Tributes were paid to the social reformer Mahatma Ayyankali on his 157th birth anniversary.
Ayyankali was a social reformer born on August 28th, 1863 in a small village in princely state of Travancore, Kerala.
He was born in the Pulayar community of untouchables.
He resolved to get rid of boundaries of the caste system and became a stated protestor for Pulayar rights.
He was the most important Dalit leader of modern Kerala and influenced many changes to improve social wellbeing of Dalits.
He defied restrictions and fought for many rights such as access to public places, right to the dignity of clothing, right to use public roads, right to education, etc.
He was the earliest labour leaders from Kerala and fought for rights of agricultural labourers.
The Pulaya community of Kerala describes him as Raja.
Mahatma Gandhi called Ayyankali as ‘Pulaya king’.
Indira Gandhi described him as ‘India’s greatest son’.
