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An attempt by Ayyankali to enrol a Pulayar girl in a government school led to violent acts perpetrated by upper castes against the community and eventually to the burning-down of the school building in the village of [[Ooruttambalam]]. His response was to organise what may have been the first [[strike action]] by agricultural workers in the region, who withdrew their labour from the fields that were owned by the upper castes until the government acceded to a complete removal of restrictions on education.{{sfnp|Ramachandran|2000|pp=103-106|ps=}}{{efn|The date of this strike is disputed. Some sources say it occurred in 1915 but others say 1907-08.{{sfnp|Mendelsohn|Vicziany|1998|p=97|ps=}}}} | An attempt by Ayyankali to enrol a Pulayar girl in a government school led to violent acts perpetrated by upper castes against the community and eventually to the burning-down of the school building in the village of [[Ooruttambalam]]. His response was to organise what may have been the first [[strike action]] by agricultural workers in the region, who withdrew their labour from the fields that were owned by the upper castes until the government acceded to a complete removal of restrictions on education.{{sfnp|Ramachandran|2000|pp=103-106|ps=}}{{efn|The date of this strike is disputed. Some sources say it occurred in 1915 but others say 1907-08.{{sfnp|Mendelsohn|Vicziany|1998|p=97|ps=}}}} | ||
Ayyankali was also central to the success of the Pulayan challenge against the traditional stricture that prohibited female members of the community from clothing their upper body when in public. Caste Hindus had insisted that the custom was necessary to distinguish the lowly status of untouchable people but during the 19th century their belief had come under increasing attack from various untouchable groups and from Christian missionaries. The [[Channar revolt]], through which the [[Nadar (caste)|Nadar]] community were able to overturn the practice in so far as it affected themselves, had happened not long before Ayyankali's birth but the Pulayars remained affected by the discriminatory code until | Ayyankali was also central to the success of the Pulayan challenge against the traditional stricture that prohibited female members of the community from clothing their upper body when in public. Caste Hindus had insisted that the custom was necessary to distinguish the lowly status of untouchable people but during the 19th century their belief had come under increasing attack from various untouchable groups and from Christian missionaries. The [[Channar revolt]], through which the [[Nadar (caste)|Nadar]] community were able to overturn the practice in so far as it affected themselves, had happened not long before Ayyankali's birth but the Pulayars remained affected by the discriminatory code until 1915–16.{{sfnp|Mendelsohn|Vicziany|1998|pp=85-86|ps=}} | ||
===Representation=== | ===Representation=== | ||
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==Contribution and influence in society== | ==Contribution and influence in society== | ||
The historian P. Sanal Mohan has described Ayyankali as "the most important Dalit leader of modern Kerala".{{sfnp|Mohan|2013|p=249|ps=}}He is also known as the Kerala [[ Spartacus ]]. The anniversary of Ayyankali's birth has been celebrated by his descendants and by special interest groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/09/02/stories/0402404y.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125090414/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/09/02/stories/0402404y.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Tributes paid to Ayyankali |date=2 September 2001 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2014-12-03}}</ref> | The historian P. Sanal Mohan has described Ayyankali as "the most important Dalit leader of modern Kerala".{{sfnp|Mohan|2013|p=249|ps=}}He is also known as the Kerala [[Spartacus ]]. The anniversary of Ayyankali's birth has been celebrated by his descendants and by special interest groups.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/09/02/stories/0402404y.htm |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125090414/http://www.hinduonnet.com/2001/09/02/stories/0402404y.htm |url-status=usurped |archive-date=25 January 2013 |title=Tributes paid to Ayyankali |date=2 September 2001 |work=The Hindu |access-date=2014-12-03}}</ref> | ||
== See Also(Social reformers of Kerala) == | == See Also(Social reformers of Kerala) == | ||