IMMANUVEL DEVENDAR STAMP RELEASE

The Government of India had issued a postal stamp in his name, honouring him as a freedom fighter, political leader and a civil rights activist, but such is the reach of the undeclared ban on him in the Indian internets that we have to turn to these details, ironically, from an affidavit filed, as part of a petition, in the Madras High Court by E.Pa. Jeevankumar, State Senior General Secretary of Bahujan Samaj Party (published as part of this news article in The Hindu) as a source of preliminary information:  

Immanuel Sekaran Devendar was born to Vedhanayagam, a school teacher and founder of Devendra Kula Vellalar Sangam, on October 9, 1924.

He participated in the Quit India movement at the age of 18 and was imprisoned for three months by the then British government.

In 1945, he joined the Indian Army as Havildar Major.

After serving the Army for a few years, he returned to Paramakudi to become a Youth Congress leader.

He knew seven languages including Russian.

He worked towards uplifting the Dalits and organised 'Annihilation of Caste Conference' in Madurai. The conference was presided over by B.R. Ambedkar.

He also coordinated many village-level meetings and fought against caste-based discrimination.

He worked strenuously for promotion of social justice and equality of the downtrodden people, especially Devendars, until being murdered during the 1957 riots.