A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel: 30th Death Anniversary Bulletins
The “Bulletins” page documents the planning, progress, and activities related to the 30th death anniversary commemoration of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, covering the period from April to November 2026.
Contents
Bulletin 1
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, 15 April 2026
On Monday, 6 April 2026, between 8–9 am IST, a call took place between Sunil Abraham and Tito Dutta. During the call, Sunil shared his vision and ideas for the 30th death anniversary commemoration.
Following discussions with his brothers and other family members, Sunil outlined three objectives for the upcoming commemoration:
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Essays not in Collected Works: A significant number of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s writings have been published in the collected volume Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation (2006). However, additional essays, papers, and lectures remain outside this collection. Work has already begun on identifying and documenting some of these on The Sunil Abraham Project. In the coming months, efforts will continue to locate further materials that are either unpublished or not included in the collected works. These may be compiled, documented, and, depending on progress, published as an ebook with an ISBN. A limited number of printed copies may also be considered.
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Unpublished manuscript: At the time of his death in 1996, A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel was working on a manuscript titled Dalit and Hindu Religious Identity, intended to examine the relationship between caste identity and faith traditions in India. Sunil expressed the intention to work towards completing this unfinished manuscript. This will require careful study, collection of materials, and preparatory work over the coming months. It has been suggested that the formal announcement of this effort may be made on Sunday, 29 November 2026, following sufficient groundwork.
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Storytelling for everyone: Sunil proposed developing accessible storytelling formats, including slide decks, presentations, and other mediums, to communicate the core ideas of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s academic and literary work. The aim is to present these ideas in a way that is understandable and engaging for a wider audience, including those who may not be familiar with South Indian society, caste structures, or Dalit movements. Care will be taken to handle these themes with clarity and sensitivity while ensuring accessibility.
🧑🤝🧑 Event in Bengaluru: An in-person event will take place in Bengaluru, Karnataka on Sunday, 29 November 2026. The exact venue and schedule will be decided later. Planned activities may include a commemoration programme, presentations on A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s life and works, and an exhibition.
Please add this date to your calendar and let us know if you are interested in attending. Further details will be shared in due course.
This concludes the first bulletin in this series. The second bulletin will be published on Friday, 15 May 2026.
Bulletin 2
🗓️ Date: Friday, 15 May 2026
Over the last one month, much of the work related to the 30th death anniversary commemoration of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel focused on content creation, documentation, and expanding the archival material available on The Sunil Abraham Project.
Navigational Template: A navigational page, Template:A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, was created during this period. The template brings together pages related to A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, including family members, books, essays, papers, and related articles, and is generally placed at the bottom of associated pages to improve navigation across the archive.
The Role of Religion in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections: Published during this period was The Role of Religion in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections, an essay by A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel originally published in 1994 in The Role of the Philosopher Today, edited by Anand Amaladass, S.J. Structured around ten theses, the essay examines the relationship between religion, caste, social power, and liberation in the Indian context. A complete text version was also published as Full Text: The Role of Religion in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections.
Christian Dalits in Revolt: Christian Dalits in Revolt was also added to the archive. First published in Jeevadhara, Vol. XXIII No. 136, July 1993, the essay examines the structural and ideological conditions shaping the experiences of Dalits within Christian communities in India. A full text version is available at Full Text: Christian Dalits in Revolt.
The Religious Factor in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections: Work during this period also included The Religious Factor in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections, first published in 1996 in Culture Religion and Society: Essays in Honour of Richard W. Taylor. The essay examines how religion, caste, and social power shaped both the oppression and political awakening of Dalits in India. A full text version is available at Full Text: The Religious Factor in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections.
A Proposal for the Study of the Religious Heritage of the Dalits: An article was also prepared for A Proposal for the Study of the Religious Heritage of the Dalits: Some Methodological Considerations, first published in Religion and Society, Vol. 42, No. 1, March 1995. The essay explores Dalit religious traditions, shrines, myths, and ritual practices, particularly in Kerala, and their historical relationship with Brahmanical Hinduism. A full text version is available at Full Text: A Proposal for the Study of the Religious Heritage of the Dalits: Some Methodological Considerations.
Indian Religious Heritage and Social Transformation: Indian Religious Heritage and Social Transformation: Change of Perspective within the CISRS was also documented during this period. First published in Religion and Society, Volume XL, Nos. 1 & 2, March–June 1993, the essay reflects on changing intellectual and theological approaches within the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS) towards Hindu traditions, Indian society, and social transformation. A full text version is available at Full Text: Indian Religious Heritage and Social Transformation: Change of Perspective within the CISRS.
Religious Legitimation and Delegitimations of Social Relations of Power (of Caste): Another essay documented during this period was Religious Legitimation and Delegitimations of Social Relations of Power (of Caste): The Case of the Dalits in Historical Perspective, first published in Religion and Society, Volume XL, No. 4, December 1993. The essay examines how caste oppression was historically sustained through religious legitimation, while also tracing counter-traditions that challenged this social order. A full text version is available at Full Text: Religious Legitimation and Delegitimations of Social Relations of Power (of Caste): The Case of the Dalits in Historical Perspective.
Chinnapulayan: A full text page was also created for Chinnapulayan: The Dalit Teacher of Sankaracharya, making the complete essay available online as part of the ongoing archival work related to the writings of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel.
Works Citing A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel: One of the more ambitious archival efforts initiated during this period was Works Citing A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, a growing bibliographic collection of books, journal articles, theses, reports, and other publications that cite the works of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel. The references documented so far range from brief footnote and bibliography mentions to substantial academic engagement with his writings. Although the project is still at an early stage, five citations have already been identified and documented, with the expectation that the collection will continue to expand over time.
Bangla Article: Work also began during this period on দলিত মুক্তি আন্দোলনে ধর্মীয় প্রভাব: কিছু ভাবনা, a Bangla article based on The Religious Factor in Dalit Liberation: Some Reflections. The effort forms part of a broader attempt to make the writings and ideas of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel accessible to a wider readership beyond English-language audiences.
Bulletin 3
🗓️ Date: Monday, 15 June 2026
During the past month, work on the 30th death anniversary commemoration of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel continued through the documentation and publication of his essays and other scholarly works. A significant portion of the effort focused on expanding coverage of writings included in Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation (2006), while also bringing additional materials into the archive. During this period, work was completed on several essays that were not included in the collected volume.
Authority Control: A new page, Authority Control: A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, was created to bring together bibliographic identifiers, scholarly profiles, library catalogues, and archival references associated with A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel. The page is intended to serve as a central reference point for researchers seeking authoritative records and external databases relating to his work.
Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation: Two additional pages were added in connection with Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation, the 2006 collection of Ayrookuzhiel’s writings. These include the Foreword by Dr. Godwin Shiri and the Introduction by K. C. Abraham. Together, these texts provide valuable context for understanding the significance of the collection and its place within Dalit theological and social thought.
Religion and Culture in Dalits’ Struggle for Liberation: Religion and Culture in Dalits’ Struggle for Liberation was added to the archive during this period. Originally published in 1986, the essay examines the relationship between religion, culture, caste hierarchy, and Dalit resistance movements. Particular attention is given to questions of social power, cultural domination, and competing responses to caste oppression. A complete text version was also published as Full Text: Religion and Culture in Dalits’ Struggle for Liberation.
The Dalits, Religions and Inter-faith Dialogue: Another important essay documented during this period was The Dalits, Religions and Inter-faith Dialogue, first published in 1994. The essay explores the implications of Dalit struggles for inter-religious dialogue in India, arguing that conversations between faith traditions must take account of social realities such as caste and exclusion. A full text version is available at Full Text: Dalits, Religions and Inter-faith Dialogue.
Dalits’ Challenges to Religious Systems — A People Ignored by Church History: Work during this period also included Dalits’ Challenges to Religious Systems — A People Ignored by Church History, first published in 1989. The essay examines the emergence of Dalit movements, critiques dominant historical narratives, and reflects on the challenges these struggles pose to both religious institutions and conventional church histories. A complete text version was also published as Full Text: Dalits’ Challenges to Religious Systems — A People Ignored by Church History.
The Dalit Church’s Mission — A Dalit Response: The Dalit Church’s Mission — A Dalit Response was also added to the archive. Published in 1996, the essay reflects on the role of Christian churches in the struggle for Dalit liberation and discusses questions of mission, empowerment, dignity, and social transformation. A full text version is available at Full Text: The Dalit Church’s Mission — A Dalit Response.
Swami Anand Thirth: Two introductory texts connected with A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s study of Swami Anand Thirth were documented during this period. These include the Preface by Fr. Sebastian Kappen and the Introduction written by Ayrookuzhiel himself. Together, they provide background on the anti-untouchability activist, the historical context of the study, and the author’s approach to documenting social reform movements in Kerala.
Religion, Spirituality and Aspirations of the People: Another essay added during this period was Religion, Spirituality and Aspirations of the People, originally published in 1978. The essay examines popular aspirations for freedom, equality, justice, and human dignity, and considers the role of religion and spirituality in responding to these aspirations. A complete text version was also published as Full Text: Religion, Spirituality and Aspirations of the People.
Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation Notebook: An Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation Notebook was created during this period using Google’s NotebookLM platform. The notebook brings together materials related to Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation and serves as an experimental space for exploring the volume’s themes, sources, and historical context through AI-assisted analysis and discussion. (Google sign-in required.)
The continued publication of essays, supporting texts, and reference materials is helping to build a more comprehensive and accessible archive of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s writings and intellectual legacy.
This concludes the third bulletin in this series. The fourth bulletin will be published on Wednesday, 15 July 2026.
Bulletin 4 — Halfway Bulletin
🗓️ Date: Wednesday, 15 July 2026
This fourth bulletin marks the halfway point in the series documenting preparations for the 30th death anniversary commemoration of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel. While this is the fourth of eight planned bulletins, it marks the end of the third month of the seven-month preparation period, as the first bulletin primarily served as an announcement.
Between 12 April and 15 July 2026, 50 of the 59 pages currently listed under Category:A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel were created. This means that most of the content currently available in this category was created during the dedicated documentation initiative that began in early April as part of the preparations for the 30th death anniversary commemoration.
Pages created during the commemoration initiative
12 April–15 July 2026
Number of pages created during each bulletin reporting period. The opening period covers four days, from 12–15 April 2026; subsequent reporting periods run from the 16th of one month to the 15th of the next.
At this stage, progress against the three objectives outlined in the first bulletin is as follows:
- Essays not in the collected works — 🟡 Slightly behind schedule: Three essays and three book reviews not included in Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation have so far been published on The Sunil Abraham Project. We currently have access to another two or three essays and articles, while more than five additional essays and book reviews have been located but their full texts are not yet available to us. We are coordinating with the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS) and the United Theological College Library to explore the availability of these materials. Registration through isbn.gov.in has also been delayed, affecting preparations for the proposed ebook and ISBN.
- Unpublished manuscript — 🟢 On track: Initial transcription, organisation, and mapping of the unfinished manuscript have begun. The surviving materials include the planned work Dalits and Hindu Religious Identity and nine accompanying essays, all of which were subsequently published in Essays on Dalits, Religion and Liberation and are also available on The Sunil Abraham Project. Further transcription and study should provide a clearer understanding of the structure of the unfinished work and its relationship with these essays. Based on this work, a more detailed assessment can be made before the proposed announcement in November.
- Storytelling for everyone — 🟢 On track: Work on the storytelling initiative has begun. The relatively limited production of storytelling materials during the first three months was intentional, as priority was given to content creation and expansion before developing infographics and other formats from the available material. With a larger body of content now available, regular production of infographics and other storytelling materials is planned between July and November. A broader strategy for sharing these materials, particularly through social media, has not yet been developed.
👁️ In particular, further attention is needed in four areas:
- organising, describing, and tagging the growing collection of photographs;
- completing registration with the Raja Rammohun Roy National Agency for ISBN;
- developing a social media and content-sharing strategy; and
- building stronger connections with relevant institutions.
This Month’s Update
Between 15 June and 15 July 2026, the following work was undertaken:
Unfinished Manuscript: Work began on the Unfinished Manuscript of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel (Working Document). The page brings together material connected with the manuscript that Ayrookuzhiel left incomplete at the time of his death in 1996, tentatively titled Dalit and Hindu Religious Identity. The working document is being used for the study, organisation, and possible reconstruction of the unfinished manuscript.
Dalits and Hindu Religious Identity: Proposed Contents: A separate page, Dalits and Hindu Religious Identity: Proposed Contents (Working Document), was prepared from a transcription of page 74 of the unfinished manuscript. The page appears to contain a proposed title and table of contents for the planned volume and provides information about the possible structure of the unfinished work.
Chapter 2, Methodology: Another part of the unfinished manuscript was documented as Chapter 2, Methodology (Working Document). The chapter discusses the methodology proposed for studying caste-specific religious life and Dalit participation in Hindu religious traditions.
The Dalit Deśiyata: Two pages connected with Ayrookuzhiel’s 1990 edited volume The Dalit Deśiyata: The Kerala Experience in Development and Class Struggle were added during this period. The Dalit Deśiyata: The Kerala Experience in Development and Class Struggle documents the volume and its focus on Dalit communities, development, class struggle, and politics in Kerala. A separate page, The Dalit Deśiyata: Introduction, presents the introduction to the volume and its discussion of development, class struggle, and Deśiyata in relation to Dalit liberation.
Swami Anand Thirth: Two further chapters from Ayrookuzhiel’s 1987 study of Swami Anand Thirth were documented during this period. Swami Anand Thirth: Sannyasa for the Sake of Outcastes covers the social and political background of early twentieth-century Kerala as well as the Swami’s childhood, education, and early influences. Attempts to Create a Counter-Culture examines educational, social, and cultural initiatives undertaken to challenge caste discrimination and develop an alternative social order.
The Church and the Study of Religion: The Church and the Study of Religion was added to the archive during this period. The article examines approaches to the study of religion from the perspective of poor and marginalised communities, with particular reference to the Hindu religious tradition.
Book Reviews: Three book reviews by A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel, originally published in Religion and Society, were documented during this period. These are Approaches to the Study of Religion (Book Review), a review of the volume edited by Harbans Singh; Tamil Nadu: Deities and Devotees (Book Review), a review of the book by Gift Siromoney and K. R. Rajagopalan; and The Twice Alienated (Culture of Dalit Christians) (Book Review), a review of K. K. Wilson’s work on Dalit Christian culture.
Sacrafanations: Dalit Religion(s): Epistemology, Theology, and Politics: A page was added for Sacrafanations: Dalit Religion(s): Epistemology, Theology, and Politics, a 2023 edited volume by Y. T. Vinayaraj, jointly published by the Christian Institute for the Study of Religion and Society (CISRS) and the Indian Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge (ISPCK). The volume discusses Dalit religion, theology, epistemology, and politics and includes engagement with the intellectual work of A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel.
A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel Storytelling Project: The A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel Storytelling Project was documented during this period. The initiative is part of the preparations for the 30th death anniversary commemoration and explores ways of presenting A. M. A. Ayrookuzhiel’s life, writings, and ideas through accessible storytelling formats. The page outlines the objectives, editorial principles, workflow, and future plans for the project.
📄 This page was created on 12 April 2026. You can view its history on GitHub, preview the fileTip: Press Alt+Shift+G, or inspect the . Last updated on 17 July 2026.