklaces were a sign of slavery and lay on the naked breasts of women like a serpent since the order of the day for women was 'not to cover the upper body'. Necklaces of glass beads and marbles strung together filled their necks in large numbers. Similar stuff was wound around the writs. From the ears hung a piece of iron - 'kunukku'. Ayyankali organised an agitation in Neyyattinkara aginst these 'ornaments' and came out victorious.
But his call to Dalits to forsake old fashioned dress codes shook savarna of Kollam.*
The economic situation also had deteriorated due to World War I. The landlord was dissatisfied even if workers put in 11 to 12 hours a day. There was no relationship between the hours worked and the wages, which was about 1.5 Kg of rice out of which 0.5 Kg was chaff. The landlords didnot get rid of the chaff. It was added to rice when given away as rice.
Slightest delay in coming for work meant beating. Severe punishment for mildest misdemeanor became the norm. Wearing bleached cloth became punishable with beatings. Since the rule for 'all' Dalits was to cover only those parts of the body between the waist and knee, the slightest liberties taken brought brutal retribution of being tied to a tree and given lashes.
The Dalit worker was to have no family bonds. Therefore the a special bed was kept in the hut of the worker for the pleasure of landlord in Thodu-puzha, Moovattu-puzha etc, for, the women membets of workers family were the property of the landlord.
Due to pityless behaviour of the landlords, a few of the affected worker youth formed a group. There were widespread arguments and quarrels over wages and working hours. When wokers refused to till the land, some land owners tried to leave the fields fallow.
The situation from Mavelikkara to Kollam became chaotic. Some wokers took in advance as much 'money and grain'** as possible and sat at home. Thus the workers were able to corner a large quantity of grain. When the landlords left the fields fallow, they survived on the 'money and grain'.
The agitation continued for long. The struggle was intense in most parts of Kollam zilla (Tiruvalla and Chengannoor were in Kollam at that time). They laid the corner stone of struggle for a final deliverance from land owners.
Kollam area struggle was led by Gopaldasan, a totally committed to the cause of his community. Under his aegis many a meeting, small and big, were held. He organised meetings in Prakkulam, Thazhavaa, Anchalum- Moodu which were attended by thousands. The meetings began at 10 in the morning. After many a meeting, it was decided to have a massive meeting at Cherumoodu in Perinadu. Due to elaborate campaigns, people from all over Kollam headed towards Perinadu. The very thought of untouchables, normally not allowed on public paths, coming to perinadu to attend a meeting in thousands did fill the savarna with anxiety. Those who came in their thousands were armed with sticks and knives for their self defence.
In Kochi, the untouchables were not allowed to hold a meeting "in my land" by the Maharaja. But Kallachamuri Krishnaadi Asan of Mulavukadu Island (Bolghatty) held the meeting on a huge raft in the middle of Vembanaattu Kayal (backwaters off Kochi Port). The raft was made by joining together a large number of catamarans with the help and support of the fisherfolk. Later Krishnaadi told the Maharaja that 'he didnot disobey the order of His Highness' to hold a meeting in his 'land'. The grand niece Dakshayani became the country's first graduate of Pulaya community and her younger brother KK Madhavan became advocate who defended communists jailed in the days of undivided CPI gratis. Later he became a Rajya Sabha MP and editor of 'Veekshanam' daily of Congress Party.
The savarna had made ample preparations to muddy the meeting. Their one aim was to murder Gopaladasan, for, it would be difficult to pinpoint the murder accused in a riot. Who would do the killing became a problem. Finally, Nalleri Koori Nair, a bad character of the area, came forward. After the deed, if he is convicted and hanged, 'some one should take the responsibility for looking after his family,' he demanded. That demand of his could not be fulfilled. Alternatively he demanded five acre fields, two acre for house and some money from the savarna leaders. The leaders put their heads together and accepted the demand of Koori Nair. As soon as Koori received the assurance from the savarna leaders, Koori went on attacking every untouchable he came across and molested their women. There was utter confusion. The youngsters made an effort to manacle the bad character who went around in a violent rampage
Now, Ayyankali ordered the untouchable women to give up the habit of wearing necklaces of carved granite. The stone necklaces were a sign of slavery and lay on the naked breasts of women like a serpent since the order of the day for women was 'not to cover the upper body'. Necklaces of glass beads and marbles strung together filled their necks in large numbers. Similar stuff was wound around the writs. From the ears hung a piece of iron - 'kunukku'. Ayyankali organised an agitation in Neyyattinkara aginst these 'ornaments' and came out victorious.
But his call to Dalits to forsake old fashioned dress codes shook savarna of Kollam.*
The economic situation also had deteriorated due to World War I. The landlord was dissatisfied even if workers put in 11 to 12 hours a day. There was no relationship between the hours worked and the wages, which was about 1.5 Kg of rice out of which 0.5 Kg was chaff. The landlords didnot get rid of the chaff. It was added to rice when given away as rice.
Slightest delay in coming for work meant beating. Severe punishment for mildest misdemeanor became the norm. Wearing bleached cloth became punishable with beatings. Since the rule for 'all' Dalits was to cover only those parts of the body between the waist and knee, the slightest liberties taken brought brutal retribution of being tied to a tree and given lashes.
The Dalit worker was to have no family bonds. Therefore the a special bed was kept in the hut of the worker for the pleasure of landlord in Thodu-puzha, Moovattu-puzha etc, for, the women membets of workers family were the property of the landlord.
Due to pityless behaviour of the landlords, a few of the affected worker youth formed a group. There were widespread arguments and quarrels over wages and working hours. When wokers refused to till the land, some land owners tried to leave the fields fallow.
The situation from Mavelikkara to Kollam became chaotic. Some wokers took in advance as much 'money and grain'** as possible and sat at home. Thus the workers were able to corner a large quantity of grain. When the landlords left the fields fallow, they survived on the 'money and grain'.
The agitation continued for long. The struggle was intense in most parts of Kollam zilla (Tiruvalla and Chengannoor were in Kollam at that time). They laid the corner stone of struggle for a final deliverance from land owners.
Kollam area struggle was led by Gopaldasan, a totally committed to the cause of his community. Under his aegis many a meeting, small and big, were held. He organised meetings in Prakkulam, Thazhavaa, Anchalum- Moodu which were attended by thousands. The meetings began at 10 in the morning. After many a meeting, it was decided to have a massive meeting at Cherumoodu in Perinadu. Due to elaborate campaigns, people from all over Kollam headed towards Perinadu. The very thought of untouchables, normally not allowed on public paths, coming to perinadu to attend a meeting in thousands did fill the savarna with anxiety. Those who came in their thousands were armed with sticks and knives for their self defence.
In Kochi, the untouchables were not allowed to hold a meeting "in my land" by the Maharaja. But Kallachamuri Krishnaadi Asan of Mulavukadu Island (Bolghatty) held the meeting on a huge raft in the middle of Vembanaattu Kayal (backwaters off Kochi Port). The raft was made by joining together a large number of catamarans with the help and support of the fisherfolk. Later Krishnaadi told the Maharaja that 'he didnot disobey the order of His Highness' to hold a meeting in his 'land'. The grand niece Dakshayani became the country's first graduate of Pulaya community and her younger brother KK Madhavan became advocate who defended communists jailed in the days of undivided CPI gratis. Later he became a Rajya Sabha MP and editor of 'Veekshanam' daily of Congress Party.
The savarna had made ample preparations to muddy the meeting. Their one aim was to murder Gopaladasan, for, it would be difficult to pinpoint the murder accused in a riot. Who would do the killing became a problem. Finally, Nalleri Koori Nair, a bad character of the area, came forward. After the deed, if he is convicted and hanged, 'some one should take the responsibility for looking after his family,' he demanded. That demand of his could not be fulfilled. Alternatively he demanded five acre fields, two acre for house and some money from the savarna leaders. The leaders put their heads together and accepted the demand of Koori Nair. As soon as Koori received the assurance from the savarna leaders, Koori went on attacking every untouchable he came across and molested their women. There was utter confusion. The youngsters made an effort to manacle the bad character who went around in a violent rampage
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