Sahodaran Ayyappan

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Sahodaran Ayyappan (21 August 1889 – 6 March 1968) was a social reformer, thinker, journalist, and politician of Kerala, India. He was one of the outspoken followers of Sree Narayana Guru.

Early Life and Education

Sahodaran Ayyappan was born into a traditional Ezhava family of Cherai in Vypin Island of Ernakulam district as the son of Kumabalathuparambil Kochavu Vaidyar and Unnuli on 21 August 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, Ernakulam, 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.

Reform Movements

At Cherai, in 1917, Ayyappan organized a misra bhojanan (a grand feast of all castes sitting together under one roof). The feast was organized under the aegis of the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherood Association), an organization that Ayyappan himself had organized for the purpose of eradicating the evil of casteism. The feast was attended by about 200 people including the so-called untouchable Pulayas. This was opposed forcibly by conservative sections of society, including Ezhava lords. For a while thereafter, his detractors sarcastically called him Pulayan Ayyappan, a name which he took as an honour. From then on, Ayyappan came to be known as Sahodaran Ayyappan.

On 15 May 1921, Nārāyana Guru sent a message of support to Sahodara Sangham during their annual conference, supporting "inter-caste marriages and community feasts".[1]

By this time he had also acquired a Law degree from the Government Law College, Trivandrum. His consuming passion was still directed towards effecting radical reforms in the society. With this aim in view he started the journal Sahodaran from Mattancherry, containing articles and poems, which continued to be on print until 1956.

An inquisitive soul from childhood, K. Ayyappan’s mind kept probing beyond caste, religion and other dogmas. He established himself as a rationalist who didn't believe in any religion. He became the founder editor of the magazine Yukthivadi (The Rationalist) which was started in 1928. Ayyappan wrote the caption of this magazine "Yuktiyenthy manusiante-budhisakthi ghanichathil-labhichathallathillonnum-lokavijnana rasiyil" as well as many other poems.

As a rejoinder to Sree Narayana Guru’s famous slogan Oru Jati, Oru Matham, Oru Daivam Manushyanu (One Caste, One Religion, One God for Human-beings), Ayyappan proclaimed his slogan of Jati Venda, Matham Venda, Daivam Venda (No Caste, No Religion, No God for Human-beings). Despite such atheism, he nevertheless had deep respect for the Guru.

In Political Arena

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. During his first tenure in the legislative council Ayyappan showed his commitment to progressive programmes. On one occasion he demanded that registration be given to all love marriages.

He served as a minister two times in Cochin Legislative Assembly and one time in Thiru-Kochi Assembly. A R Narayanan a Presidency college alumnus served as his personal assistant. He was appointed to the ministry by the Maharaja on on 9 September 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 Warrior 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) Ayyappan was minister for a brief time in the Paravoor TK ministry, but soon resigned from active politics and concentrated his energy into social and cultural activities. At this time, his PA was A R Narayanan who too was interested in social reforms.

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. On 6 March 1968 Ayyappan breathed his last.

Memorials

  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Statue (GCDA Jn.) at Sahodaran Ayyappan Road, Kochi, Kerala, India.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Smaraka (SNDP) Yogam College. Konni, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. Established 1995.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Smarakam (Sahodaran Memorial High School). Cherai, Kerala, India.
  • Sahodaran Ayyappan Memorial Training College. Puthen Kavu, Puthotta.
  • Sahodhara Bhavanam (Birthplace of Sahodharan Ayyappan), Elimjamkulam, Cherai, Ernakulam[2]

Bibliography

  • Sahodarante Padyakrithikal __ by K. Ayyappan __ (Published by D. C. Books)
  • Vishvavijnanakosham, 1970 edition.

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References

  1. ↑ See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Narayana_Guru#Tolerance_of_rationalism_and_atheism
  2. ↑ See picture at the bottom of this list of sightseeing places in Cherai, India: http://www.cheraihotels.com/places.htm
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