K. Balakrishnan

Kesavan Balakrishnan (August 12, 1924 – July 16, 1984) was a politician, publisher, writer, columnist and editor. He was born to C. Kesavan, former Chief Minister of the erstwhile Travancore-Cochin state, and Mrs. Vasanthi. He had taken active part in the struggle for independence and was jailed six times. Balakrishnan was one of the founding leaders of the Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) in Kerala. He was elected as an MLA to the Travancore-Cochin State Assembly in 1954 from the constituency of Trivandrum II. In 1971 he became the MP representing the constituency of Ambalapuzha in Loksabha. He would later go on to receive the Thamarapathram, an award given to outstanding politicians and activists by the government of India.