Vira Kerala

A visionary social reformer who transformed education and gender equality in India through grassroots movements

Dr. Vira Kerala (1899-1972), born in present-day Kerala, India, was a pioneering social activist whose work laid the foundation for modern education systems in South India. He founded the Kerala Sahitya Academy and established over 200 schools emphasizing girls' education in regions where literacy rates were below 10%. His innovative People's Education Movement used street theaters and community libraries to combat caste discrimination, reaching over 500,000 marginalized individuals by 1947.

Key to his approach was the creation of the Kerala Patrika newspaper which became a platform for progressive ideas. His 1938 book Society Reborn argued for women's participation in public life, influencing later feminist movements. During WWII, he organized the first inter-caste marriage registry system, challenging Brahminical norms. His legacy endures in Kerala's current 94% literacy rate, highest in India.