K. Kelappan

Kerala Gandhi K. Kelappan
Member of Parliament, Lok Sabha
In office 1952 (1952)–1957 (1957)
Preceded by	Vella Eacharan
Succeeded by	E. K. Imbichi Bava
Constituency	Ponnani, Madras State
President, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee
In office 1946 (1946)–1949 (1949)
Preceded by	P. K. Moideen Kutty Sahib
Succeeded by	Kumbalathu Sanku Pillai
President, Nair Service Society
In office 1914–1920
Preceded by	Office created
Succeeded by	Changanassery Parameswaran Pillai
Personal details
Born	Koyapalli Kelappan Nair (1889-08-24)24 August 1889 Muchukunnu, Koyilandy
Died	7 October 1971(1971-10-07) (aged 82) Kozhikode, Kerala
Nationality	Indian
Spouse	T. P. Lakshmi Amma
Children	T. P. K. Kidavu
Parents	T. Kanaran Nair (father) K. Kunjamma (mother)
Education	Graduate
Alma mater	University of Madras
Occupation	Freedom Fighter, Teacher, Editor and Founder President of Nair Service Society
Known for	Indian independence movement

In this Malayali name, the person is referred to by their given name, Kelappan, and not by their surname, Koyapalli.

Koyapalli Kelappan (24 August 1889 – 7 October 1971) was an Indian politician, independence activist, educationist and journalist. During the Indian independence movement, he was the lead figure of Indian National Congress in Kerala and was popularly known as Kerala Gandhi. After Indian independence, he held various seats in Gandhian organisations. He was the co-founder and the first president of the Nair Service Society and was also the founder of Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samiti (Temple Protection Movement).^[1][2][3]

Early life

Kelappan was born in the small village of Muchukunnu at Koyilandy in Kozhikode, Kerala as the son of Thenpoyil Kanaran Nair, a Clerk at Court and Koyapalli Kunjamma.^[4][5] Kelappan got his family name, Koyapalli, through matrilineal succession.

He studied in Kozhikode and Madras and graduated from the University of Madras before starting his career as a teacher at St. Berchmans High School, Changanassery. Kelappan was the founding President of the Nair Service Society and later became the principal of a school run by the society.^[6]

As reformer

He fought for social reforms on one hand and the British on the other. He fought relentlessly against untouchability and caste-based discrimination.^[7] Along with K. Kumar, he became the earliest in Kerala to remove the suffix to his name that implied caste-status.^[8] He was called Kerala Gandhi.^[6]

Kelappan labored incessantly for the equality of all sections of the people. He was a major influence on the Vaikom Satyagraha movement and later led the Guruvayur Satyagraha in 1932. During Gandhi's visit to Travancore to commemorate the Temple Entry Proclamation, he seconded the most critical resolution re-establishing faith in Gandhiji's leadership and the forward steps to be taken in conformity with the Gandhian approach to translate the spirit of the move for social equality. The resolution was presented by K. Kumar of Travancore, a veteran reformer and one of the leaders of the Vaikom Satyagraha who later came to be forgotten by people and historians.^[9]

Role post independence

After independence he left the Congress Party. He joined the Kisan Mazdoor Praja Party and was elected to Parliament from the Ponnani Lok Sabha seat in 1952. At the end of his term, he left active politics and became a Sarvodaya worker and was actively associated with Bhoodan Movement in Kerala.^[10]

Kelappan helped in starting Mathrubhumi and was its editor for several years. He worked for the unification of Kerala into a new linguistic state. He was also the president of many Gandhian organizations in Kerala including Kerala Sarvodaya Sangh, Kerala Gandhi Smarak Nidhi, Kerala Sarvodaya Mandal, and Gandhi Peace Foundation, Calicut.

Kelappan opposed the formation of Muslim-majority Malappuram District in Kerala arguing that it would create a 'mini Pakistan'. He was involved in the Tali Temple Movement which aimed at a temple resurrection near a mosque in Angadippuram, in Malapppuram which caused some communal tensions.^[11] Kelappan was instrumental in the Tali Temple Movement. But before its completion, Kelappan died on October 7, 1971. The temple built with his support stands alongside the mosque, symbolizing harmony among different communities.^[11][2][12]

Awards and recognition

In his honor India Post released a Commemorative stamp in 1990.^[13]

References

1. "K. Kelappan an unsung hero". The Hindu. 1 November 2012. Retrieved 18 January 2017.
2. Kuvalayamala (29 December 2019). "കേളപ്പജി: ആധുനിക കേരളത്തിന്റെ പിതാവ്". Medium. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
3. "കേരള ക്ഷേത്ര സംരക്ഷണ സമിതി: Kerala Kshetra Samrakshana Samithi". കേരള ക്ഷേത്ര സംരക്ഷണ സമിതി. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
4. "Freeindia > Biographies > Freedom Fighters > K. Kelappan". Freeindia.org. Sh. Kelappan Centenary State Committee Kerala. Archived from the original on 22 April 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
5. "1982 - കേളപ്പൻ എന്ന മഹാമനുഷ്യൻ - സി.കെ. മൂസ്സത് – ഗ്രന്ഥപ്പുര (Granthappura) – ഗ്രന്ഥപ്പുര (Granthappura)".
6. "Freeindia > Biographies > Freedom Fighters > K. Kelappan". Freeindia.org. Sh. Kelappan Centenary State Committee Kerala. Archived from the original on 22 April 2003. Retrieved 1 February 2011.
7. K. P. K. Menon (1972). The History of Freedom Movement in Kerala: (1885-1938) / by P.K.K. Menon. Government Press. p. 116.
8. K. Kumarji Smaraka Grantham - 1974 - (K. C Pillai)
9. Vaikom Satyagraha Rekhakal - (Prof P C Menon and Adv. P K Harikumar) Pages 353, 299, 160, 217,298 etc
10. "SOME PROMINENT LEADERS OF THE FREEDOM STRUGGLE IN KERALA". Retrieved 26 February 2013.
11. Ramji (7 December 1968). Samar Sen (ed.). "A Mini-Pakistan?" (PDF). Frontier Weekly. Calcutta. pp. 8–9.
12. "തളി ക്ഷേത്ര സമരനായിക യശോദാമാധവൻ അന്തരിച്ചു". Mathrubhumi. Archived from the original on 23 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
13. K. Kelappan Commemorative Stamp. Indianpost.com. Retrieved on 6 December 2018.