Unsung Heroes Detail

Dr. Velukkutty Arayan was born in Karunagapally in the Kollam district on 11 March 1894. He has completed his medicine course in both Ayurveda and Allopathy (English medicine) from Madras. In 1925, under the leadership of Velukkutty Arayan, a Savarna Jatha (procession) was organized supporting Vaikom Satyagraha. He was the head of the publicity committee to mobilize support for the success of Satyagraha. He strongly opposed the issue of untouchability in Travancore. He started a newspaper called ‘Arayan’ and strongly criticized the anti-Indian policies of the government. So, he is popularly known as Velukkutty Arayan. Due to his criticism of the government, his newspaper was captured and a heavy fine was imposed on the newspaper. His editorials in the newspaper were a serious criticism of the government. He organized workers in the factories and fishermen in the coastal area of Travancore in 1950s and 1960’s. He died in 1969.