{{Short description|Indian businessman and activist}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2018}} {{Use Indian English|date=August 2018}} {{Infobox person | name = Kochouseph Chittilappilly | image = Kochouseph Chittilappilly DS.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1950}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wonderla.com/board-of-directors/mr-kochouseph-chittilappilly.html |title=Mr. Kochouseph Chittilappilly | Wonderla Amusement Parks & Resort }}</ref> | birth_place = Parappur, Thrissur, State of Travancore–Cochin, Dominion of India<br>(present day Kerala, India) | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = {{hlist|Businessperson|Writer}} | known_for = {{Bulleted_list|Business|Philanthropy|Humanism}} | children = 2 (including Arun Chittilappilly) | parents = | awards = {{bulleted_list|Rashtriya Samman by the Government of India|Millennium Businessman of Kerala|Tourism Man of the Year 2000|Manorama News Newsmaker of the Year 2011<ref name="V Guard MD selected as 'Newsmaker of the Year 2011">{{cite web | url=http://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/v-guard-md-selected-as-newsmaker-of-the-year-2011-567889 | title=V Guard MD selected as 'Newsmaker of the Year 2011 | publisher=NDTV | date=9 January 2012 | accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref>|TMA Manager of the Year 2000|ATTOI Tourism Man of the Year 2011}} | website = {{URL|http://www.kochousephchittilappilly.com|Official Website}} | restingplace = | restingplacecoordinates = | othername = | alma_mater = {{Unbulleted_list|Christ College, Irinjalakuda|St. Thomas College, Thrissur}} | education = Master of Science (Physics) | years_active = | spouse = Sheela Chittilappilly }}
'''Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly''' (born 1950) is an Indian business magnate, writer, investor and philanthropist. He is the founder, chairman and Chief Executive Officer of V-Guard Industries, a chain of amusement parks called Wonderla, a real estate apartment construction venture {{URL|https://www.veegaland.com/|Veegaland Homes}} and a wellness park & event hub named {{URL|https://www.chittilappillysquare.com/|Chittilappilly Square}}. ''K. Chittilappilly Foundation'', a non profit organization founded by him, is engaged in charitable and philanthropic activities.<ref name="Amazon profile">{{cite web | url=https://www.amazon.com/s/ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1?ie=UTF8&text=Kochouseph+Chittilappilly&search-alias=books&field-author=Kochouseph+Chittilappilly&sort=relevancerank | title=Amazon profile | publisher=Amazon | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things">{{cite web | url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-22/news/29569008_1_v-guard-industries-kidneys-kochouseph-chittilappilly | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110530071602/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2011-05-22/news/29569008_1_v-guard-industries-kidneys-kochouseph-chittilappilly | url-status=dead | archive-date=30 May 2011 | title=Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things | publisher=Economic Times | date=22 May 2011 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref name=BW>{{cite web|title=Kochouseph Thomas Chittilappilly|url=http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=33404075&ticker=VGRD:IN|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131105174907/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=33404075&ticker=VGRD:IN|url-status=dead|archive-date=5 November 2013|publisher=Business Week}}</ref><ref name="Businessman donates kidney to truck driver, sets off chain reaction">{{cite web | url=http://www.indianexpress.com/news/businessman-donates-kidney-to-truck-driver-sets-off-chain-reaction/739139/ | title=Businessman donates kidney to truck driver, sets off chain reaction | date=19 January 2011 | accessdate=8 October 2015 | author=Shaju Philip | newspaper=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="Against the current : UNUSUAL ENTREPRENEURS—INNOVATORS">{{cite web | url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/economy/story/20081208-against-the-current-738385-2008-11-27 | title=Against the current : UNUSUAL ENTREPRENEURS—INNOVATORS | date=28 Nov 2008 | author=M.G. Radhakrishnan | newspaper=India Today}}</ref><ref name="Founder's profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.vguard.in/about-us/founder-profile | title=Founder's profile | publisher=V Guard | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref>
Chittilappilly is a recipient of the ''Rashtriya Samman'' award from the Government of India for being among the highest taxpayers and the ''Newsmaker of the Year 2011'' award from Malayala Manorama.
As the chairman of the Stray Dog Free movement, he has advocated for government action to address the "menace" of stray dogs in his home state of Kerala, and has criticized legislation forbidding the killing of stray dogs.<ref name="The Hindu" /> As of January 2023, he is a part of the Twenty20 party and serves as an advisory member. In 2022, he was honoured with Kerala Sree Award, third highest civilian award given by the Government of Kerala.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala declares 1st-ever Padma-inspired awards; MT gets highest honour |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2022/nov/01/kerala-declares-1st-ever-padma-inspired-awards-mt-gets-highest-honour-2513604.html |access-date=2023-01-21 |website=The New Indian Express|date=November 2022 }}</ref><ref name="K Chittilappilly Foundation">{{cite web | url=http://kcfoundation.in/about-us.php | title=K Chittilappilly Foundation | publisher=K Chittilappilly Foundation | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Bloomberg profile">{{cite web | url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/people/person.asp?personId=33404075&ticker=VGRD:IN | title=Bloomberg profile | publisher=Bloomberg | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref>
==Biography==
Kochouseph Chittilappilly was born to C. O. Thomas of the Chittilappilly house in Parappur, a suburb of Thrissur in the erstwhile State of Travancore–Cochin (present day Kerala) in December 1950.<ref name="Leaders of Kerala profile">{{cite web | url=http://www.leadersofkerala.com/documents/Biography/43_43.pdf | title=Leaders of Kerala profile | publisher=Leaders of Kerala | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015 | archive-date=4 March 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304072607/http://www.leadersofkerala.com/documents/Biography/43_43.pdf | url-status=dead }}</ref> His early schooling was at the local church school after which he graduated from Christ College, Irinjalakuda and followed it with a master's degree in Physics from St. Thomas College, Thrissur in 1970.<ref name="Leaders of Kerala profile" /> His career kickstarted in 1973 at Telics, a Thiruvananthapuram based electronics company manufacturing voltage stabilizers and emergency lamps, in the capacity of a supervisor where he worked for three years.<ref name="BW" />
In 1977, he founded V-Guard Industries, a small electronics manufacturing unit for the production of voltage stabilizers with a capital of {{INR}}100,000.<ref name="Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things" /> The company which had 2 employees at its modest manufacturing facility in Thrissur at inception, grew over the years to become the largest selling stabilizer brand in India.<ref name="Stabilising Effect">{{cite web | url=https://www.valueresearchonline.com/story/h2_storyView.asp?str=26062 | title=Stabilising Effect | publisher=Value Research Online | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref> The company claims to have 500 distributors, 3000 dealers, 20,000 retailers and a network of service centers across India<ref name="V-Guard Story">{{cite web | url=http://www.vguard.in/about-us/story | title=V-Guard Story | publisher=V-Guard | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref> supporting a product range composed of Pumps and Motors, Electric and Solar Water Heaters, Wiring Cables, UPS, and Ceiling Fans.<ref name="Leaders of Kerala profile" /> The company has an Indian market share of 20 percent in UPS segment, 15 percent in pumps, 12 percent in water heaters and 7 percent in wiring cables segments.<ref name="Stabilising Effect" />
Chittilapilly is reported to have introduced a new business model by total product outsourcing coupled with in-house quality control when his factories were shut down following a workers' strike in the 1980s.<ref name="Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things" /> Later, diversifying the business, he started the first water theme park in the state of Kerala under the name, ''Veegaland'', in 2000.<ref name="Leaders of Kerala profile" /> Another park on a larger scale, Wonderla, was subsequently started in Bengaluru.<ref name="Leaders of Kerala profile" /> Veegaland has since been renamed as Wonderla Kochi, in an effort to establish the name as a brand.<ref name="Dakshin Personality of the Month">{{cite web | url=http://www.dakshinroutes.com/Tour-Packages/kochouseph-chittilappilly.aspx | title=Dakshin Personality of the Month | publisher=Dakshin Routes | date=2015 | accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref><ref name="Wonderla Kochi">{{cite web | url=http://www.wonderla.com/kochi-amusement-park/ | title=Wonderla Kochi | publisher=Wonderla Kochi | date=2015 | accessdate=11 August 2015}}</ref> Veegaland Developers is another venture by Kochouseph Chittillappilly that is in to construction of ready to occupy flats and apartments in Kochi.
Chittilapilly is married to Sheela and the couple has two sons Arun Chittilappilly and Mithun Chittilappilly. Sheela is the Managing Director of V-Star Creations, a group company. Arun heads the amusement park business, Wonderla and Mithun is the incumbent Managing Director of V-Guard Industries.<ref name="Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things" />
==Writing career== Chittilappilly published his first book, ''Practical Wisdom'', in 2005, which is an account of practical management techniques he derived from his personal experiences.<ref name=BW /><ref name="Practical Wisdom">{{cite book | url=https://www.amazon.com/Practical-Wisdom-Kochouseph-Chittilappilly/dp/B007E4Y8NA | title=Practical Wisdom | publisher=DC Books | author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly | year=2005 | asin=B007E4Y8NA}}</ref> Two more books in the same series followed, Practical Wisdom 1: In Real Life and Management (2010)<ref name="Practical Wisdom 1: In Real Life and Management">{{cite book | title=Practical Wisdom 1: In Real Life and Management | publisher=Viva Books | author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly | year=2010 | pages=250 | isbn=978-8130923987}}</ref> and Practical Wisdom 2: In Real Life and Management (2012).<ref name="Practical Wisdom 2: In Real Life and Management">{{cite book | title=Practical Wisdom 2: In Real Life and Management | publisher=Viva Books | author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly | year=2012 | pages=144 | isbn= 978-8130921198}}</ref> His autobiographical books ''Ormakilivathil'' (2011), a commentary on social life in Kerala in the 1950s, and ''Ormakalilekku Oru Yathra'' (2015), wherein he shares the story of the making of a business man and his personal philosophy of life, are combined and translated into English as ''A Journey Towards Hope''. He narrates the inspiring story of how he donated his kidney and became ''<nowiki/>'''rich' at heart in his book ''The Gift'' (2016).
===Bibliography=== * {{cite book |url=https://www.vivabooksindia.com/book/practical-wisdom-1 |title=Practical Wisdom |publisher=DC Books |author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly |year=2005 |asin=B007E4Y8NA}} * {{cite book |url=https://www.vivabooksindia.com/ |title=Practical Wisdom 1: In Real Life and Management |title-link= |publisher=Viva Books |author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly |year=2010 |pages=250 |isbn=978-8130923987}} * {{cite book |url=https://www.amazon.com/Ormakkilivathil-Kochouseph-Chittilappilly/dp/B007E5GXFU/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1439303527&sr=1-4 |title=Ormakkilivathil |publisher=DC Books |author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly |year=2011 |isbn=978-8126431243}} * {{cite book |url=https://www.vivabooksindia.com/book/practical-wisdom-2 |title=Practical Wisdom 2: In Real Life and Management |publisher=Viva Books |author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly |year=2012 |pages=144 |isbn=978-8130921198}} * {{cite book | url=https://secure.mathrubhumi.com/books/biography/bookdetails/2839/ormakalilekku-oru-yathra | title= Ormakalilekku Oru Yathra | publisher=Mathrubhumi Books | author=Kochouseph Chittilappilly | year=2015 | pages=230 | isbn = 9788182665194 }} * Kochouseph Chittilappilly (2016). ''[https://rupapublications.co.in/books/the-gift/ The Gift].'' Rupa Publications''.'' p. 195
==Philanthropic and humanitarian activities== thumb K. Chittilapilly Foundation, founded by Kochouseph Chittilapilly, is a non-profit organization and serves as the conduit for his philanthropic activities.<ref name="Chittilappilly Foundation declares organ donation awards">{{cite web | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Chittilappilly-Foundation-declares-organ-donation-awards/articleshow/18455431.cms | title=Chittilappilly Foundation declares organ donation awards | publisher=Times of India | date=12 February 2013 | accessdate=12 August 2015}}</ref> The foundation, based in Kakkanadu, Kochi, also oversees the activities of Thomas Chittilapilly Trust, another charitable venture of Chittilapilly which is named after his father and runs two institutions, an old age home where elderly people are housed and provided with sustenance and medical care, and ''Shantimandiram'', a home for destitute children where they are provided with shelter, education, and food. The institutions are managed by the Sisters of Nirmala Province, a province of catholic nuns located at Kolazhy in Thrissur. It has also instituted an organ donation award for recognizing people who come forward for organ donation and to promote organ donation among people. The foundation offers awards for those who voluntarily donate their own organs or to families who donate the organs of their brain-dead relatives; the awards carry cash components ranging from {{INR}}100,000 to {{INR}}500,000, totaling {{INR}}3.7 million every year.<ref name="Chittilappilly Foundation declares organ donation awards" />
In 2011, Chittilapilly donated one of his kidneys to a stranger, a truck driver, and started an organ donor chain - where one of the family members of the recipient had to donate an organ thereby forming a donor chain.<ref name="Kochouseph Chittilappilly: Founder of V-Guard Industries does 'unconventional' things" /> As a part of the program, Chittilapilly donated one of his kidneys to a truck driver, becoming the first depositor with the Kidney Federation of India (KFI) and is now closely associated with the movement.<ref name="Businessman donates kidney to truck driver, sets off chain reaction" /> The K. Chittilapilly Foundation joined hands with Mathrubhumi for the 'Ente Veedu' project that aims to build homes for the homeless. As part of the Rs 40 crore project, 1000 deserving families will be presented with houses.<ref>{{cite web |title=Chittilappilly-Mathrubhumi "Ente Veedu" project: A mission to build 1,000 houses for homeless. |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/chittilappilly-mathrubhumi-ente-veedu-project-a-mission-to-build-1-000-houses-for-homeless-1.7474007 |website=English.Mathrubhumi |date=29 April 2022 |access-date=January 24, 2023}}</ref>
==Stray Dog Free movement== {{Main|Free-ranging dog issue of Kerala}} Chittilappilly is the chairman of the Stray Dog Free movement, which advocates action against the risks allegedly posed by stray dogs in Kerala, including the amendment of legislation forbidding the killing of these dogs.<ref name="NDTV.com">{{cite web | title=Kerala's Leading Businessman Goes on Hunger Strike Against Street Dogs | website=NDTV.com | date=2015-10-26 | url=http://www.ndtv.com/kerala-news/keralas-leading-businessman-goes-on-hunger-strike-against-street-dogs-1236253 | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref> The movement has pointed to the danger of rabies and referred to stray dogs as a "menace".<ref name="Express"/> Chittilappilly has staged hunger strikes to protest this legislation, and what he claims is governmental failure to address this issue.<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite web | title=A day's strike to tackle stray menace | website=The Hindu | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/a-days-strike-to-tackle-stray-menace/article7782645.ece | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Times">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly to stage hunger strike in T'puram | website=The Times of India | date=2016-02-07 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/Chittilappilly-to-stage-hunger-strike-in-Tpuram/articleshow/50886686.cms | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref> He has stated that the government's actions amount to valuing stray dogs over human lives and property.<ref name="Basheer">{{cite web | last=Basheer | first=KPM | title=A dogged drive against stray dogs | website=The Hindu Business Line | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/a-dogged-drive-against-stray-dogs/article7784837.ece | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref> He has encouraged citizens to pressure the government to amend these laws, and to kill stray dogs themselves despite the accompanying 50-rupee fine.<ref name="Express">{{cite web| title=Chittilappilly Stages Fast Against Stray Dog Menace | website=The New Indian Express | date=2016-03-05 | url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Chittilappilly-Stages-Fast-Against-Stray-Dog-Menace/2016/02/21/article3288358.ece | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222095214/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/Chittilappilly-Stages-Fast-Against-Stray-Dog-Menace/2016/02/21/article3288358.ece | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 February 2016 | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="Mathrubhumi">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly launches hunger strike over stray dog menace | website=Mathrubhumi | date=2016-02-21 | url=http://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/chittilappilly-launches-hunger-strike-over-stray-dog-menace-english-news-1.879873 | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref> Chittilappilly has been arrested under statutes preventing cruelty to animals after tying four stray dogs in front of a police station.<ref name="Times Booked">{{cite web | title=Chittilappilly booked for cruelty against strays | website=The Times of India | date=2015-10-20 | url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/Chittilappilly-booked-for-cruelty-against-strays/articleshow/49462105.cms | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref>
The movement is related to governmental plans to cull stray dogs which have prompted an international campaign to "Boycott Kerala Tourism".<ref name="NDTV.com"/><ref name="Mohan 2015">{{cite web | last=Mohan | first=Neethu | title=Stray dogs culling: Boycott Kerala campaign gains momentum | website=www.oneindia.com | date=2015-07-14 | url=http://www.oneindia.com/india/stray-dogs-culling-boycott-kerala-campaign-gains-momentum-1806273.html | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref><ref name="BBC 2015">{{cite web| title=How far will India's dog-lovers go to save strays? | website=BBC News | date=2015-08-10 | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-33822511 | accessdate=2016-03-05}}</ref> Opponents of the Stray Dog Free movement have argued that vaccination and spay/neuter campaigns are a more effective and humane method of controlling the stray dog population. Members of the Stray Dog Free movement have alleged that opposition is being funded by rabies vaccine manufacturers.<ref name="Ajeesh">{{cite news |work=Prokerala | last=Ajeesh | first=A. | title=NGOs opposing culling of stray dogs financed by anti-rabies vaccine lobby: Collector Biju Prabhakar |date=2016-02-20}}</ref>
== Awards == Chittilapilly is a recipient of ''Rashtriya Samman'' from the Government of India for being the highest taxpayer in India.<ref name="BW" /><ref name=" Dakshin Personality of the Month" /> He was selected as the ''Malayala Manorama Newsmaker of the Year (Manorama News) 2011'', the year he became an organ donor, the award reaching him in 2012.<ref name="V Guard MD selected as 'Newsmaker of the Year 2011" /> He is also a recipient of awards such as ''Millennium Businessman of Kerala'' from Business Deepika,<ref name="BW" /> ''Tourism Man of the Year 2000'' from Destination Kerala,<ref name="BW" /> ''Manager of the Year 2000'' from the Travancore Management Association and ''Tourism Man of the Year 2011'' from the Association of Tourism Trade Organisations, India (ATTOI).<ref name="Dakshin Personality of the Month" /> He was conferred the Kerala Sree award instituted by Government of Kerala in 2022.
==See also== {{Div col|colwidth=30em}} * Davis Chiramel * Uma Preman * Kidney Federation of India * V-Guard Industries * Wonderla * Free-ranging dog issue of Kerala {{div col end}} {{portal|India}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Kochouseph Chittilappilly}} *[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ9TvTkuOcE Promotional documentary about Chittilappily on YouTube]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chittilappilly, Kochouseph}} Category:Living people Category:St. Thomas College, Thrissur, alumni Category:Businesspeople from Thrissur Category:1950 births Category:Malayali people Category:Indian industrialists Category:Indian philanthropists Category:Cruelty to animals Category:Kerala Sree Award Winners Category:Indian billionaires