6 January 1920 – 27 June 2023 was an Indian writer, educationist and leading social activist from Kerala. He was a National Award-winning educationist and also a mountain man who trekked in the Himalayas for the 29th time even at his age of 99. Namboodirippad was honoured by Justice P. Sathasivam, governor of Kerala on the occasion of his 99th birthday.
Personal life
Born: January 6, 1920 Mookkuthala, Malappuram district
Died: June 27, 2023 (aged 103)
Occupations: Educationist, Activist
Known for: Mountain man
Notable work: Punyahimalayam, Smaranakalude Poomukham
Namboodirippad was born in an aristocratic Namboodiri Illam, Pakaravoor Mana, Mookkuthala, Malappuram district, on 6 January 1920 to Pakaravoor Krishnan Somayajippad and Parvathy Antharjanam.
Namboodirippad died on 27 June 2023, at the age of 103.
Career
Namboodiripad was attracted to Communism while doing his Intermediate course from the St. Thomas College, Thrissur. Prominent Communist thinker and leader K. Damodaran introduced him to the ideology. He was the first state secretary of All India Students’ Federation in Kochi Kingdom. After his post graduation from Pachaiyappa’s College, Chennai, he established a school in a 5-acre plot at his native place, ‘Mookkuthala’ in 1947 and after 10 years, he handed over the school to the Government of Kerala for a token amount of Rs. 1.
Book
Namboodirippad published a travelogue Punyahimalayam in 2007 about the travel of Himalayas and an autobiography Smaranakalude Poomukham.
Awards
2022 – V.K. Narayana Bhattathiri Award
2024 – Padma Shri Award
