Ayyankali COMPLETE NOTES

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Readings on Kerala
6
Essay
Ayyankali
M. Nisar, Meena Kandaswamy
ESSAY
1. How and why did SJPS labour to organise the voiceless and marginalized people?
Ayyankali was a major figure in Kerala Renaissance. He fought for the rights and
betterment of the Dalit people. He established Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam (SJPS) to
organise the voiceless and marginalized people.
The purpose of SJPS was to bring about solidarity among sadhu janam and uplift their
material conditions. Ayyankali tried to bring them into the mainstream of the society. Even
though the public roads were legally open to Dalits, the brutal physical attack by the upper
caste Hindus deterred them. Ayyankali started with his fight for getting civil rights for the
lower castes.
The public sphere in Kerala was dominated by the middle class of various castes.
Only the English-knowing educated people could enter into the domain of the public sphere.
Dalits only possessed knowledge about agricultural production. With this limited, specialized
knowledge, they could not enter the public sphere.
The colonial modernity created a liberal space that fostered reformist ideas. But Dalits
had no place in it. Modern education was the most important criterion to gain entry into
public space. Sources of knowledge were controlled by “upper” castes and intermediary caste
groups. They maintained reactionary practices. It was in this context that Ayyankali
demanded education for Dalits.
Ayyankali was more concerned about the economic development of the Dalits. The
living conditions of the Dalits were very miserable. The Dalit women wore stone ornaments.
They were not allowed to cover the upper part of their bodies. In this relentless struggle,
Ayyankali was inspired by fellow reformists like Ayyavu Swamikal and Sree Narayana Guru.
SHORT ANSWER
1. What is SJPS?
SJPS is Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangam
https://www.youtube.com/@MurukanBabu
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2. Who all influenced the formation of SJPS?

Sadananda Swami and Sree Narayana Guru influenced Ayyankali to form the SJPS.
3. Why was education denied to Dalits?

The upper castes had the right over the school management. They denied education to
Dalits.
4. Why could not Dalits enter the public sphere?

Only the English-knowing educated people could enter into the domain of the public
sphere. Dalits only possessed knowledge about agricultural production. With this limited
knowledge, they could not enter the public sphere.
5. Who are "Sadhu Janam"?

Sadhu janam are the servile people – not of one caste alone, but of all the depressed
classes, the Dalits.
PARAGRAPH
1. Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of the SJPS.

Dalits were denied entry into the public sphere because they were not English
educated. They just had knowledge about agricultural production. With this knowledge, they
could not enter the public sphere. Only English educated people could enter the public
sphere. At the same time, education was denied to Dalits because the upper castes had the
right over the school management. English education was considered as minimum
qualification for all things in society. In the liberal space created by the colonial modernity,
the Dalits had no place. These were the circumstances that led to the formation of the SJPS.
2. Write about Kerala's Public Sphere during the early 20th century.
Even though the public roads were legally open to Dalits, the brutal physical attack by
the upper caste Hindus deterred them. The public sphere in Kerala during the early 20th
century was dominated by the middle class of various castes. Only the English-knowing
educated people could enter into the domain of the public sphere. Dalits only possessed
knowledge about agricultural production. With this limited, specialized knowledge, they
could not enter the public sphere. It was in this context that Ayyankali demanded education
for Dalits. He was acutely aware of the extreme handicap that illiteracy posed to his people.
3. Why did colonial modernity never reach beyond Kerala's middle class?
OR
4. How did the upper class use education as a tool to keep the Dalits off the public
sphere?
The colonial modernity created a liberal space that fostered reformist ideas. But Dalits
had no place in it. It never reached them; it never reached beyond Kerala's middle class.
Education was a powerful resource. Modern education brought about by colonialism was the
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most important criterion to gain entry into public space. However, sources of knowledge
were controlled by “upper” castes and intermediary caste groups. They maintained
reactionary practices. They tried to guard education from outside intervention. The middle
class of Kerala utilized all opportunities of colonial modernity. The Dalits and Adiyalars were
deprived of all these basic human rights.
5. Why were Ayyankali's objectives for SJPS more material than spiritual?
Ayyankali's objectives for SJPS were more material than spiritual. He was more
concerned about the economic development of the Dalits. The living conditions of the Dalits
were very miserable. They were treated as Adiyalars. They had no land of their own. Dalits
had no place in the liberal space created by colonial modernity. They were deprived of the
fruits of modern education. Dalits were denied entry into the public sphere because they were
not English educated. They just had knowledge about agricultural production. The Dalit
women wore stone ornaments. They were not allowed to cover the upper part of their body.
Prepared by:
Prof. MURUKAN BABU C.R.
(formerly) Associate Professor of English
Panampilly Memorial Govt. College
Chalakudy

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2. Who all influenced the formation of SJPS?

3. Why was education denied to Dalits?

4. Why could not Dalits enter the public sphere?

5. Who are "Sadhu Janam"?

1. Describe the circumstances that led to the formation of the SJPS.

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