Ayyankali

Ayyankali (1863 - 1914) was a leader of the Indian lower caste Harijans ("Untouchables").

Ayyankali was born in 1863 at Perunkattuvila in Venganoor in Thiruvananthapuram District in Kerala. At his time, Harijans (members of the lower castes) were not allowed to walk along public roads. The Harijan women were not allowed to cover their breasts in public places. Ayyankali organized Harijans and fought against these discriminations. By 1900 Harijans got freedom to walk the public roads, and later, by 1914, Harijan children were allowed to join schools. Also, Harijan women got freedom to cover their nakedness by the efforts of Ayyankali. He founded the Sadujana Paripalana Sangom in 1905. He was also nominated to the Sri Moolam Legislative Assembly of Travancore in 1910. Ayyankali passed away in 1914.

In November 1980, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi unveiled a statue of Ayyankali.