Acclaimed Dalit thinker And Writer K K Kochu Dies At 76
Kottayam, Kerala: Renowned Dalit thinker and writer K K Kochu died on Thursday. He was 76. Kochu was undergoing treatment for cancer in the palliative care of the Kottayam Medical College Hospital. A prominent face in Dalit politics, he was an indomitable force in the Kerala’s cultural sphere, vocal about the rights of Dalits and empowerment of marginalised communities.
He is a native of Kallara in Kottayam district. Born on February 2, 1949, Kochu had his education from N S S High School, Kallara and Maharajas College, Ernakulam. During his student years, Kochu was imprisoned for 16 days during the time of Emergency and later he went to underground for six months.
He made remarkable contributions as a writer and orator. Some of his renowned works include Deshiyathakkoru Charithrapadam, Budhanilekkulla Dhooram, Kalapavum Samskaravum, Keralacharithravum Samooharoopeekaranavum, Idathupakshammillatha Kalam, and Dalit Padam.
His autobiography Dalithan, is a landmark work reflecting upon the lives of Dalits in Kerala, which is also documentation cultural history of the State is a thought-provoking one. It has won several awards and has been translated in to English, titled Dalithan: An Autobiography by Radhika P. Menon.
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In 1977, Kochu started working as a clerk in Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and retired as a senior assistant in 2001. As a social activist, he heading Communist Yuvajana Vedi, the People’s Workers’ Union, and Manushyavakasha Samithi (Human Rights Committee).
