2409:4073:2E8B:3DE4:6D10:3324:87F5:B602 at 17:03, 21 December 2021

2021-12-21T17:03:23Z

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{{Short description|Indian Author}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Kallen Pokkudan
| image = പൊക്കുടൻ_Kallen_Pokkudan_2.JPG
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_date = 1937
| birth_place = Pazhayangadi, [[Kannur]], India
| death_date = 27 September 2015
| death_place = [[Cherukunnu]], [[Kannur]], [[Kerala]], India
| restingplace =
| restingplacecoordinates =
| othername = Kandal Pokkudan
| occupation = Environmental activist
| yearsactive =
| known for = Protection of [[Mangrove]] forests
| spouse =
| domesticpartner =
| children = Three daughters and three sons
| parents = Aringelyan Govindan Parotti Kallen Vellachi
| website =
| awards = P. V. Thampy Memorial Endowment Award ''Vana Mitra'' Award ''Haritha Vyakthi'' Award P. S. Gopinathan Nair Environmental Award A. V. Abdul Rahman Haji Award [[Kannur University]] ''Acharya'' Award Bala Sahitya Institute Award
}}
'''Kallen Pokkudan''', also known as '''Kandal Pokkudan''', was an Indian environmental activist and writer from [[Kerala]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-28/kochi/31107138_1_kallen-pokkudan-mangroves-ecosystem | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103184513/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-28/kochi/31107138_1_kallen-pokkudan-mangroves-ecosystem | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 January 2013 | title=The tide maker | date=28 February 2012 | accessdate=7 September 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] | author=Sudhakaran, P}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=12173|title=HaindavaKeralam - Kallen Pokkudan - The Kandal Man - Says he was disillusioned with Marxists for 58 years.|accessdate=23 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117120641/http://www.haindavakeralam.com/HKPage.aspx?PageID=12173|archive-date=17 November 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> He was known for his efforts for the protection and proliferation of the [[mangrove forest]]s in Kerala, since 1989.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-28/kochi/31107138_1_kallen-pokkudan-mangroves-ecosystem | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130103184513/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-28/kochi/31107138_1_kallen-pokkudan-mangroves-ecosystem | url-status=dead | archive-date=3 January 2013 | title=The tide maker | date=28 Feb 2012 | accessdate=7 September 2012 | work=[[The Times of India]] | author=Sudhakaran, P}}</ref>

==Biography==
[[File:Semporna Sabah Mangroves-between-Kg-Bubul-and-Kg-Air-Sri-Jaya-01.jpg|thumb|Mangrove vegetation]]
Pokkudan was born in 1937 at Iddukkil Thara, a hamlet in the remote village of Ezhom Moola, near [[Pazhayangadi]], in [[Kannur district]] in the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] in a tribal family to Aringelayan Govindan Parotti and Kallen Vellachi.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു">{{cite web | url=http://www.manoramaonline.com/news/kerala/01-KNR-KALLEN-POKKUDAN.html | title=കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു | publisher=Malayala Manorama | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref><ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Keralas-Mangrove-Man-Kallen-Pokkudan-Passes-Away-at-78/2015/09/28/article3051228.ece1 | title=Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78 | newspaper=Indian Express | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He had minimal education which extended only up to 2nd standard and he took to communism at the age of 18. He was more aligned to the radical group in the [[Communist Party of India]], was involved in many people's movement and was arrested on many occasions. He was an accused in many cases related to farmers' unrests including a murder case and was incarcerated several times.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" /> When the party split in 1964, he took sides with the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] but de-aligned from party ranks in the 1980s when he became disenchanted with them.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" />

After his split with the party, Pokkudan spent his time in environmental protection activities, focusing on the protection of the mangrove forests of Kerala.<ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78" /> He embarked on a mission to plant mangroves across the coastal waters of Kerala and is reported to have planted over one [[lakh]] (100,000) mangrove plants in the state.<ref name="In Memoriam">{{cite web | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/keralas-mangrove-man-kallen-pokkudan-dies-at-78/article7695152.ece | title=In Memoriam | publisher=The Hindu Business Line | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He founded the ''Mangrove School'' and conducted over 500 classes in various parts of the state in an attempt to educate the masses about the ecological importance of mangroves.<ref name="Kallen Pokkudan dies">{{cite web | url=http://www.kaumudi.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=69475 | title=Kallen Pokkudan dies | publisher=Kaumudi | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> His last work, ''Kandal Inangal'' (Mangrove Species) is a work detailing various species of mangroves found in Kerala.<ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78" /> [[Sthalam]], a 2012 film by Siva Prasad, has been made on the life of Pokkudan.<ref name="Sthalam (The Place)">{{cite web | url=http://cmsvatavaran.org/filmdt.php?id=137 | title=Sthalam (The Place) | publisher=CMS Vatavaran | date=2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He was one of the protagonists of ''[[Papilio Buddha (film)|Papilio Buddha]]'', a 2013 feature film by [[Jayan Cherian]], which focuses on the environmental and spiritual aspects of life.<ref name="Papilio Buddha">{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2355771/?ref_=nmbio_mbio | title=Papilio Buddha | publisher=Internet Movie Database | date=2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref>

Pokkudan was married to Meenakshi and the couple had three daughters, Pushpalatha, Pushpavalli and Rekha and three sons, Anandan, Raghunath and Sreejith.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" /> Sreejith Paithalen, the last born, is a freelance journalist and has [[Ghost-written|ghost written]] two of his father's books.<ref name="Kallen Pokkudan — Being with Nature">{{cite web | url=http://www.scrollindia.com/tourism-zone/kallen-pokkudan-environmentalist-mangrove-conservation-crusader-talks-to-scrollinidia-about-his-life-with-mangroves-and-communism-talks-about-the-latest-controversy-that-flashes-through-you-tube-a-tr/ | title=Kallen Pokkudan — Being with Nature | publisher=Scroll India | date=8 October 2010 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He died on 27 September 2015, aged 78,<ref name="Kallen Pokkudan no more">{{cite web | url=http://www.madhyamam.com/en/node/36504 | title=Kallen Pokkudan no more | publisher=Madhyamam | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> at Kannur, succumbing to age related illnesses,<ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78"/> his wife preceding him in death,<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" /> and was cremated at his residence at [[Pazhayangadi]].<ref name="Environmental Activist And Veteran Mangrove Crusader Kallen Pokkudan Died At 78">{{cite web | url=http://fitnhit.com/news/environmental-activist-veteran-mangrove-crusader-kallen-pokkudan-died-78/39344/ | title=Environmental Activist And Veteran Mangrove Crusader Kallen Pokkudan Died At 78 | publisher=Fit and Hit | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref>

==Books==
[[File:Kallen Pokkutan's Address.jpg|thumb|Muttu Kandy village is the native place of Kallen Pokkudan]]
Pokkudan had only basic literacy but he published several books, with assistance from others, including two autobiographical works, ''Ente Jeevitham'' (My Life)<ref name="Ente Jeevitham">{{cite book | url=http://www.indulekha.com/ente-jeevitham-autobiography-kallen-pokkudan?author_id=561 | title=Ente Jeevitham | publisher=DC Books | author=Kallen Pokkudan | pages=196}}</ref> and ''Kandalkkadukalkkidayil Ente Jeevitham'' (My Life Among the Mangrove Forests).<ref name="Kandal Kaadukalkkidayil Ente Jeevitham">{{cite book | url=https://keralabookstore.com/book/Kandal-Kaadukalkkidayil-Ente-Jeevitham/1716/ | title=Kandal Kaadukalkkidayil Ente Jeevitham | publisher=Green Books | author=Kallen Pokkudan | pages=110 | isbn=818423-252-7}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indulekha.biz/index.php?route=product/author/product&author_id=561|title=Kallen Pokkudan|accessdate=23 August 2012}}</ref> ''Kandal Inangal'' (Mangrove Species) and ''Chuttachi'' are two of his other notable works.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" /><ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78" /> His life has been documented in a biography, ''Pokkudan Ezhuthatha Aathmakatha'' (The Unwritten Autobiography of Pokkudan), written by [[Thaha Madayi]] and published by Samakalika Malayalam in 2003.<ref name="Dalit Literatures in India">{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Ph4-CgAAQBAJ&q=Thaha+Madayi+Kallen+Pokkudan&pg=PA205 | title=Dalit Literatures in India | publisher=Routledge | author=Joshil K. Abraham, Judith Misrahi-Barak | year=2015 | pages=366 | isbn=9781317408802}}</ref>

==Film on Pokkudan==
A Malayalam film called ''[[Sthalam]]'' was made in 2011 based upon the life of Kallen Pokkudan. It was written and directed by [[Kaviyoor Sivaprasad]].<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://movies.sulekha.com/malayalam_sthalam_movie-preview.htm |title = Malayalam Movie Sthalam Preview | Sulekha Movies}}</ref>

==Awards==
Pokkudan received the P. V. Thampy Memorial Endowment Award in 2001.<ref name="Seeds of growth">{{cite web | url=http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18695&index1=2 | title=Seeds of growth | publisher=Harmony | date=2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929010810/http://www.harmonyindia.org/hportal/VirtualPageView.jsp?page_id=18695&index1=2 | archive-date=29 September 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref> Two years later, he was awarded the ''Bhoomi Mitra'' award followed by the ''Vana Mitra'' (Friend of Forests) Award of the [[Department of Forests and Wildlife (Kerala)|Kerala Forests and Wildlife Department]], in 2006, making him the first recipient of the honour.<ref name="Kerala's Mangrove Man Kallen Pokkudan Passes Away at 78" /> The Government of Kerala honoured him with the ''Haritha Vyakthi'' (Green Personality) Award in 2010.<ref name="Kerala’s ‘Mangrove Man’ Kallen Pokkudan No More">{{cite web | url=http://focusnews.com/india/keralas-mangrove-man-kallen-pokkudan-no-more/131657/ | title=Kerala's 'Mangrove Man' Kallen Pokkudan No More | publisher=Focus News | date=28 September 2015 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He won the P. S. Gopinathan Nair Environmental Award in 2014.<ref name="Green Award for Kallen Pokkudan">{{cite web | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/Green-Award-for-Kallen-Pokkudan/2014/04/17/article2172774.ece | title=Green Award for Kallen Pokkudan | newspaper=Indian Express | date=17 April 2014 | accessdate=28 September 2015}}</ref> He was also a recipient of the A. V. Abdul Rahman Haji award (2010), ''Acharya Award'' from [[Kannur University]] and Bala Sahitya Institute Award.<ref name="കണ്ടൽക്കാടുകളുടെ തോഴൻ കല്ലേൻ പൊക്കുടൻ അന്തരിച്ചു" />

==See also==
{{portal|India|Environment}}
* [[Mangrove theme park, Kannur]]
* ''[[Sthalam]]''
* ''[[Papilio Buddha (film)|Papilio Buddha]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Kallen Pokkudan}}
* {{IMDb name|nm5002244}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pokkudan, Kallen}}
[[Category:Indian environmentalists]]
[[Category:1937 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Writers from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language writers]]
[[Category:People from Kannur district]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:Indian autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian biographers]]
[[Category:Activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

Kallen Pokkudan - Revision history

2409:4073:2E8B:3DE4:6D10:3324:87F5:B602 at 17:03, 21 December 2021