Stories of Courage #7: Dakshayani Velayudhan

Dakshayani Velayudhan (4 July, 1912 – 20 July, 1978) was born into the Pulaya community in Mulavukad in Cochin State (now Kerala).  She was the first and only woman Dalit member of the Constituent Assembly of the Indian Constitution. She was among the first people in her community to be educated. She is the first Scheduled Caste woman graduate in India, and the first woman from her community to wear an upper cloth in defiance of upper caste laws against lower cate women covering themselves. She was a vocal member of the Constituent Assembly, advocating for the education of people from Scheduled Castes. Today the Government of Kerala bestows the Dakshayani Velayudhan Award on women who contribute to the empowerment of women in Kerala.

Sources

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dakshayani_Velayudhan
  2. https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/remembering-dakshayani-velayudhan-lone-dalit-woman-constituent-assembly-92265
  3. https://www.thebetterindia.com/133271/dakshayani-velayudhan-dalit-woman-india-constituent-assembly/
  4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1ldVv2TFZME
  5. https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/history-headline-remembering-dakshayani-a-remarkable-dalit-life-5698513/

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