Kottayam: Dijo Kappen, a prominent social activist who dedicated his life to advocating for consumer and farmer rights beyond party politics, passed away on Friday at a private hospital in Pala. He was 69 years old. Kappen breathed his last at 9:30 am, according to family sources.
Background and Early Life
Born in the Kappil family in Pala Meenachil panchayat, Edamattom village, Kappen was the eldest son of the late K C Joseph and Mary Joseph. He entered the public sphere through student politics and quickly rose to prominence. In 1982, he served as the general secretary of the Kerala University Union. He was also a member of the academic council and senate at Kerala University and later served as a senate member at Mahatma Gandhi University for a decade.
Political Career
Kappen held several key positions in student and youth organizations. He was the state president of the Kerala Students Congress from 1983 to 1985 and the state president of the Kerala Youth Front from 1989 to 1991. However, disillusioned with power politics, he retired from active politics in 1998 and shifted his focus entirely to the rights of consumers and farmers.
Activism and Achievements
As a key figure at the Center for Consumer Education, Kappen achieved favorable verdicts in at least two dozen public interest litigations in the Supreme Court and various high courts. He consistently agitated to make the operations of the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) and the Kerala State Electricity Board (KSEB) more beneficial to the public.
Beyond consumer and farmer rights, Kappen held leadership roles in numerous non-political organizations. He served as president of the Public Transport Protection Committee, president of the Sabari Railway Central Action Council, and president of the Democratic Human Rights and Environment Protection Forum.
Personal Life and Death
Kappen had been undergoing treatment following a car accident in Thiruvananthapuram on October 16, 2025. His funeral will be held at Cherupushpam Church cemetery at Palakad near Pala at 2 pm on Sunday, after prayers at his residence. He was a close confidant of the late former Thrikkakara MLA P T Thomas, who entrusted Kappen with instructions on how he wanted his last rites to be conducted.
Kappen is survived by his wife Mini Kappen, who is the planning director at Kerala University, and his children: Ashwin D Kappen (based in Ireland), Mariyat D Kappen (a research student in English literature), Edwin D Kappen (based in the UK), and daughter-in-law Arsha (based in Ireland).
