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V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan

(1909 – 2004) – (Kerala)

V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan (Aged 95), born in 1909, was a prominent Indian freedom fighter, Gandhian, journalist, trade unionist, and Indian National Congress leader from Thrissur, Kerala. He played a crucial role in founding the Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam, serving as its founder general secretary since its establishment on 26 January 1941. Ezhuthachan also founded the now-defunct Deenabandhu daily, which was published from Thrissur.

After securing a gold medal in the 10th grade, Ezhuthachan went on to graduate in Economics and Law (BL), ranking high in his class. When Mahatma Gandhi visited Thrissur in 1925, Ezhuthachan met him and became involved in the freedom struggle. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan, an active member of the Cochin State Congress Party, was his political mentor. With the formation and activities of Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam, V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan made a name for himself in politics.

On 9 February 1941, the Prajamandal was formed, with V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan serving as its founder general secretary. He was awarded the Thamarapathra by the nation for his exceptional service in the Indian independence movement. He also received other significant awards such as the University of Madras award for the study of Gramoddharanam in 1931.

Ezhuthachan was awarded the Sadanandan award and the Prof. K. M. Chandy award for his contributions to the Cooperative movement in India. He also received the Swathanthra Kanakopaharam from the Kerala Press Foundation, the Ramasrama award for his exceptional service in social and literature fields, the Thrissur Sahrudaya Vedhi award, and the Tomyas award. Ezhuthachan was a poet and had contributed to the field of literature. He was honored with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his autobiography “V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan: Aathmakadha” in 2000. He passed away in 2004.