Fr. Joseph Vadakkan
Encyclopedia
Fr. Joseph Vadakkan was a political activist priest of Kerala
in India
, freedom fighter, and the founder of the political party known as Karshaka Thozilali Party (KTP). Vadakkan organised many agitations and took part in protest marches, satyagrahas, and rallies. He was also arrested and jailed. He was reprimanded by his own Church.
Fr. Vadakkan was born at Thoyakkavu as the son of Vadakkan Ittikkuru and Kunjila Ittikkuru. While working as a young teacher, Joseph took part in the Quit India Movement
by organizing teachers. The weekly Thozhilali (labourer) that he started later grew into a daily newspaper. When the Vimochana Samaram
, an agitation against the first Communist ministry broke out in 1958, Vadakkan played a leading role. However, he allied with communists like the A. K. Gopalan
in some other agitations. Later, he organised struggles for the cause of settler farmers in Kerala and founded the KTP with B. Wellington as President.
Vadakkan’s unconventional ways soon brought him into conflict with the Church. The Church disliked his alliance with the communists. Vadakkan conducted a Holy Mass in Thekkinkadu Maidan, in Thrissur
, which led to controversy. He was suspended from conducting mass for 8 years, but remained a priest.
Fr. Vadakkan wrote about 50 books and brought out poetry collections and plays.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, freedom fighter, and the founder of the political party known as Karshaka Thozilali Party (KTP). Vadakkan organised many agitations and took part in protest marches, satyagrahas, and rallies. He was also arrested and jailed. He was reprimanded by his own Church.
Fr. Vadakkan was born at Thoyakkavu as the son of Vadakkan Ittikkuru and Kunjila Ittikkuru. While working as a young teacher, Joseph took part in the Quit India Movement
Quit India Movement
The Quit India Movement , or the August Movement was a civil disobedience movement launched in India in August 1942 in response to Mohandas Gandhi's call for immediate independence. Gandhi hoped to bring the British government to the negotiating table...
by organizing teachers. The weekly Thozhilali (labourer) that he started later grew into a daily newspaper. When the Vimochana Samaram
Vimochana Samaram
The Liberation Struggle is an anti-Communist socio-political agitation started in 1958 against the first elected government in Kerala state, India under Communist Chief Minister E. M. S. Namboodiripad...
, an agitation against the first Communist ministry broke out in 1958, Vadakkan played a leading role. However, he allied with communists like the A. K. Gopalan
A. K. Gopalan
Ayillyath Kuttiari Gopalan , 1 October 1904 to March 22, 1977, popularly known as A. K. Gopalan or AKG, was an Indian communist leader and first leader of opposition of India.- Early life and education :...
in some other agitations. Later, he organised struggles for the cause of settler farmers in Kerala and founded the KTP with B. Wellington as President.
Vadakkan’s unconventional ways soon brought him into conflict with the Church. The Church disliked his alliance with the communists. Vadakkan conducted a Holy Mass in Thekkinkadu Maidan, in Thrissur
Thrissur
This article is about the city in India. For the district, see Thrissur district. For the urban agglomeration area of Thrissur see Thrissur Metropolitan Area...
, which led to controversy. He was suspended from conducting mass for 8 years, but remained a priest.
Fr. Vadakkan wrote about 50 books and brought out poetry collections and plays.
