Sahodaran Ayyappan - Reform Movements

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".

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.