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Ayyankali: Difference between revisions
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Ayyankali was born on 28 August 1863 in [[Venganoor]], Thiruvananthapuram, [[Travancore]]. He was the first of eight children born to Ayyan and Mala, who were members of the [[Pulayar]] community of untouchable people. Although the family were relatively well-off compared to other Pulayars, having been given {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land by a grateful landlord, the children were encouraged to adopt the customary occupation of agriculture.{{sfnp|Nisar|Kandasamy|2007|pp=64-65|ps=}} | Ayyankali was born on 28 August 1863 in [[Venganoor]], Thiruvananthapuram, [[Travancore]]. He was the first of eight children born to Ayyan and Mala, who were members of the [[Pulayar]] community of untouchable people. Although the family were relatively well-off compared to other Pulayars, having been given {{convert|5|acre|ha}} of land by a grateful landlord, the children were encouraged to adopt the customary occupation of agriculture.{{sfnp|Nisar|Kandasamy|2007|pp=64-65|ps=}} | ||
The region in which Ayyankali lived, which now forms a part of the state of [[Kerala]], was [[Caste system in Kerala|particularly affected by social divisions]] during his lifetime and was described by [[Swami Vivekananda]] as a "mad house" of [[Caste system in India|castes]].{{sfnp|Nossiter|1982|pp=25-27|ps=}} The Pulayars were regarded as the lowest group of people in the kingdom{{sfnp|Mendelsohn|Vicziany|1998|p=86|ps=}} and they suffered badly from oppressive discrimination, in particular from members of the powerful Shudra [[Nair]] caste. | The region in which Ayyankali lived, which now forms a part of the state of [[Kerala]], was [[Caste system in Kerala|particularly affected by social divisions]] during his lifetime and was described by [[Swami Vivekananda]] as a "mad house" of [[Caste system in India|castes]].{{sfnp|Nossiter|1982|pp=25-27|ps=}} The Pulayars were regarded as the lowest group of people in the kingdom{{sfnp|Mendelsohn|Vicziany|1998|p=86|ps=}} and they suffered badly from oppressive discrimination, in particular from members of the powerful Shudra [[Nair]] caste. | ||
Suffering from this social injustice caused Ayyankali to join with like-minded Pulayan friends. These young people gathered at the end of their workday to sing and dance to [[folk music]] that protested the situation. Some joined him in forming a group that challenged and threatened members of the upper castes whenever an opportunity arose, sometimes attacking them physically. His popularity earned him the names of ''Urpillai'' and ''Moothapullai''.{{sfnp|Nisar|Kandasamy|2007|pp=65-66|ps=}} | Suffering from this social injustice caused Ayyankali to join with like-minded Pulayan friends. These young people gathered at the end of their workday to sing and dance to [[folk music]] that protested the situation. Some joined him in forming a group that challenged and threatened members of the upper castes whenever an opportunity arose, sometimes attacking them physically. His popularity earned him the names of ''Urpillai'' and ''Moothapullai''.{{sfnp|Nisar|Kandasamy|2007|pp=65-66|ps=}} | ||