Pampady Joseph
| Born | John Joseph 26 January 1887 Naduparampil, Kanakkary, Kottayam |
|---|---|
| Died | 18 July 1940 56 yrs |
| Resting place | Thiruvananthapuram |
| Pen name | Pampady John Joseph |
| Occupation | Teacher |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Citizenship | Indian |
| Alma mater | Pampady Mission School |
| Subject | Dalit Liberation |
| Notable works | Sadhujan Dootan (Periodical), Cheramar Doothan (periodical), Cheruma Boy |
| Spouse | Saara |
John Joseph (1887 - 1940), known as Pampady John Joseph was a Dalit activist and the founder of the socio-religious movement Cheramar Maha Sabha [1] He was the first General Secretary. . [1]
Early life...[1]
Joseph was born on 26 January 1887 at Kanakkary,Nadupparampil House, Kottayam to his father John and mother Mariam. His father was a Christian pastor who was converted from Pulaya (then untouchable) caste to Catholic Christian. Father John was a Pastor in CMS Church, Kanam, Pampady. Joseph was educated up to the seventh standard at Pampady Mission School. He became a Teacher in the same school. Then he accepted the offer to join as teacher in Alapra School, Perumpatty, Changanacherry. In 1914, during world war I, he joined military service and thereby visited many foreign countries. He acquired good command in foreign languages including English. He married Saara, daughter of Issac Asan, Anchaniyil, Narakathanam, Vennikulam .He shifted to Thiruvananthapuram in 1918.
Cheramar Maha Sabha
Joseph was of the opinion of Pulayars were the original inhabitants of Kerala and hence he re changed the caste name to Cheramar - which means the people of Kerala. They are considered as decedents of Chera Empire, ruled Kerala, also known as Keralaputras. They lived in a high cultural, economic and social status in the past. Pampady John Joseph Organised Cheramar Mahasabha on 13 February 1921. He was the first General Secretary. The sabha's intention was to struggle against the social inequality and obtain their lost rights under the banner of Sabha.He denoted that the cheramar,pulayar,parayar and kuravar are the adi dravida race in India. [1]
In 1925, Pampady John Joseph submitted a Mass petition also known as Cheramar Memorial to the HH King of Travancore to accept that the name of primitive people in Kerala is ‘Cheramar’, and hence this change was accepted. Cheramar means the people of Kerala.. [1] In the same year he conducted a march from Keezhukunnu, Kottayam up to ‘Hazur Kachery’ (present Taluk Office) as a protest against the untouchability and for right to walk in Kottayam town suffered by the then lower caste citizens.
Joseph worked in Sadhujan Paripalini,along with Ayyankali, a Magazine, in 1919, in which he wrote inspiring articles. In 1923, Pampady John Joseph started Cheramar Doothan periodical in Kottayam Town with P.J. Joseph as Chief Editor who is also was a key person in Cheramar Mahasabha. The latter arranged own press for printing the periodical. The magazine was live till 1930. [1] Later the press was confiscated due to debts. [1] Joseph allowed caste Christians as well as untouchable Hindus in Cheramar Maha Sabha, to be the members.[1] Joseph, in his book Cheruma Boy, was questioning the Syrian Christian's apathetic and discriminatory attitude towards the untouchable Christians. [1] The 95 year old Cheramar Mahasabha is still functioning with Parampuzha Gopi as the present General Secretary
Joining Shri Moolam Legislative Assembly, Travencore
In 1931, he was nominated by Ayyankali to ‘Sreemoolam Praja Sabha’( Sree Moolam Legislative Assembly), entered Sabha on 8 June 1931 and became a member of the Shri Moolam Legislative Assembly, Travancore.
In 1935, Joseph felt that the Catholic Churches in Travencore [where?] was not treating newly converted Christians as equals to their Syrian counterparts, leading to dissatisfaction among the converts. He prepared a memorandum depicting the serious inequality suffered by newly converted Christians prevailed in Churches and submitted to British Parliament and pleaded it to accord all the civil rights to untouchables on a par with the others. The same was discussed in British Parliament on 24 April 1935. A delegation from British Parliament visited Kottayam and Studied the causes. During the tenure as a member in Sreemoolam Praja Sabha, he demanded representation in Public Service Commission from all categories of society based onrespective population. The then Commissioner was G.D Nokes .The office of Public Service Commissioner Travencore continued to function till the integration of Travancore and Cochin States. Even after the delegation, he found untouchable Christians not getting equal privilege and treatment in the Church, Joseph advised to construct own Churches and temples. Along with Ayyankali and Poykayil Appachan,Pambady John Joseph acquired land and distributed among Dalits.[1] Pampady John Joseph was instrumental in bringing social-religious movements in the State to generate awareness about Civil rights in the minds of people of his community.Along with Ayyankali and Poykayil Appachan,Pambady John Joseph acquired land and distributed among Dalits.[1]
He died on 18 July 1940 ( 1115 Karkidakom 2) at Thiuvananthapuram at the age 56. The funeral was done at LMS Church.
References
- ^ a b c d e f Rāmacandra Kshīrasāgara (1 January 1994). Dalit Movement in India and Its Leaders, 1857-1956. M.D. Publications Pvt. Ltd. pp. 287–. ISBN 978-81-85880-43-3. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
2. THP Chentharassery , Pampady John Joseph ( Malayalam) Trivandrum -1989was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
3. Encyclopaedia of Dalits in India, Leaders edited by Sanjay Paswan ,Pramanshi Jaideva.was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
4. Emergence of a slave caste : Pulayas of Kerala -Kunjulekshmi Saradamoni -1980was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
5. Elamkulam Kunjan Pillai : Annathe Keralamwas invoked but never defined (see the help page).