"Kerala
has seen many revolutionaries. They have brought considerable political
and social changes. One cannot use today's yardstick to assess their
worth. When one understands the socio-politico-economic environment of
the era in which these people struggled can their worth be truly
evaluvated. Looked at from that angle, one can say without any doubt one
can say that Ayyankali was the greatest revolutionaly Kerala has given
birth to. He lived in an age when he experienced un-freedom every step
of the way. It is not easy for a man with no backing of either
education, influence or wealth to rise from the lowest strata of society
to become a nightmare for upper caste domination and feudalism," in the
words of historical researcher Ilangulam Kunjanpilla.
When Kunjupilla was in the process of preparing an article evaluvating the role of Ayyankali in the history of Kerala, Ayyankali passed on to the beyond.
Congress leader and member of Public Service Commission Mr AP Udayabhanu spoke of him thus:
"I am against all kinds of memorials. But if there is going to be any memorial build, it must be for Ayyankali...I see the figure of a great man today. The streets from one end of the state to another, blocked for the depressed, was opened forcibly by untouchables under the leadership of Ayyankali. An organiser of the oppressed who gave them self confidence and pride...a 'Yugapurush'.
"I worship him as the greatest social reformer. I put him in the forefront of all social reformers because he came from the most backward segment. He needed and did have more courage and steadiness than others...
"When the entry of backward Ezhava (Theeya) into schools ended in Nair-Ezhava riots, the only way out was to have Pulaya Schools. Before this Ezhavas joined the other savarna in beating up Pulayas and other untouchables.
"One can save another only is the other is willing to be rescued. If one does have intense desire to be saved, people will come forward to save. Only those awakened by self respect and desire for freedom could be saved by socieity's protectors.
"Ayyankali who awakened a spirit of freedom and self respect in the Harijans is the first one eligible for the title of Kerala's Reformer."
(Manorajyam Weekly, 14 Feb 1979.)
When Kunjupilla was in the process of preparing an article evaluvating the role of Ayyankali in the history of Kerala, Ayyankali passed on to the beyond.
Congress leader and member of Public Service Commission Mr AP Udayabhanu spoke of him thus:
"I am against all kinds of memorials. But if there is going to be any memorial build, it must be for Ayyankali...I see the figure of a great man today. The streets from one end of the state to another, blocked for the depressed, was opened forcibly by untouchables under the leadership of Ayyankali. An organiser of the oppressed who gave them self confidence and pride...a 'Yugapurush'.
"I worship him as the greatest social reformer. I put him in the forefront of all social reformers because he came from the most backward segment. He needed and did have more courage and steadiness than others...
"When the entry of backward Ezhava (Theeya) into schools ended in Nair-Ezhava riots, the only way out was to have Pulaya Schools. Before this Ezhavas joined the other savarna in beating up Pulayas and other untouchables.
"One can save another only is the other is willing to be rescued. If one does have intense desire to be saved, people will come forward to save. Only those awakened by self respect and desire for freedom could be saved by socieity's protectors.
"Ayyankali who awakened a spirit of freedom and self respect in the Harijans is the first one eligible for the title of Kerala's Reformer."
(Manorajyam Weekly, 14 Feb 1979.)
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