K.A. Keraleeyan (Aged 84) born in 1910, was one of the founding leaders of the Communist Party of India in Kerala. He was born on April 15, 1910, in Chirakkal Taluk in Kannur district. After going to Thanjavur to study Sanskrit, he was unable to finish due to his involvement in the Indian National Movement. Upon his return, he joined Vijnanadayini Sanskrit School in Kanjangadu and continued his studies.
When the procession for the legendary Salt March began from Kozhikode to Payyanur, he joined it along with P. Krishna Pillai, K. Madhavan, and others. Following a protest against Gandhiji’s arrest, he was arrested and brought before the court. After participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement, he was imprisoned again and sent to Central Jail in Kannur. In 1932, he formed Karshakasamgham, the pioneering farmers’ organization in Kerala, and became a worker of the Congress Socialist party, which was formed by the left wingers of the Congress party.
He participated in the ‘Pattinijatha’ (literally meaning ‘starvation march’) to Madras from Malabar in 1932. Along with P. Krishna Pillai, he organized the workers of Aron Mill, Pappinissery, Cotton Mill, Thiruvannur, and Feroke Tiles. Later, he served as the secretary of Malabar Karshaka Sangham and Kisan Sangham. He was also a member of the central committee of All India Kisan Sabha. He led the Communist group of the Socialist party along with K. Damodaran, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, and N.C. Sekhar.
As a member of the Communist Party, he had to go underground and was arrested in Madras in 1942 and sent to Central Jail in Alipur. When the party was later banned, he went underground again. In the 1960s, he worked as the editor of the magazine Krushikkaran. Later, he was a member of the State Control Commission of the Communist Party of India. He wrote numerous articles as part of his social work in various periodicals, and his autobiography is considered a valuable historical document of the socialist and Communist movement in Kerala during its nascent days. He passed away on July 9, 1994, in Kozhikode.
K.A. Keraleeyan
(1910 – 1994) – (Kerala)
K.A. Keraleeyan (Aged 84) born in 1910, was one of the founding leaders of the Communist Party of India in Kerala. He was born on April 15, 1910, in Chirakkal Taluk in Kannur district. After going to Thanjavur to study Sanskrit, he was unable to finish due to his involvement in the Indian National Movement. Upon his return, he joined Vijnanadayini Sanskrit School in Kanjangadu and continued his studies.
When the procession for the legendary Salt March began from Kozhikode to Payyanur, he joined it along with P. Krishna Pillai, K. Madhavan, and others. Following a protest against Gandhiji’s arrest, he was arrested and brought before the court. After participating in the Non-Cooperation Movement, he was imprisoned again and sent to Central Jail in Kannur. In 1932, he formed Karshakasamgham, the pioneering farmers’ organization in Kerala, and became a worker of the Congress Socialist party, which was formed by the left wingers of the Congress party.
He participated in the ‘Pattinijatha’ (literally meaning ‘starvation march’) to Madras from Malabar in 1932. Along with P. Krishna Pillai, he organized the workers of Aron Mill, Pappinissery, Cotton Mill, Thiruvannur, and Feroke Tiles. Later, he served as the secretary of Malabar Karshaka Sangham and Kisan Sangham. He was also a member of the central committee of All India Kisan Sabha. He led the Communist group of the Socialist party along with K. Damodaran, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, and N.C. Sekhar.
As a member of the Communist Party, he had to go underground and was arrested in Madras in 1942 and sent to Central Jail in Alipur. When the party was later banned, he went underground again. In the 1960s, he worked as the editor of the magazine Krushikkaran. Later, he was a member of the State Control Commission of the Communist Party of India. He wrote numerous articles as part of his social work in various periodicals, and his autobiography is considered a valuable historical document of the socialist and Communist movement in Kerala during its nascent days. He passed away on July 9, 1994, in Kozhikode.
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