DAKSHAYANI VELAYUDHAN (1912–1978)
Dakshayani Velayudhan was a pioneering Dalit leader, staunch Gandhian, and ardent supporter of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s advocacy for Scheduled Caste rights. Born in 1912 in Mulavukad village, Ernakulam district (Kerala), she belonged to the Pulaya community, one of the most marginalized groups of her time. She was among the first generation from her community to receive formal education, completing her B.A. in 1935 and her Teachers Training Course (TTC) from the University of Madras in 1938, with support from Cochin State government scholarships.
Her marriage to fellow Dalit leader and future MP R. Velayudhan was solemnized at Sevagram in the presence of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba Gandhi, with a leprosy patient officiating the ceremony—symbolizing their deep commitment to social reform. From 1935 to 1945, she worked as a teacher in government high schools in Trichur and Tripunithura. In 1945, she was nominated to the Cochin Legislative Council, and a year later, she became the first and only Scheduled Caste woman elected to the Constituent Assembly of India. She served as a member of the Constituent Assembly (1946–1950) and the Provisional Parliament (1950–1952), focusing on issues of decentralization, moral safeguards for the Scheduled Castes, and inclusive education.
To honour her legacy, the Government of Kerala has instituted the Dakshayani Velayudhan Award, recognizing women who contribute significantly to the empowerment of other women in the state.
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