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Born in 1889, Koyapalli Kelappan was an Indian politician, independence activist, educationist and journalist. During the Indian independence movement, he was the lead figure of Indian National Congress in Kerala and was popularly known as Kerala Gandhi. After Indian independence, he held various seats in Gandhian organizations.

A founding Member and President of Nair Service Society, he fought for social reforms on one hand and the British on the other.He fought relentlessly against untouchability and caste-based discrimination. Along with K. Kumar, he became the earliest in Kerala to remove the suffix to his name that implied caste-status.

Kelappan gave the lead to the Payyannur and Calicut Salt Satyagrahas and was chosen as the first Satyagrahi from Kerala in the individual satyagraha movement launched by Gandhiji. He played a dominant role in the famous Vaikom Satyagraha and was the leader of the Guruvayur Satyagraha in 1932. He died on 7th October,1971.

In his honour India Post released a Commemorative stamp in 1990.