2. PANDIT K P KARUPPAN
Pandit karuppan was a poet , dramatist and social reformer who lived in Kerala ,
India . K . P . Karuppan (Kandathiparambil paapu karuppan) was born on 24 may
1885 , at cheranelloor , near Ernakulum into a lower middle class family of dheevara
fishermen community to paapu and kochupennu . The family was known for skills
in toxicology and for treating snakebite victims . Pandit karuppan emerged from
Ernakulum of cochin state as a relentless crusader against untouchability and social
evils . He was called the “ Lincoln of Kerala “. As the first human activist of the
cochin state , he used his literary skills and organizational ability to combat illiteracy
, casteism , social injustice and superstitions . Founder of araya samajam .
Karuppan’s original name was shankaran .
3. PANDIT KARUPPAN’S LIFE
• Formal education : Azheekkal velu vaidyan
• Basics of Sanskrit language ; amarakosham , sidharoopam and sreeramodantham : Guru
Vadakke Valath Appu Ashan
• Then he learn ithihaas and puranas both ; his first literary work was strothramandaram
• While studying under Annamananda Rama Pothuval, he had to face the stiff resistance
from the students who belonged to upper caste families
• After the meeting, Maharajah was impressed with Karuppan's knowledge base and
invited him to Tripunitura Palace. At Tripunitura Palace, Karuppan was given an
advanced training in Sanskrit language by 'Sahridayathilakan' Rama Pisharody who was
the Principle Guru of the Royal family. Under him, Karuppan studied Sidhantha
Kaumudi, Sanithee Darpanam, and Manorama. Soon after the completion of the training,
Karuppan was appointed as a Sanskrit Teacher at St. Therasa's Convent Girls' High
School in Ernakulam
4. • Karuppan's appointment as a teacher was not accepted by the upper class parents
of the girls studying in the Caste Girls' High school
• When he was working as a teacher at the Girls' High School for the second time,
Pandit Karuppan was nominated as a member of the Cochin Legislative Council to
represent the lower castes from his constituency
• During his second tenure at Girls' High School, in August 1925, he was
nominated as a member of the Cochin Legislative Assembley to represent the
hitherto disenfranchised classes, in recognition of his tireless crusade for their
emancipation through writings and campaigns. As MLC, Karuppan presented their
problems and grievances before the authorities arguing for better education, health
and living conditions for them. He pressed the Government to establish a separate
Department for this purpose leading to the establishment of the Department for the
Protection of the Depressed Classes
5. • Persuaded the Government to provide scholarships, fee concessions and a number
of other incentives for the education of children from the depressed classes. He
wrote ”Aacharabhooshanam” to generate awareness among the depressed classes
against superstitions, the book being printed and distributed free of cost to the
public by the Government. The Depressed Classes Department was later renamed
the Harijan Welfare Department
• Pandit Karuppan was instrumental in starting fishery schools under the re-
organized Fisheries Department. The establishment of fish curing yards helped
promote fisheries as an industry and improve living conditions among the fishing
community
• Pandit Karuppan was then appointed as Secretary to the Elementary Education
Committee and the Bhashaparishkarana Committee. In 1931, he assumed the
newly created post of Superintendent of Vernacular Education of Cochin State
6. REFORMATION OF PANDIT KARUPPAN
• Karuppan decided to quit his teaching job to spend more time and energy
spearheading social reforms. With this purpose, he organized the people of his
own community into regional groups called sabhas. The main agenda of the
sabhas was to persuade people to fight ignorance and superstitions
• He gave equal emphasis to the emancipation of other communities too as seen
through the formation of the Cochin Pulaya Maha Sabha for the uplift of
the pulaya community in 1913
• Treated as untouchables by the upper caste Hindus, they were not allowed to
assemble in any common place for meetings. To keep such meetings away from
the eyes of the landlords, Karuppan asked the Pulayas to come in rowboats to the
expanse of the Ernakulam backwaters and tie their boats together. There, he
addressed them on a wooden-planked platform and charted out strategies for their
emancipation by forming a Sabhā. This is known as Kayal Sammelanam
7. • Karuppan persuaded other communities like Velas , Sambhavs ,
Ulladas and Kudumbis to form similar Sabhās to give momentum to their fight
against social evils and discrimination
• The caste system in Cochin State barred the Pulayas were prohibited from
entering the streets of Ernakulam or walking on important public roads . Karuppan
waited for a favourable opportunity to tackle the issue
• The Government organized an exhibition of agricultural products in which the ,
W.H. Bhore , was the guest of honour. Karuppan , during his speech, brought to
the attention of the Diwan that the Pulayas, who had laboured hard to cultivate the
agricultural products showcased in the exhibition, were not allowed to see the
exhibition. Touched by the words of Karuppan, the Diwan ordered the organizers
to allow the Pulayas to enter the grounds. Karuppan then took them to the
exhibition site in a procession, having already asked them to arrive and wait in
their country boats on the Vembanad lake. From that day, the Pulayas could enter
Ernakulam Town and Karuppan had secured the right to walk on public roads for
the Pulayas and other depressed classes
• Pandit Karuppan died of pleurisy on 23 March 1938 at the age of 53
8. CONCLUSION
Pandit Karuppan emerged from Ernakulam of Cochin State as a
relentless crusader against untouchability and social evils . He was
called the “Lincoln" of Kerala for steering socio-economically and
educationally backward communities to the forefront. Hailing from a
community of inland fishermen who engaged in localised fishing in
backwaters and rivers, Karuppan became a Sanskrit scholar, poet and
dramatist of repute. As the first human rights activist of the Cochin
State, he used his literary skill and organizational ability to
combat illiteracy, social injustice , casteism, and superstitions. He
campaigned for the rights of lower caste people, who at that time were
not even permitted to enter Ernakulam
9. REFERNCES
• https://www.revolvy.com/main/index.php?s=Pandit%20Karuppan
• Pandit Karuppan – A social reformer with an artistic bend of mind
www.spiderkerala.net › ... › Famous Personalities › Kerala Historical Personalities
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pandit_Karuppan
• Kerala PSC: RENAISSANCE OF KERALA
keralapscclasses.blogspot.com/2014/07/renaissance-of-kerala.html
