K. P. Vallon Biography 
K. P. Vallon was a social reformer and a dalit leader belonging to Pulaya community of Kerala. He, along with Pandit Karuppan and Chanchan, played a significant role in the uplift of Pulaya community in the first half of 20th century. He died at a comparatively young age of 46. His younger sister is also an important figure among dalits. Dakshayani Velayudhan was the first Dalit woman graduate in India. She also holds several distinctions such as the only dalit woman member of the Constituent Assembly of India, the member of first Indian parliament and also, the first woman from Pulaya community to wear an upper cloth. His brother-in-law R. Velayudhan was also a parliamentarian.
Vallon was born at Mulavukad in the Kanayannur taluk of Ernakulam on January 2, 1894. His father was a native physician. Vallon didn’t take any formal education. Instead he learnt himself. Deeply influenced by Pandit Karuppan, a dalit activist belonging to his community, Vallon too plunged into the same field. Both along with Chanchan worked as reformers of their community, a time when discrimination based on caste prevailed in Kerala society in the first half of 20th century.
Vallon served as the secretary of Cochin Pulaya Mahasabha, and later became its president. He has been associated with many dalit movements in the British India in Kochi state. Right to use public roads and fares for transport were his major agendas. He strongly opposed caste system in Hinduism and its discrimination. He even changed to Buddhism and tried to propagate this religion in his state. Vallon has also served as the Cochin Legislative Council twice in the 1930s and during this term, he stood for the dalits. He died of chicken pox while working in an infected area.
Published: N/A
Updated: February 27, 2016
