caste system

On July 13, 1905, Kuriyedathu Thathri, who was a Namboodiri Brahmin, was put on trial under the age-old Smarthavicharam ritual for infidelity and promiscuity. This would result in her excommunication from her caste. But she fought for all 65 men, including the king of Kochi, to face equal consequences for their actions.

Her NGO, Nari Gunjan is active in five districts of Bihar and works through 850 Self-Help Groups, which run anganwadis, school dropout and adult education programmes.

Her short film has been chosen to compete at the Little Directors segment of the ongoing 20th International Children's Film Festival in Telangana.

Ayyankali is considered to be one amongst the first tide of social reformers from the erstwhile state of Travancore in British India, who paved the way for many radical changes towards elevating the social wellbeing of lower caste communities in the region and improving access to education.

The feisty women members of grassroots groups in Kerala, who would earlier not even dare to talk within the hearing of the upper caste employees, are now successfully setting the community development agenda for their local self government bodies.