Ayyan Kali

September 12, 2002

A commemorative postage stamp on Ayyankali, a social reformer from the princely state of Travancore, India [a part of the series ‘Personality Series : Social Reformers‘] :

Issued by India

Issued on Sep 12, 2002

Issued for : The Department of Posts is happy to honour the memory of these three great social reformers by issue of commemorative postage stamps.

Design : The design of First Day Cover symbolises the contributions of the three social reformers, viz. Ayyan Kali, Chandraprabha Saikiani and Gora.

Credits :
Stamp & FDC : Sankha Samanta
Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamps, Mint Condition

Colour : Four Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise each

Overall size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Printing Size : 2.90 x 3.91 cms.

Perforation : 13.5 x 13.5 with elliptical hole on each 39.1 mm sides

Paper : Matt Chromo

Stamps Printed : 0.4 million each

Number per issue sheet : 40

Printing Process : Photo Offset

Printer : Calcutta Security Printers Ltd.

Name : Ayyankali

Born on Aug 28, 1863 at Venganoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Travancore, British India [now Trivandrum, Kerala, India]

Died on Jun 18, 1941 at Madras Presidency, British India

About :

The Department of Posts is bringing out a set of commemorative postage stamps honouring three outstanding leaders of the country who strove to uphold the dignity and rights of the less privileged and to rid society of prevailing malpractices.
Ayyan Kali (1863-1941) led a struggle of epic proportions in Kerala against the evils of caste-based discrimination, of which he too was a victim. Hailing from the hamlet of Venganur near Thiruvananthapuram, he grew up to play a leadership role in many struggles against oppression and fought for the right to use public paths and wells and to open schools and temples for the untouchables. He floated the Sadhu Jana Paripalana Sanghom for the welfare of the depressed section of the society and was later nominated to the State Assembly by the Maharaja of Travancore. No less a person than Mahatma Gandhi, who had visited him at Venganur in 1937, appreciated his indefatigable leadership and contributions towards the emancipation of the downtrodden.
Text : Based on material furnished by the sponsors.