Award winning Keralam tribal farmer Cheruvayal Raman dies at 74

Preserver of over 55 varieties of paddy seeds and award winning tribal farmer from Wayanad, Cheruvayal Raman, passed away on Wednesday, October 14. He was 74 years old. He won the Padma Shri in 2023 from the government of India for his contribution to agriculture.

Raman had lived in a thatched house in Mananthavady. Stored in his farm was his famous collection of traditional seeds, preserved for years. He earned the name Nellachan for passionately conserving the varieties of rice. The movie Negalukal by Avira Rebecca was based on his life.

Raman belonged to the Kurichiya community, which comes under the Scheduled Tribes of India. Without a formal education, he began taking care of the family's farm and the collection of seeds from the age of 17. 

Wayanad's Member of Parliament Priyanka Gandhi and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi shared memories of spending time with him. 

"Cheruvayal Raman called me his daughter when I met him, and he touched my heart. From then on, I teased him and called him my Malayali achan," Priyanka said, calling her 'Malayali achan (father)' wise, dignified, and bold in thought and action, and wanting more for his people. "He was a genius in his knowledge of paddy and agriculture and he understood the great value of his own culture and tradition. He was proud of his heritage and lived it with every breath," she said.

Rahul Gandhi condoled the death of Cheruvayal Raman, calling him 'beloved Ramettan', who devoted his life to preserving Wayanad's indigenous paddy seeds, keeping generations of Adivasi knowledge alive.

Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan said that Cheruvayal Raman had stood guard to the memories of generations of Wayanad farmers. "He made traditional rice seeds, which would otherwise have gone extinct, a part of his life," Satheesan said.

Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan expressed grief at his death, calling him a symbol of traditional agricultural heritage and biodiversity conservation.