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VB Ajayakumar (48), a well-known human rights and environmental activist, passed away on the morning of Sunday, August 3, at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram.
A prominent voice for Dalit, Adivasi, and marginalised communities, Ajayakumar was the Executive Chairman and founder of the NGO RIGHTS, which focused on the educational upliftment of disadvantaged sections of society. At the time of his passing, he was serving as the Global Convener of the Alliance for Climate Frontline Communities.
His body was taken to his hometown of Kodungallur, where it was kept for public homage from 1 pm to 4 pm at his residence. The funeral was held at 5 pm at the Chappara crematorium.
Ajayakumar began his activism through his work with social justice movements such as the Narmada Bachao Andolan and People’s Watch. His commitment to advocacy led him to participate in several international forums. He presented papers on the challenges faced by marginalised communities at United Nations conferences, including the UN Forum on Business and Human Rights in Bangkok in September 2024 and the Fifth Forum of Ministers and Environment Authorities of Asia Pacific in Sri Lanka in October 2023.
He also took part in high-level climate negotiations, including the COP26 and COP28 conferences. During the 2018 Kerala floods, he led several relief and education initiatives targeted at Dalit and coastal students, further cementing his role as a ground-level change-maker.
His work left a lasting impact not only in Kerala but on the global stage, where he consistently brought attention to the concerns of frontline communities vulnerable to climate change and systemic exclusion.