KK Kochu, a well-known Dalit thinker, writer, and social activist from Kerala, passed away on March 13 at the age of 76. He was receiving treatment at Kottayam Government Medical College Hospital.
Born on February 2, 1949, in Kallara, Kottayam district, Kochu dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of Dalits and marginalised communities. His activism started during his student days at Kallara NSS High School and Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam.
He was jailed for 16 days for his political activities and had to go into hiding for six months during the Emergency period from 1975 to 1977.
Kochu helped form several progressive organisations, including the Communist Youth Forum, the People’s Workers’ Union, and the Human Rights Committee. In 1977, he joined the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) as a clerk and retired in 2001 as a senior assistant.
His writing career began in 1971 when he won second prize in a college drama competition organized by Mathrubhumi weekly.
Over the years, he wrote several important books, including Budhanilekkulla Dhooram, Deshiyathakkoru Charithrapadam, Keralacharithravum Samooharoopeekaranavum, Idathupakshammillatha Kalam, Dalit Padam, and Kalapavum Samskaravum.
His autobiography, Dalithan (2019), tells the story of his childhood in flood-prone Madhuraveli, Kottayam, and is considered a major work in Dalit literature.
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In 1986, Kochu joined SEEDIAN, a group founded by educated Dalits in Kerala, and became a central committee member. He also served as the editor of its weekly publication. He was a strong critic of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and pointed out how their land reforms mostly helped small farmers while Dalit agricultural workers remained landless.
This led to independent Dalit-led land struggles in the 1990s, such as the Muthanga and Chengara agitations, which received little support from mainstream political parties.
Kochu was honored with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contributions in 2020 for his impact on literature and social issues. His death is a great loss to Kerala’s literary and social movements.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan described him as a dedicated activist, writer, and thinker whose work had a lasting impact. He said Kochu’s writings and activism brought attention to Dalit struggles and that his passing is deeply mourned by his family, friends, and colleagues.
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