Noted social activist, Dalit thinker K.K. Kochu passes away

Noted Dalit thinker, writer, and social activist K.K. Kochu passed away here on Thursday (March 13, 2025).

Born on February 2, 1949, in Kallara, Kottayam district, he had been battling illness for a long time and was undergoing treatment for cancer at Kottayam Medical College before passing away this morning.

A prominent figure in Kerala’s Dalit advancement movement, K.K. Kochu made significant contributions as a writer, thinker, and orator. A recipient of several awards, his impact on society was widely recognised, and in 2021, he was honoured with the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for his comprehensive body of work.

During his student years, he was imprisoned for 16 days during the Emergency and later went underground for six months.

His autobiography Dalithan is regarded as a landmark work. He also authored several other notable books, including The Distance to Buddha (Buddhanilekkulla Dooram), A History Lesson for Nationalism, Kerala History and Social Formation, The Time Without the Left, and Riot and Culture. ₹

K.K. Kochu joined KSRTC as a clerk in 1977 and retired as a senior assistant in 2001. He was deeply involved in activism, leading the Communist Yuvajana Vedi, the People’s Workers’ Union, and Manushyavakasha Samithi (Human Rights Committee). In 1986, he became a member of the Central Committee of the Zedian organization and also served as the editor of Zedian weekly.

MV Govindan, State secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condoled Kochu’s demise and remembered him for his relentless struggle to fight and document the fights of the Dalits for their rights across the country.

Published – March 13, 2025 01:48 pm IST