Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham

The Sadhujana Paripalana Sangham (Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham) (SJPS) was established in 1907 by social reformer Ayyankali to campaign for education for Dalits in Kerala with the support of government of Travancore, British India.,[1] first starting Sadananda villasam Venganoor, next SJPS

Activities

SJPS formed byelaws and it consisted of 24 sections. Various programs for social, economic and educational developments of the untouchables were involved in it. Moreover, the organization gave preference and emphasis to discipline and cleanliness. Thomas Vaidyar was given the responsibility of organization correspondence. Some of the important decisions of an early meeting of the SJPS are: [2]

(1) Reduce the number of working hours from 7 days a week to 6 days a week. The labourers demanded one day of rest a week.

(2) All the depressed caste members should attend the weekly meeting help every Sunday to discuss their problems.

(3) Male and female members should remit 1/2 chakram and 1/4 chakram as membership fees respectively.

Soon after the formation, Ayyankali tried to extend its activities to the whole of Travancore. As the first part of this mission, he concentrated on Southern Travancore where he was assisted by the energetic activities like Thaivilakath Kail, Moolayil Kali, Thomas Vadyar, Vellomkolli Velayudhan and his brothers: Chathan, Gopalan, Velayudhan and Velukkutti.

Within eight years of its inception, several branches of the SJPS were established at different parts of Travancore. The headquarters were established at Ayyankali's native village of Venganoor.

SJPS published a monthly magazine, Sadhujana Paripalini, the first ever magazine to be brought out by the Dalit community. Kali Chodikkuruppan was the founder editor. The long-defunct magazine is to resume its publication from 5 January 2014.

The organisation became fractured over time as the various constituent untouchable communities established their own pressure groups and the government intervention in affairs relating to them took over its space. It ended up mostly comprising members of the Pulayar community, of which Ayyankali was a part.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Ayyankali, Chapter 3:Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sangham
  2. ↑ M. Nisar; Meena Kandasamy (2007). Ayyankali: Dalit leader of organic protest. Other Books. p. 87. ISBN 978-81-903887-6-4. Retrieved 30 March 2012.
  3. ↑ Nisar, M.; Kandasamy, Meena (2007). Ayyankali — Dalit Leader of Organic Protest. Other Books. p. 89. ISBN 978-8-19038-876-4.
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