B. Ekbal
Encyclopedia
Dr. Ekbal Bappukunju is a public health activist, a neurosurgeon, and an academic in Kerala
, India
. He was the vice-chancellor of the University of Kerala during the period 2000–2004. He was a member of the Kerala State Planning Board
from 1996 to 2000, during which he played a vital role in People's Plan Campaign, a decentralisation move by the Government of Kerala
.
He is currently the chairman of Kerala State Pollution Control Board
. He is also the convenor of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (Public Health Movement - India).
He was the chairperson of the expert committee set up by the Government of Kerala
to explore the possibility of setting up a new university structure of medical research and academics. The committee submitted its report on the proposed structure and functions of the university in April 2007.
Ekbal is an activist of Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and has held various offices of the organisation.
Ekbal is a follower of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(CPI(M)) from which he was expelled in 2004 by left-wing hardliners. The reason given was that accepting foreign funds for development activities was against party policy. But, most believe that the expulsion was due to his criticisms of direction taken by the left movements, like in his speech at Kerala Social Forum. This speech had kicked up a debate in left-leaning circles in Kerala. Such reformist actions were not seen kindly by the conservative faction of the party. His membership was later restored.
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the vice-chancellor of the University of Kerala during the period 2000–2004. He was a member of the Kerala State Planning Board
Kerala State Planning Board
The Kerala State Planning Board is an advisory board under the Government of the State of Kerala, India. It was constituted in 1967 with Chief Minister as Chairman and a non-official as part time Vice-Chairman. The board assists the state government in formulating a development plan based on a...
from 1996 to 2000, during which he played a vital role in People's Plan Campaign, a decentralisation move by the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
.
He is currently the chairman of Kerala State Pollution Control Board
Kerala State Pollution Control Board
The Kerala State Pollution Control Board is a body of the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Government of the State of Kerala, India. The board is charged with enforcing laws related to environmental protection.-See also:...
. He is also the convenor of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (Public Health Movement - India).
He was the chairperson of the expert committee set up by the Government of Kerala
Government of Kerala
The Government of Kerala is a democratically elected body that governs the State of Kerala, India for a period of 5 years. The state government is headed by the Governor of Kerala as the nominal head of state, with a democratically elected Chief Minister as real head of the executive. The state...
to explore the possibility of setting up a new university structure of medical research and academics. The committee submitted its report on the proposed structure and functions of the university in April 2007.
Ekbal is an activist of Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and has held various offices of the organisation.
Ekbal is a follower of Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
(CPI(M)) from which he was expelled in 2004 by left-wing hardliners. The reason given was that accepting foreign funds for development activities was against party policy. But, most believe that the expulsion was due to his criticisms of direction taken by the left movements, like in his speech at Kerala Social Forum. This speech had kicked up a debate in left-leaning circles in Kerala. Such reformist actions were not seen kindly by the conservative faction of the party. His membership was later restored.