Historian K.K.N. Kurup’s research had helped create awareness about the genesis and growth of the peasant movement in the Malabar region, All-India Kisan Sabha secretary Sathyan Mokeri has said.
He was opening an event to mark the 80th birthday of Mr. Kurup here on Tuesday evening. It was organised by the K.A. Keraleeyan Smaraka Samiti, an organisation set up in memory of one of the founder leaders of the Communist Party of India in Kerala.
Agrarian crisis
Mr. Mokeri pointed out that Mr. Kurup’s historical explorations unravelled the torture of farmers and farm labourers by feudal landlords in Malabar. His works discussed the root causes of the agrarian crisis. “Mr. Kurup has also written about Keraleeyan’s role in forming a united front of peasants and labourers, which led to the formation of the first CPI government in Kerala in 1957,” he recalled. The veteran historian did a good job to promote folklore when he was the Vice-Chancellor of Calicut University, the CPI leader added.
K. Damodaranum Samoohikasasthrapadhanangalum and Portugese adhinivesavum Kunjali Marakkarmarum, books authored by Mr. Kurup, and K.K.N. Kurup: Enpathinte Niravu, a collection of essays in his honour, were released.