Koyapalli Kelappan, popularly called Kerala Gandhi, was a pioneering freedom fighter, journalist, educationist, and social reformer from Kerala. Born in Calicut (Kozhikode), he played a crucial role in India’s freedom movement and Kerala’s social awakening. A founding member of the Nair Service Society, he later became a devoted Gandhian and worked closely with the Indian National Congress.
Kelappan led the famous Vaikom Satyagraha (1924–25), a non-violent protest against caste-based discrimination that denied lower castes access to temple roads. He also led the Guruvayur Satyagraha, which aimed at opening the Guruvayur Temple to all Hindus, regardless of caste. His leadership in these movements helped lay the foundation for social equality and temple entry reforms in Kerala.