Sahodaran Ayyappan

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Sahodaran Ayyappan (b. August 21, 1889 __ d. March 6, 1968) was a social reformer, thinker, journalist, and politician of Kerala, India.

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[edit] Overview

Sahodaran Ayyappan was born into a traditional Ezhava family of Cherai in Ernakulam district as the son of Kumabalathuparambil Kochavu Vaidyar and Unnuli on August 21, 1889. He lost his father at an early age and was brought up under the guidance of his elder brother Achuthan Vaidyar. After having his school education primarily in Cherai and North Paravoor, Ayyappan did his pre-university course at the Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode. He had to discontinue his further education for the time being while at Madras due to ill health.

While at Kozhikode he began speaking in public platforms stressing the need for social reforms. It was at this time that he had the opportunity to interact closely with Sree Narayana Guru at whose encouragement he decided to continue his studies and took B.A. from Maharaja’s College, Thiruvananthapuram in 1916. He also met the poet Kumaran Asan during this time. By this time the social revolutionary in Ayyappan had come of age and was ready to fight against the social evil of caste system.

Back at Cherai, in 1917, Ayyappan organized a misra bhojanan (a grand feast of all castes sitting together under one roof). Thereafter, for a while his detractors sarcastically called him Pulayan Ayyappan (because of him partaking food with the "untouchable" Pulayas, the name which he considered as an honour. The feast was organized under the aegis of the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherood Association), the organization that Ayyappan himself had organized for the purpose of eradicating the evil of casteism. From then on Ayyappan came to be known as Sohodaran Ayyappan.

By this time he had also acquired a Law degree from Trivandrum but his consuming passion was still directed towards effecting radical reforms in the society. With this aim in view he started the newspaper Sahodaran from Mattancherry, which continued to be on print until 1956.

An inquisitive soul from childhood, Ayyappan’s mind kept probing beyond caste, religion and all others man made straight jackets and reached a the point where he became a full-blown atheist. He became the founder editor of the magazine Yukthivadi (The Rationalist) which was started in 1928. As a rejoinder to Sree Narayana Guru’s famous slogan Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu, Ayyappan proclaimed his slogan of Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda. Nevertheless he had great respect for the Guru.

Amidst his relentless work in the field of effecting social reforms Ayyappan found time to work in trade unions and in active politics. He is one of the founding fathers of the trade unionism in Kerala. In 1928 Ayyappan was elected to Cochin Legislative Council of which he continued to be a member for the next 21 years.

He served as a minister two times in Cochin Legislative Assembly and one time in Thiru-Kochi Assembly.

He was appointed to the ministry by the Maharaja on on September 9, 1946. He later resigned from the Cabinet, along with Panampilli Govinda Menon and C.R. Iyyunni, when Home Minister, T.K. Nair used the police force to put down labour struggles and popular agitations. In popular elections in October 1949, the Prajamandalam party secured overwhelming majority and Ikkanda Warrier was elected leader of the party. Panampilli Govinda Menon, Sahodaran Ayyappan and C.A. Ouseph were his colleagues in the cabinet. (History of Kerala Legislature)

He was widely respected by all sections of people across the society because of his selfless social work and also on account of his impeccable personal integrity. For the last 15 years of his life he stayed away from active social life. In March 3, 1968 Ayyappan breathed his last.

[edit] Memorials

  • Saholdaran Ayyappan Statue. Mahathma Gandhi Road, Kochi, Kerala, India.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Smaraka (SNDP) Yogam College. Konni, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Phone: 23412416. Established 1995.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Smarakam (Sahodaran Memorial High School). Cherai, Kerala, India.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Memorial Training College. Puthen Kavu, Puthotta.

[edit] Bibliography

  • Sahodarante Padyakrithikal __ by K. Ayyappan __ (Published by D.C. Books)

[edit] Videos about Sahodaran Ayyappan

[edit] Books about Sahodaran Ayyappan

  • Sahodaran K Ayyappan _ by M.K. Sanu __ (Published by D.C. Books)
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan, Viplavangalude Maargadarshi __ by Pooyappilli Thankappan.

[edit] References

  • Vishvavijnanakosham, 1970 edition.
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