Sahodaran Ayyappan - Early Life and Education

Early Life and Education

Sahodaran Ayyappan was born into a traditional Ezhava family of Cherai in Vypin Island of Ernakulam district as the son of Kumabalathuparambil Kochavu Vaidyar and Unnuli on 21 August 1889. He lost his father at an early age and was brought up under the guidance of his elder brother Achuthan Vaidyar. After having his school education primarily in Cherai and North Paravoor, Ayyappan did his pre-university course at the Malabar Christian College, Kozhikode. He had to discontinue his further education for the time being while at Madras due to ill health.

While at Kozhikode he began speaking in public platforms stressing the need for social reforms. It was at this time that he had the opportunity to interact closely with Sree Narayana Guru at whose encouragement he decided to continue his studies and took B.A. from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, in 1916. He also met the poet Kumaran Asan during this time. By this time the social revolutionary in Ayyappan had come of age and was ready to fight against the social evil of caste system.

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