About Us

DC Kizhakemuri Foundation

DC Kizhakemuri (14 January 1914 – 26 January 1999) brought in a renaissance to the world of letters. He saw literacy as the cornerstone for the future. Under his copious efforts in 1989, Kottayam was declared the only “100 percent literate town in India.” He along with his friends Ponkunnam Varkey, P. T. Chacko and K. J. Thomas opened a bookstore called National Book Stall in Kottayam. A founding member, and the chieftain behind the growth of Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangham (SPCS), DC Kizhakemuri was influential in convincing the Thiru – Kochi government to abolish sales tax on books, the move later inspired the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to implement throughout the country. He championed the paperback revolution by printing 11,000 copies at a cost of Rs. 1.5 in 1956, thus taking books to the masses. A teacher by profession, DC Kizhakemuri was a social activist and freedom fighter, jailed during India’s Independence movement. A writer – publisher and Kerala’s first columnist, DC Kizhakemuri is also known as the ‘Father of Indian Lottery’. Indeed, a man of destiny, the country honoured him with the Padma Bhushan award in 1999. The Kerala Literature Festival was founded by Ravi Deecee as a tribute to Late Shri DC Kizhakemuri, emulating his vision of a forum for socio-cultural dialogue and conversations.

The DC Kizhakemuri Foundation has played a significant role in promoting readership across Kerala. Since 2002, the foundation has been recognizing and awarding the best rural libraries in Kerala which is home to over 8000 libraries since 1945 aiming to foster reading and writing skills in rural areas.
Moreover, the foundation selects 100 libraries annually for support, providing them with free books. These libraries include those in Nirbhaya homes, juvenile homes, schools, and other community initiatives. This initiative enhances access to literature and education in underserved areas.
Furthermore, the foundation organizes socio-cultural events, notably the Kerala Literature Festival (KLF), which has become Asia’s largest literature festival. Held in Kozhikode for the past six years, KLF attracts massive attendance and stands as a prominent symbol of the foundation’s commitment to promoting literature and culture.