After
mortgaging his little house he collected Rupees 500 and went to
Perinadu. When he reached Kollam, he had difficulty in finding a place
to stay. The houses of his followers and acquaintances were empty. In
place of some huts he found only charcoal and ash. Finally, he found
smoke rising from the hut of a follower. He spent the night there.
The very next day Ayyankali set out to find out matters related to the riot. Dewan Krishnan Nair was camping in Kollam that day to keep an eye on progress of violence. He went to the Dewan to find out the details. He also assured the Dewan that he was willing to take the first step to put an end to the endless violence. (Obviously the movement had gone out of Ayyankali's hands. The younger generation seem to have taken all the initiative to keep the riot going.) He also put forward certain suggestions to help end the violence.
1. Pull out the police.
2. Give a list of accused persons.
3. Without hunting them down, the accused would be brough to the court.
Taking
cognisance of Ayyankali's suggestions, the Dewan withdrew the police
and gave him a copy of the list of accused persons. Thus Ayyankali took a
personal bond for making sure that hundreds of accused persons
presented themselves in court. He also felt that there was a need for an
'All Community Amity Meeting' to help bring back those who ran away
into hiding, make it safe for the returnees and to create an atmosphere
of peace.
But the permission to hold a meeting was denied by Dewan fearing further violence. But as luck would have it, the locla circle inspector was Gopalasamy Pillai of an untouchable caste from Tamilnadu. He was a fan of Ayyankali and assured that he will make the requisite arrangements to keep the meeting peaceful. Dewan wanted a written assurance from the circle inspector, which he was given.
But there was no place to hold a meeting. The only open ground was occupied by a circus troupe. The circus was owned by Tarabai, a lady of Cherumar community. Being of the same community as Ayyankali, she was also his fan. After discussing with her, she offered the tent for his meeting not for one day, but all days upto 5 in the evening.
The next problem was to decide who will chair the meeting. None came forward. Changanassery Parameswaran Pilla accepted the responsibility.
A large number of people sufferin social ostracism took part in that meeting. Everyone came without any fear. They found solace in the shadow of Ayyankali. According to reports in a Malayalam daily, 4000 persons of various communities and faiths came from all parts of the state, having heard of the meeting by word of mouth. The blacks came filled with martial spirit. Vellikkara Chodi, TV Thevan and Gopaladasan etc controlled the crowd.
The men and women came dressed in their traditional attire which was discarded sometime back. It was a rare tailor who stiched a blouse of a shirt for avarna.
The proceedings started with prayer song. The first speaker was Mr Raman Thambi. His speech laid stress on communal harmony.
Ayyankali spoke next about the achievement of progress through faith in God, modern dress code, discipline, orderliness etc.
"When the untouchables modernise their dressing pattern, the upper castes (savarna) should not obstruct but encourage." Ayyankali appealed to the savarna. If it is opposed, he appealed to his brothers and sisters, "..to keep calm and be patient."
"In Southern part of our state our women have given up the custom of wearing stone ornaments to and have taken to 'rowka' (blouse) and other attractive clothes. It is against this change that the riots were engineered by the upper castes. I fervently hope that the savarna will cooperate in our programme to cut the stone jewellery in the presense of all community members gathered here for this MahaSabha." he appealed again.
"As desired by Mr Ayyankali, members of all communities represented here are more than willing to let our sisters cut the strings holding together their stone jewellery." the chairman said. When the festival of handclapping lasting a couple of minutes ended,Ayyankali called two young girls to the stage. The black and beautiful duo stood still.
"All gathered at this Sabha have agreed to let you to cut the stone jewellery adorning your neck. Cut them yourself and throw it away."
No sooner had he exhorted them thus, the duo pulled out sickles stuck into their waist bands at the back and cut the ornaments and threw them on the stage. Thousands of others who had gathered cut the symbols of slavery and made a five foot high pile of stone necklaces.
The news reported in 'Malayali' and reproduced in the North by 'Mitawadi'. After giving the background of the meeting they wrote:
"...present at the meeting held in Kollam on Sunday the 19 of December 1915 were Peshkar Rajarama Rao Esq, 1st Class Magistrate Govindappilla, Two circle inspectors and a large number of constables. Prominent persons from various faiths, local leaders, advocates, traders, officials etc came punctually and took their places.
The leaders Ayyankali, Chodi etc. sat in front of the Sabha. Pulaya women and children had come dressed neatly
for the occasion. They listened to the proceedings in rapt attention.
Mr Raman Thambi said, "There is neither enemity nor competition between the Nairs and Pulayas at social level,and that they have mutual affection and respect for one another in the opinion of this Sabha".
Mr Ayyankali's speech was rather long. He supported the stance of Mr Thambi whole heartedly. He adviced his people to have faith in God, wear clean and modern attire. When changes take place in our habits, Nairs may laugh at us. But be patient with them.
"Our women have already stopped wearing stone ornaments in Southern part of the state due to our efforts. They donot go about semi naked but wear 'rouwka'(blouse). It was on the question Pulayas wearing dresses that some Nairs started the riots. Now I am asking the permission of the Nair Leaders present in the Sabha to allow the change of dress codes here itself.
"Later Mr Chodi spoke with great clarity, in a language devoid of defective pronounciation, grammatic errors and intonation like a seasoned speaker.
"After two girls cut their stone necklace on the stage at the behest of Ayyankali, Chairman Mr Parameswaran Pilla and Chief Secretary Mr. Vierra took the necklaces dropped on the stage as souveniers."
Though the meeting for amity was a success, some court cases pertaining to the riots remained. Most accused were short of money to fight court battles. Without money one couldnot hire a lawyer. These circumstances threw up Ilanjikkal John Vakeel. His fee was some kind of a barter - physical labour paying for mental labour.
In return for his services John Vakeel demanded that his clients dig a large pond. John Vakeel got his pond and his clients a favourable judgement. But, 12 Nairs were punished with imprisonment.
The very next day Ayyankali set out to find out matters related to the riot. Dewan Krishnan Nair was camping in Kollam that day to keep an eye on progress of violence. He went to the Dewan to find out the details. He also assured the Dewan that he was willing to take the first step to put an end to the endless violence. (Obviously the movement had gone out of Ayyankali's hands. The younger generation seem to have taken all the initiative to keep the riot going.) He also put forward certain suggestions to help end the violence.
2. Give a list of accused persons.
3. Without hunting them down, the accused would be brough to the court.
But the permission to hold a meeting was denied by Dewan fearing further violence. But as luck would have it, the locla circle inspector was Gopalasamy Pillai of an untouchable caste from Tamilnadu. He was a fan of Ayyankali and assured that he will make the requisite arrangements to keep the meeting peaceful. Dewan wanted a written assurance from the circle inspector, which he was given.
But there was no place to hold a meeting. The only open ground was occupied by a circus troupe. The circus was owned by Tarabai, a lady of Cherumar community. Being of the same community as Ayyankali, she was also his fan. After discussing with her, she offered the tent for his meeting not for one day, but all days upto 5 in the evening.
The next problem was to decide who will chair the meeting. None came forward. Changanassery Parameswaran Pilla accepted the responsibility.
A large number of people sufferin social ostracism took part in that meeting. Everyone came without any fear. They found solace in the shadow of Ayyankali. According to reports in a Malayalam daily, 4000 persons of various communities and faiths came from all parts of the state, having heard of the meeting by word of mouth. The blacks came filled with martial spirit. Vellikkara Chodi, TV Thevan and Gopaladasan etc controlled the crowd.
The men and women came dressed in their traditional attire which was discarded sometime back. It was a rare tailor who stiched a blouse of a shirt for avarna.
The proceedings started with prayer song. The first speaker was Mr Raman Thambi. His speech laid stress on communal harmony.
Ayyankali spoke next about the achievement of progress through faith in God, modern dress code, discipline, orderliness etc.
"When the untouchables modernise their dressing pattern, the upper castes (savarna) should not obstruct but encourage." Ayyankali appealed to the savarna. If it is opposed, he appealed to his brothers and sisters, "..to keep calm and be patient."
"In Southern part of our state our women have given up the custom of wearing stone ornaments to and have taken to 'rowka' (blouse) and other attractive clothes. It is against this change that the riots were engineered by the upper castes. I fervently hope that the savarna will cooperate in our programme to cut the stone jewellery in the presense of all community members gathered here for this MahaSabha." he appealed again.
"As desired by Mr Ayyankali, members of all communities represented here are more than willing to let our sisters cut the strings holding together their stone jewellery." the chairman said. When the festival of handclapping lasting a couple of minutes ended,Ayyankali called two young girls to the stage. The black and beautiful duo stood still.
"All gathered at this Sabha have agreed to let you to cut the stone jewellery adorning your neck. Cut them yourself and throw it away."
No sooner had he exhorted them thus, the duo pulled out sickles stuck into their waist bands at the back and cut the ornaments and threw them on the stage. Thousands of others who had gathered cut the symbols of slavery and made a five foot high pile of stone necklaces.
The news reported in 'Malayali' and reproduced in the North by 'Mitawadi'. After giving the background of the meeting they wrote:
"...present at the meeting held in Kollam on Sunday the 19 of December 1915 were Peshkar Rajarama Rao Esq, 1st Class Magistrate Govindappilla, Two circle inspectors and a large number of constables. Prominent persons from various faiths, local leaders, advocates, traders, officials etc came punctually and took their places.
The leaders Ayyankali, Chodi etc. sat in front of the Sabha. Pulaya women and children had come dressed neatly
for the occasion. They listened to the proceedings in rapt attention.
Mr Raman Thambi said, "There is neither enemity nor competition between the Nairs and Pulayas at social level,and that they have mutual affection and respect for one another in the opinion of this Sabha".
Mr Ayyankali's speech was rather long. He supported the stance of Mr Thambi whole heartedly. He adviced his people to have faith in God, wear clean and modern attire. When changes take place in our habits, Nairs may laugh at us. But be patient with them.
"Our women have already stopped wearing stone ornaments in Southern part of the state due to our efforts. They donot go about semi naked but wear 'rouwka'(blouse). It was on the question Pulayas wearing dresses that some Nairs started the riots. Now I am asking the permission of the Nair Leaders present in the Sabha to allow the change of dress codes here itself.
"Later Mr Chodi spoke with great clarity, in a language devoid of defective pronounciation, grammatic errors and intonation like a seasoned speaker.
"After two girls cut their stone necklace on the stage at the behest of Ayyankali, Chairman Mr Parameswaran Pilla and Chief Secretary Mr. Vierra took the necklaces dropped on the stage as souveniers."
Though the meeting for amity was a success, some court cases pertaining to the riots remained. Most accused were short of money to fight court battles. Without money one couldnot hire a lawyer. These circumstances threw up Ilanjikkal John Vakeel. His fee was some kind of a barter - physical labour paying for mental labour.
In return for his services John Vakeel demanded that his clients dig a large pond. John Vakeel got his pond and his clients a favourable judgement. But, 12 Nairs were punished with imprisonment.
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