Kaviyoor Murali

Kaviyoor Murali
Born	20 March 1931 Kaviyoor, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India
Died	20 October 2001 Kaviyoor
Occupation(s)	Dalit Activist, Writer, Folklore Research Person
Notable work	Dalit Sahithyam, Dalitharkkezhuthiya Suvishesham, Purananooru- Oru Padhanam, Dalit Bhasha
Spouse	Thankamma
Children	Dante, Daisen, Asha, Beecy

Kaviyoor Murali (20 March 1931 – 20 October 2001) was an Indian dalit activist, writer and Folklore Research Person from Kerala state.

Life

Murali was born on 20 March 1931 in Kaviyoor, Tiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala. He was an Ambedkarite activist. Familiar among all Dalit Activists and Folklore Groups. He studied at Kaviyoor N.S.S. English High School, Thiruvananthapuram Intermediate College and Thiruvalla Mar Thoma College.

In 1953, he was a Full Member and a Full Time worker of Communist Party. Participated actively in the strike to avail trade union rights for the State Transport Workers in 1954. Undergone brutal torture by the police, after arrest and imprisonment. Started career as a teacher. Later, retired as a Superintendent in Public Works Department.

Honours

Honoured with the Fellowship of Bharatiya Dalit Sahithya Academy, New Delhi. An honorary photograph was unveiled in the Kerala Sahithya Akademy Hall in 2003.

Prominent works

1. Vayalchullikal (Field shrubs)- Collection of poems.
2. Darsanam (Vision)- collection of poems.
3. Dalitharkkezhuthiya Suvishesham (Gospel to the Dalits)
4. Purananooru- Oru Padhanam (Purananooru- a study)
5. Dalit Bhasha (Dalit Language)- Study
6. Ayyankalippada (Ayyankali Fighters)- Novel
7. Dalit Sahithyam (Dalit Literature)
8. Dalitbhashalaghunighandu (A dictionary of Dalit Language)- published by DC Books Kottayam
9. Sugandhi- (Novel, unpublished)
10. MunisomKa (Auto-Biography, published by Rainbow Book Publishers, Chengannur)
11. Velutha (Wheatish)- (Poems, unpublished)
12. Njekkuvilakku (Torchlight)- (Essays, Unpublished)