Reverend Father Abel, C.M.I., (1920 - 27 October 2001), commonly known as Fr.
Abel, was an Indian Catholic CMI priest, journalist, and lyricist, best known as the founding father of Kalabhavan, a centre for learning performance arts in Kochi, India.
Fr.
Abel, with the help of K.
K.
Antony, a music teacher, and Yesudas, then a budding playback singer, started Kalabhavan as the Christian Arts Club to promote Christian music, in the year 1969.
Soon, with the support of Major Archbishop Mar Joseph Parecattil and the Archdiocese of Eranakulam, the Club was registered as Kalabhavan.