Karikadan Kunhali (8 July 1924 – 28 July 1969), popularly known as Sakhavu Kunhali (Comrade Kunhali), was a malayali

Malayali

Malayali is the term used to refer to the native speakers of Malayalam, originating from the Indian state of Kerala...

 communist leader and a two time MLA of Kerala Legislative Assembly

Kerala Legislative Assembly

The Kerala Legislative Assembly more popularly known as Niyamasabha , is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives and one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community...

. He was assassinated by a gunman allegedly hired by the rival political party.

Early life

Born in the village of Kondotty

Kondotty

Kondotty is a growing town in Malappuram district, Kerala, South India. Kondotty is located near the Calicut Airport.Kondotty is famous for the Nercha in the Pazhayangadi Mosque. Kondotty is the birthplace of the great Mappila poet, Moyinkutty Vaidyar. He popularised Mappilapattu by his poems...

, in Malappuram district of Kerala

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....

, Kunhali had his primary education at Kondotty UP School and secondary education at Malappuram Govt. High School. In 1942 he joined Indian Army

Indian Army

The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...

. The life in the army helped mould him to a good soldier who fought injustice in the society till his last breath. Soon after the world war

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

ended he quit the army and returned to his home state Kerala. Kunjali actively involved in various social activities in the Eranad region (present day Malappuram district) of Kerala.