Question

What did the 'Villuvandi Samaram' by Ayyankali achieve?

• A. Entry rights for avarnas into temples
• B. Entry rights for avarnas into public roads and squares.
• C. Rights for avarnas to use the villuvandi as a mode of transport.
• D. Both B and C

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

Entry rights for avarnas into public roads and squares.

Ayyankali was a reformer who strived for the uplift of the depressed classes. He recognized that education is an investment in resolving social inequalities and to improve the social status of the depressed classes. In 1893, Ayyankali broke social prohibitions imposed on avarnas by travelling through the public roads of Venganur in a Villuvandi (a special type of bullock cart). He started the fight for the right of freedom of movement of the depressed classes by travelling through the major roads of Travancore.