Kallen Pokkudan

Kallen Pokkudan, also known as Kandal Pokkudan, was an Indian environmental activist and writer from Kerala. He was known for his efforts for the protection and proliferation of the mangrove forests in Kerala, since 1989.

Pokkudan was born in 1937 at Iddukkil Thara, a hamlet in the remote village of Ezhom Moola, near Pazhayangadi, in Kannur district in the south Indian state of Kerala in a tribal family to Aringelayan Govindan Parotti and Kallen Vellachi. He had minimal education which extended only up to 2nd standard and he took to Communism at the age of 18. He was more aligned to the radical group in the Communist Party of India, was involved in many peoples movement and was arrested on many occasions. He was an accused in many cases related to farmers unrests including a murder case and was incarcerated several times. When the party split in 1964, he took sides with the Communist Party of India but dealigned from party ranks in the 1980s when he became disenchanted with them.

Source: Wikipedia