for the Protection of the Poor) which campaigned for access to schools and raised funds to set up Pulayar-operated schools in the interim. This attracted support from both Hindus and Christians. An attempt by Ayyankali to enroll a Pulayar girl in a government school led to violent acts perpetrated by oppressor castes against the community and eventually to the burning down of the school building in the village of Ooruttambalam. His response was an organized strike of agricultural labor, a first strike action by oppressed agricultural laborers of the region. They withdrew from the paddy fields owned by the oppressor castes until the government acceded to their demand for removing restrictions based on caste to education. Ayyankali was also central to the success of the Pulaya challenge against the traditional strictures that prohibited females of the community from covering their upper body in the public. The oppressor caste Hindus had insisted the custom was necessary to distinguish the low status of untouchable people. During the 19th century, this belief came under increasing attack from various untouchable groups and Christian missionaries. The Channar revolt, helped the Nadar people to not follow the practice before Ayyankali's birth. However, this revolt did not do anything for the Pulaya self-dignity to cover themselves until 1915–16. Representation Ayyankali later became a member of the assembly of Travancore, known as the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly (SMPA) or Praja Sabha. Public acceptance, honors and veneration In 2002, Ayyanakali was commemorated on an Indian postage stamp. The historian P. Sanal Mohan has described Ayyankali as "the most important leader of modern Kerala". He is also known as the Kerala Spartacus. The anniversary of Ayyankali's birth has been celebrated by his descendants and by special interest groups. See also Sree Narayana Guru Chattampi Swamikal Dr. Palpu Kumaranasan Rao Sahib Dr. Ayyathan Gopalan Brahmananda Swami Sivayogi Vaghbhatananda Mithavaadi Krishnan Moorkoth Kumaran Ayya Vaikundar Pandit Karuppan References Notes Citations Bibliography Indian caste leaders 1863 births 1941 deaths Scholars from Thiruvananthapuram Dalit activists Members of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly Indian social reformers People of the Kingdom of Travancore 20th-century Indian scholars 19th-century Indian scholars Activists from Kerala 19th-century Indian politicians 20th-century Indian politicians Politicians from Thiruvananthapuram