Anniversary Special : K. Kelappan (Kerala's Gandhi)

K. Kelappan was born in calicut on 24th August,1889. He is famously known as " Dakshin ka Gandhi" or Kerala's Gandhi.   He was a founding member and president of Nair Service Society, a reformer, freedom fighter, educationist and journalist. 

He fought for social reforms on one hand and the British on the other.  As an activist Koyapalli Kelappan led the Indian National Congress in the state of Kerala. Due to his close association with Mahatma Gandhi, the people of Kerala came to know of Gandhian ideals essentially through his personality. Hence, he came to be known as Kerala Gandhi. He worked hard for the upliftment of harijans and abolition of untouchability.

Upon the call of Gandhi for boycotting the British, Kelappan decided to give up his studies and dedicate himself in the service of the Motherland. He kept fight at two fronts – on the one hand with the evils in society, and British colonial rule on the other. He was an ideal Satyagrahi, who led the Payyanur and Calicut Salt Satyagraha.

He was the editor of Mathrubhumi in 1929 and 1936. He also became the editor of Samadarshi in 1954. He had set up many harijan hostels and schools in kerala.

He was chosen as the first satyagrahi from Kerala in the Individual Satyagraha Movement launched by Gandhiji. In addition to this, he also played a prominent role in the Vaikom Satyagraha and Guruvayoor Satyagraha in the year 1932. He  died on 7th October,1971.