Joseph Vadakkan

Who was Joseph Vadakkan?

Fr. Joseph Vadakkan was a political activist priest of Kerala in India, freedom fighter, and the founder of the political party known as Karshaka Thozhilali Party. Vadakkan organised many agitations and took part in protest marches, satyagrahas, and rallies. He was also arrested and jailed. He was reprimanded by his own Church.

Fr. Vadakkan was born at Thoyakkavu as the son of Vadakkan Ittikkuru and Kunjila Ittikkuru. While working as a young teacher, Joseph took part in the Quit India Movement by organizing teachers. The weekly Thozhilali that he started later grew into a daily newspaper. When the Vimochana Samaram, an agitation against the first Communist ministry broke out in 1958, Vadakkan played a leading role. He initiated a movement called Anti Communist Front. However, he allied with communists like the A. K. Gopalan in some other agitations. Later, he organised struggles for the cause of settler farmers in Kerala and founded the KTP with B. Wellington as President.

Vadakkan’s unconventional ways soon brought him into conflict with the Church. The Church disliked his alliance with the communists. Vadakkan conducted a Holy Mass in Thekkinkadu Maidan, in Thrissur, which led to controversy. He was suspended from conducting mass for 8 years, but remained a priest.