After
The Riot (Perinadu Riot of 1915), the Praja Sabha met in February 1916.
From the untouchables only Ayyan Kali and Kandan Kumaran were
nominated. Pulayas had three members in 1914, in 1915 & 1916 only
Ayyankali was nominated. He criticised this in the Sabha.
"...this year only one person has been nominated from my community in place of three in the previous years. Last years' progress in the Pulaya community is a proof of Pulayas being capable of making improvement in their literacy with the help and permission of the government. In all public places, most departments, schools allow us entry. Still, in truth only not more than 25 schools only admit my people in the state.
"Among the Ezhava community one section joined in the attacks on Pulayas. This has pained Sree Narayana Guru very much. This was the reason why the Swami suggested that SNDP should work for the uplift of all oppressed and depressed people." (Mayyanattu K Damodaran states thus in the biography of the Swamy.) The incidence in question took place in Ooroottambalam in 1914. This incidence was also mentioned by PK Govindappilla in Praja Sabha.
"Obstructions to progress of Pulayas are placed mainly by uneducated upper caste persons. No Pulaya child lacks cleanliness. Their dress may not be upto date but neat. So lack of cleanliness, the most common excuse for not admitting a Pulaya child will only chase them into the lap of some other faith. Conversion will make Pulayas ineligible for admission and concessions, and, and, the fear of shortage of labour in the fields due to higher literacy among Pulayas and subsequent higher wages were some of the baseless fears because with the end to slavery, trade and agriculture made progress. To make separate schools for Pulayas is not appropriate. That would deny admission to Pulaya children in other schools. Half fee concession is also not beneficial since only 30 boys and one girl have joined school. Scholarships for higher education would help Pulaya children. To ask for full fee concession for children of my community when the well of Mohammedan community gets half fee concession is not asking for too much.
"Admission for my community in girls' schools is more difficult. I appeal for Pulaya children to be given vocational training along with education."
This was the best speech made by Ayyankali in the Sabha. He aimed to get his community's rights step by step. He approached the problems of social progress from the psychological angle. He was also aware of the desire of Pulayas to have their own schools while recognising the disadvantages. His practical expertise in economics was another facet of his intellect that was revealed that day.
'Mitavadi' wrote about the gains of Pulaya community in the field of education thus:
"The number of Pulaya students going to school have increased many fold as shown in Table-I."
Table-I.
EDUCATIONAL STATUS.
(in '000s)
"There is no doubt that this community has had an awakening. If they proceed at this pace, they would reach great heights. In spite of burning their schools, destroying their huts, cutting off their women's ears, they could not be stopped. The more they are harassed, the more they get helped by God…"
Interestingly, there was an overall rise in the number of students of all communities in the period 1913-1916. Nairs by 45 per cent, Christian students by 50 percent, Muslims by nearly a 100 percent, Parayas more than 400 per cent and Pulayas by almost 600 per cent!
One of the aims of Ayyankali was to get land for agriculture and habitation. In his speech to the Praja Sabha on 29th February 1916 he indicated this.
"After the government nominated one person to the Praja Sabha, it has been the burden of nominee that Pulayas do not have sufficient houses. This appeal had been presented at every session of the Sabha. The kind order of govt to distribute 500 acres of land to Pulayas in Vilippil sub-area has not been fruitful. Some parts of this area has been utilised by some persons with authority. Pulayas are incapable of competing with them. Since the govt is under the impression that paying timber price is beyond the Pulayas, the forest dept has ordered the trees to be felled and sold before distributing the land. It is sad that this work is done very slowly. It is so slow that many years will pass before the felling is done. I appeal for a serious look into this matter."
During this period he also pushed a demand for allotment of 8 cents of land for each Pulaya household. So, 500 acres of land were ear marked for distribution without taking into account land price and timber price of trees growing there. But due to some procedural wrangles that area could not be distributed. Instead, land was earmarked for distribution in the sub-area of Uzhamalaikkal in Nedumangaadu. This land was just outside the outer wall of the fort of Queen Koda of Cheruma royal family who fought like Rani of Jhansi in battle with the king of Attingal.
"...this year only one person has been nominated from my community in place of three in the previous years. Last years' progress in the Pulaya community is a proof of Pulayas being capable of making improvement in their literacy with the help and permission of the government. In all public places, most departments, schools allow us entry. Still, in truth only not more than 25 schools only admit my people in the state.
"Among the Ezhava community one section joined in the attacks on Pulayas. This has pained Sree Narayana Guru very much. This was the reason why the Swami suggested that SNDP should work for the uplift of all oppressed and depressed people." (Mayyanattu K Damodaran states thus in the biography of the Swamy.) The incidence in question took place in Ooroottambalam in 1914. This incidence was also mentioned by PK Govindappilla in Praja Sabha.
"Obstructions to progress of Pulayas are placed mainly by uneducated upper caste persons. No Pulaya child lacks cleanliness. Their dress may not be upto date but neat. So lack of cleanliness, the most common excuse for not admitting a Pulaya child will only chase them into the lap of some other faith. Conversion will make Pulayas ineligible for admission and concessions, and, and, the fear of shortage of labour in the fields due to higher literacy among Pulayas and subsequent higher wages were some of the baseless fears because with the end to slavery, trade and agriculture made progress. To make separate schools for Pulayas is not appropriate. That would deny admission to Pulaya children in other schools. Half fee concession is also not beneficial since only 30 boys and one girl have joined school. Scholarships for higher education would help Pulaya children. To ask for full fee concession for children of my community when the well of Mohammedan community gets half fee concession is not asking for too much.
"Admission for my community in girls' schools is more difficult. I appeal for Pulaya children to be given vocational training along with education."
This was the best speech made by Ayyankali in the Sabha. He aimed to get his community's rights step by step. He approached the problems of social progress from the psychological angle. He was also aware of the desire of Pulayas to have their own schools while recognising the disadvantages. His practical expertise in economics was another facet of his intellect that was revealed that day.
'Mitavadi' wrote about the gains of Pulaya community in the field of education thus:
"The number of Pulaya students going to school have increased many fold as shown in Table-I."
Table-I.
EDUCATIONAL STATUS.
(in '000s)
|
Community
|
|||||
|
\/
|
Year->
|
1913
|
1914
|
1915
|
1916
|
|
Nair
|
70.80
|
81.03
|
91.33
|
99.50
|
|
|
Ezhava
|
23.90
|
30.80
|
32.22
|
45.43
|
|
|
Christian
|
84.16
|
96.65
|
113.03
|
119.56
|
|
|
Muslim
|
4.85
|
6.95
|
8.57
|
9.55
|
|
|
Pulaya
|
2.01
|
4.25
|
8.50
|
10.91
|
|
|
Paraya
|
1.10
|
1.81
|
2.65
|
4.84
|
"There is no doubt that this community has had an awakening. If they proceed at this pace, they would reach great heights. In spite of burning their schools, destroying their huts, cutting off their women's ears, they could not be stopped. The more they are harassed, the more they get helped by God…"
Interestingly, there was an overall rise in the number of students of all communities in the period 1913-1916. Nairs by 45 per cent, Christian students by 50 percent, Muslims by nearly a 100 percent, Parayas more than 400 per cent and Pulayas by almost 600 per cent!
One of the aims of Ayyankali was to get land for agriculture and habitation. In his speech to the Praja Sabha on 29th February 1916 he indicated this.
"After the government nominated one person to the Praja Sabha, it has been the burden of nominee that Pulayas do not have sufficient houses. This appeal had been presented at every session of the Sabha. The kind order of govt to distribute 500 acres of land to Pulayas in Vilippil sub-area has not been fruitful. Some parts of this area has been utilised by some persons with authority. Pulayas are incapable of competing with them. Since the govt is under the impression that paying timber price is beyond the Pulayas, the forest dept has ordered the trees to be felled and sold before distributing the land. It is sad that this work is done very slowly. It is so slow that many years will pass before the felling is done. I appeal for a serious look into this matter."
During this period he also pushed a demand for allotment of 8 cents of land for each Pulaya household. So, 500 acres of land were ear marked for distribution without taking into account land price and timber price of trees growing there. But due to some procedural wrangles that area could not be distributed. Instead, land was earmarked for distribution in the sub-area of Uzhamalaikkal in Nedumangaadu. This land was just outside the outer wall of the fort of Queen Koda of Cheruma royal family who fought like Rani of Jhansi in battle with the king of Attingal.
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