As a vocal follower of Sree Narayana Guru, he was associated with a number of events related to the Kerala reformation movement and was the organizer of Misra Bhojanam in Cherai in 1917.

K. Ayyappan was born on 21 August 1889, in Cherai, Vypin Island, in Ernakulam district of the present day south Indian state of Kerala in an aristrocatic Ezhava family of ayurvedic physicians to Kumabalathuparambil Kochavu Vaidyar and Unnooli,[1] as the youngest of their nine children.

[1] After his graduation, he returned to Cherai from Thiruvananthapuram in 1917 and founded Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherhood Association), a platform to launch his fight against the caste system.

[1] IN 1929, when M. Ramavarma Thampan, Mithavaadi Krishnan, C. V. Kunhiraman, and M. C. Joseph started the Yukthivadi (The Rationalist), he became the founder editor of the magazine.

[5] In 1928, Ayyappan successfully contested the election to the Cochin Legislative Council and he retained the seat for the next 21 years.

[10] He also served as a minister under Paravoor T. K. Narayana Pillai but resigned the post when the ministerial responsibilities interfered with his social life.