Sahodaran Ayyappan

Kumbalathuparambu Ayyappan (21 August 1889 – 6 March 1968), better identified as Sahodaran Ayyappan , was a social reformer, thinker, rationalist, journalist, and politician from Kerala, India. As a vocal follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was associated with a number of events related to the Kerala reformation movement and was the organizer of Misra Bhojanam in Cherai in 1917. He founded Sahodara Sangam, and the journal Sahodaran and was the founder editor of the magazine Yukthivadi.

Biography

K. Ayyappan was born on 21 August 1889, in Cherai, Vypin Island, in Ernakulam district of the present day south Indian state of Kerala in an aristocratic Ezhava family of ayurvedic physicians to Kumabalathuparambil Kochavu Vaidyar and Unnooli, as the youngest of their nine children. Due to matrilineal inheritance, he is not related more to father and His father died when he was a child and was brought up under the guidance of his elder brother, Achuthan Vaidyar. His early education was in the traditional way and he learnt from local teachers such as Mattapilla Kannu Asan and Kochupilla Asan after which he started the formal education at a local school started by Nediyara Achan Bava. Subsequently, he studied at schools in Pallippuram and North Paravur before passing the pre-degree course from Malabar Christian College to join Maharaja's College, Thiruvananthapuram, the present-day University College for his under graduate studies. In between, there was a short break in studies due to health issues. He died on 6 March 1968, at the age of 78, following a cardiac arrest. Around 200 people including members representing the Pulaya caste, who were considered untouchable attended the feast and the effort earned him the moniker, Pulaya Ayyappan, meant to be derogatory but Ayyappan accepted it as a decoration. The founding of the Sahodara Sangham also earned him another epithet, Sahodaran Ayyappan, with which he came to be known thereafter.

Narayana Guru supported the efforts of Sahodara Sangham through a message sent on 15 May 1921, the journal continued to be in print until 1956. He also served as a minister under Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai but resigned the post when the ministerial responsibilities interfered with his social life. Besides, he also wrote several articles and editorials which appeared in the publications he was associated with. The Government of Kerala has set up Sahodaran Ayyappan Memorial at the house where Ayyappan was born which houses Sahodaran Ayyappan Smaraka Library and the Sahodaran Ayyappan museum. Three educational institutions in Kerala bear the name of Ayyappan, viz. Sahodaran Ayyappan Smaraka (SNDP) Yogam College, Konni, Pathanamthitta district, Sahodaran Memorial High School, Cherai, and the Sahodaran Ayyappan Memorial College of Education, Poothotta. One of the main arterial roads in Kochi has been named after him as Sahodaran Ayyappan Road. An annual award, the Sahodaran Media Award, has been instituted to recognize excellence in journalism.

Popular media A documentary film about Sahodaran Ayyappan, part of a series of films on prominent Malayalis, was narrated by M. K. Sanu, who also wrote a biography of him.

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