A. P. Udhayabhanu

Alumoottil Padeetathil Udayabhanu (1 October 1915 – 15 December 1999) was an Indian freedom fighter, politician, journalist, writer, and social activist from the state of Kerala.

Udayabhanu was a leader of the Indian National Congress and served as the president of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (known at the time as the Thiru-Kochi Pradesh Congress). He was first elected to the Travancore Legislative Assembly in 1944. As a journalist, Udayabhanu worked as the chief editor of many newspapers, including Mathrubhumi. His articles and columns appeared in many Malayalam periodicals and newspapers on a regular basis, primarily commenting on social issues.

Personal life Udayabhanu was born on 1 October 1915 to Kunhiraman Channar of the Komath family and Narayani Channatti of the Alummoottil family, in Muttom near Haripad of Central Travancore. Udayabhanu got his family name, Alumoottil Padeetathil, through matrilineal succession.

The Alummoottil family, had their family title as Channar. He pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1936, as well as a Bachelor of Law degree. He practiced law in the courts of Mavelikkara and Thiruvananthapuram, beginning 1940. and one of Kerala's first female MPs in the Rajya Sabha. She was also a writer, and her autobiographical work Aṭukkaḷayilninnu Pārlimentilēkku (From Kitchen to Parliament) won her the Kerala Sahitya Academy Award in 1960. She died in 1983. The couple had 5 children. He participated in the freedom struggle actively. He also served as chairman of the Kerala Government Prohibition Commission responsible for the Udayabhanu Commission Report on Alcohol Policy, in response to growing anti-liquor protests following incidents of methanol poisoning in the state. Udayabhanu additionally chaired the A. P. Udayabhanu Commission for the Kerala Jail Reforms Committee, tasked with studying prison administration and living conditions in the state and suggesting reforms. The committee released a report spanning 1991–1993.

Along with Lakshmi N. Menon, Udayabhanu was one of the founders of the non-governmental organization Alcohol & Drug Information Centre (ADIC-India), and he acted as its president after Menon's death, until 15 December 1999. Udayabhanu also served as chairperson of the Kerala chapter of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Journalistic career Udayabhanu held editorial positions at a number of newspapers. He established the newspaper Prabodham in 1948, from Alappuzha, and later acted as chief editor at Deenabandhu. In 1993, he was honored with the Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for lifetime contributions. Swadeshabhimani Award for contributions to journalism in 1993 Editor K. Sukumaran Memorial Award in 1995 C. Achyutha Menon Award for contribution to public work