Dijo Kappen, a prominent social activist and campaigner for consumer rights in Kerala, passed away at the age of 68 on Friday. As per family sources, he died at a private hospital in Pala while undergoing treatment for injuries sustained in a car accident last year.
Kappen, a member of the well-known Edamattam Kappil family in Pala, was widely respected for his decades-long fight on behalf of the common man against exploitation. He founded the Centre for Consumer Education in 1988, an organization dedicated to raising consumer rights and protecting the rights of farmers. Through this organization, he took up numerous public interest issues, advocating for accountability in cases ranging from the waste management crisis in Kochi to misleading advertisements.
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Kappen began his public journey through student politics. He was active in Kerala Students Congress, the student wing of the Kerala Congress, and then reportedly became the state president of KSCM. He also served as Chairman of the Kerala University Union. However, he left politics in 1998, and focused on consumer activism and established his platform to raise ordinary man's issues.
Kappen gained national recognition in a notable case years ago, where he challenged the use of Mahatma Gandhi's image in luxury brand Montblanc advertisements. He argued that the values of simplicity that the Father of the Nation stood for were undermined under the provisions of the Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950.
Dijo Kappen was also frequently seen in television news debates, as he was known for his vocal stance on human rights or social issues. Some of the notable issues he raised were on topics such as AI cameras for traffic enforcement and broader public policy.
The news of his passing was met with condolences from public figures, including Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan and Congress leader Uma Thomas. Kappen's legacy in defending consumer rights and broader social issues remains significant.
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The news of Dijo Kappen's demise has sent shockwaves across Kerala, particularly among the ordinary citizens he passionately represented throughout his life. The tragic announcement has drawn heartfelt condolences from several prominent public figures. Among those who expressed their grief were Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan and senior Congress leader Uma Thomas.
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