The quotable Dakshayani Velayudhan
A woman. A graduate. A Dalit. And a vocal advocate of social equality in the Constituent Assembly. Dakshayani Velayudhan was one of a kind. And she was unafraid of speaking up to the powerful
At this critical juncture in the history of India’s democracy, it is opportune to remember Dakshayani Velayudhan. A visionary who rose from the depths of the oppressive caste system to become a prominent voice in India's struggle for independence, she was a key figure in the making of the Indian Constitution.
Dakshayani Velayudhan was born on July 15, 1912 into a family of the marginalised Pulaya community in Mulavukad, a small island in what is today Kerala’s Ernakulam district. Dakshayani experienced firsthand the indignities and injustices perpetuated by the caste hierarchy. Despite being relegated to the lowest rungs of society, she was inspired by her family's involvement in civil disobedience movements against upper-caste dominance.
One event that particularly fuelled her fire was the Kayal Sammelanam of 1913. Hundreds of Pulayas, including Dakshayani's own family, gathered on small boats in the backwaters because they were forbidden from assembling on land. It was a powerful display of defiance, and it left an indelible mark on Dakshayani's young mind. The incident was etched into her consciousness and it fuelled her resolve to fight against the discriminatory practices entrenched in society. Her life's journey became a testament to her belief that "The Sea has no Caste," a phrase she requested as the title of her biography.
“As long as untouchability remained,” Dakshayani was quoted as saying, “the word Harijan was meaningless; it was like calling dogs Napoleon.”
Dakshayani's entry into active politics was motivated by her family's activism, leading her to become a vocal critic of Congress politics and the All India Scheduled Castes Federation (AISCF). Despite facing vehement opposition and sexist attacks, she was elected to the Constituent Assembly in 1946, representing the Madras constituency as its youngest member and the only Dalit woman.
Within the Assembly, Dakshayani distinguished herself as an independent voice, unafraid to challenge popular opinions. Her interventions during critical debates showcased her commitment to a more inclusive and decentralised India. She advocated for a constitution that not only mediated the state-society relationship but also addressed the deep-rooted inequalities within society itself.
Unafraid of speaking up to power, she took on the most of skilled debaters with her conviction, sparing no quarter in attacking what she saw as flaws in the drafting of the constitution.
“It is a great tragedy that in making the constitution of a great country with thirty crores of people, with a great culture behind it and the great principles and teachings of the greatest man of the world on the surface, we were only able to produce a constitution that is totally foreign to us,” said Dakshayani.
Dakshayani's speeches within the Constituent Assembly reflect her unwavering commitment to equality and justice. She emphasised the importance of moral safeguards, opposed separate electorates, criticised the centralising tendencies of the draft constitution, and advocated for fundamental rights against exploitation and forced labour. She emphasised that the Constituent Assembly should go beyond framing a Constitution and “give people a new framework for life.”
“The underdogs of this land are deprived of the facilities that make life happy,” said Dakshayani.
Her vision for India transcended the confines of caste and community, envisioning a nation where the underprivileged would rise to become the rulers, empowered by their collective voice and agency.
"The working of the Constitution," observed Dakshayani Velayudhan, "will depend on how people conduct themselves in the future, not on the actual execution of the law."
Dakshayani's contributions extended beyond the Constituent Assembly. In September 1941, Dakshayani was married to R Velayudhan, a former research scholar at All India Harijan Sevak Sangh who was then serving as labour welfare officer at Tata Oil Mills, and later as information officer of the Government of India. Their wedding was held at Sevagram in Wardha with Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba as witnesses and a person with leprosy standing in as the priest.
Dakshayani and Velayudhan became one of the first Dalit couples to serve in the Provincial Parliament. She continued her advocacy for Dalit rights and women's empowerment, founding the Mahila Jagriti Parishad in Delhi in 1977.
At the time of her death on July 20, 1978, only days after her 66th birthday, Dakshayani Velayudhan left behind a legacy of resilience, courage, and unwavering dedication to social justice. Her legacy endures through the Dakshayani Velayudhan Award, instituted by the Kerala Government in 2019 to honour women dedicated to empowering others.
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