Fr. Thomas Kocherry (1940–2014) was a prominent Indian Redemptorist Catholic priest, lawyer, trade unionist, and social activist who dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of traditional fishworkers, fishing communities and on environmental justice.
Born on May 10/11, 1940, in Changanassery, Kerala, as the fifth of eleven children in a Syrian Christian family, he studied science and law before joining the Redemptorists. He was ordained in 1971 and soon immersed himself in the struggles of fishing communities in Poonthura (near Thiruvananthapuram), living a simple life among them, joining fishing work, and organizing against exploitative mechanized trawling and industrial practices that threatened traditional livelihoods and marine ecosystems. He was instrumental to Monsoon Trawler Ban in South Indian Waters among others.
Key Contributions to the Fishworkers’ Movement in India
- He co-founded the Kerala Swatantra Matsyathozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and played a central role in establishing the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) in 1982 (initially as a national forum in the late 1970s), serving as its chairperson for many years.
- He led protests, legal battles, hunger strikes (including an 11-day fast in 1981), and campaigns that resulted in the Kerala Marine Fishing Regulation Act and similar protections in other states, restricting trawling during monsoon breeding seasons to protect small-scale fishers.
- The Koodankulam Campaign was a significant movement against Koodankulam nuclear power plant project[KKNPP] in Tamil Nadu, India. Thomas Kocherry was a prominent fisher leader and activist was a key figure of the campaign which began in 1987.
- In 1989, the NFF organised the historic Kanyakumari march with the slogan “Protect Waters, Protect Life”, marking its awareness that struggles for livelihood and ecological protection were inseparable.
- In 1994, the NFF launched a national campaign against the Indian government’s plan to license foreign fleets in joint ventures for deep sea fishing. Under Tom’s leadership, which included two fasts unto death to press its demands, the campaign built support from political parties across ideological lines, central trade unions, and the media, and succeeded in getting the policy rescinded.
Contributions to WFFP (World Forum of Fisher Peoples / World Forum of Fish Harvesters and Fish Workers)
Fr. Thomas Kocherry was a founding figure and key international leader in the global movement for fishing communities. In 1997, he was elected Coordinator of the World Forum of Fisher people (WFFP), an international organization representing millions of traditional fishworkers worldwide. He served as a Special Invitee to the coordination committee of WFFP since its inception, in 2000.
His leadership brought a strong focus on:
- Human rights
- Social justice
- Protection of the marine commons
- Opposition to industrial overfishing
- Food sovereignty
- Sustainable and people-centered development
- Gender Justice
He connected local struggles in India with global networks, emphasizing solidarity among fishworker organizations across continents. His work with WFFP extended to post-tsunami relief and reconstruction efforts in places like India, Sri Lanka.
Legacy
Known for his charismatic, fiery oratory, simple lifestyle (often in a dhoti, cooking and cleaning himself), and uncompromising commitment, Fr. Kocherry received international recognition, such as Norway’s “Sophie Prize” in 1999, while declining others linked to corporate interests. He remained active in broader movements like the National Alliance of People’s Movements and against projects like the Kudankulam nuclear plant until his death on May 3, 2014, in Thiruvananthapuram at age 74.
Fr. Thomas Kocherry is remembered as a “people’s priest” and a powerful voice for marginalized fishworkers. Centers and memorials, such as the Fr. Thomas Kochery Centre in Valiyathura, continue to honor his legacy of advocacy, solidarity, and transformative leadership for fishing communities globally.