I. K. Kumaran
Irayi Kunnathidathil Kumaran Master, was a freedom fighter from Mahe or Mayyazhi, Union territory of India, who fought for liberation from France, in 1954. He also unsuccessfully fought for the unification of Mayyazhi with Kerala. He is known as "Mahe Gandhi". Kumaran was the first Administrator of Mahe after Indian independence.
Biography
Born in Kunnathodam, a fairly wealthy family in Mayyazhi, IK Kumaran's father Kunkan Janmi was a liquor shop owner. The mother sighed. After completing his studies at Basel Mission School and Calve Branch School in Mayyazhi, he passed the school final examination from Thalassery Basel Mission School. He then passed the Intermediate examination from Brennan College, Thalassery.He passed the exam to become a sub-inspector in British India but was denied a job because he was a French citizen. From 1928 he worked as a teacher at Choodikotta Madrasa and Ottapilakool Mappila School. It was during this period that IK Kumaran became involved in politics at the instigation of Muchikal Padmanabhan. IK Kumaran Master entered the social and political arena through the Youth League movement. He resigned in 1940 to become more active in politics. He later became the President of the Congress Committee in Vadakara. He actively campaigned for the reorganization of the Congress in Kottayam Taluk. He also served as the President of the Youth League for some time. Kumaran Master has made his mark not only in politics but also in various social activities such as untouchability, mixed eating, bhudanam, Harijan upliftment, khadi propaganda and prohibition of liquor.
Mahatma Gandhi Government Arts College, Mahé, was established in the year 1970 by I K Kumaran. The Mahé Co-operative College of Teacher Education was established in 2005 and is part of the Mahé Co-operative Centre for Information Technology Ltd.