Guns gone, fire still burning: ‘Naxalite’ Grow Vasu makes umbrellas at 97

KOZHIKODE: “You used to say revolution comes through the barrel of a gun. Has it now come through the umbrella frame, Vasuvetta?” Grow Vasu, a former Naxalite, looked up as he worked, fastening the stretched umbrella cloth to its frame. A faint smile appeared on his face. The old fire was back.

“Revolution hasn’t gone anywhere. There are hundreds of cases against me. I also have to eat twice a day. I can’t hold out my hand before anyone, can I?” Grow Vasu said, giving his thick moustache another twist.

At 97, Ayinoor Vasu, popularly known as Grow Vasu, still makes umbrellas from his one-room home above a shop at Kottooli in Kozhikode, listening to the “thunder of the rain”. “I make two or three umbrellas a day. I earn enough for food and to travel for protests and court cases,” he said.

Vasu learnt umbrella-making from his sister’s husband, who is also in the trade. He buys the materials from him, makes the umbrellas and returns them. He makes colourful umbrellas for children as well as three-fold umbrellas.

His last protest

Vasu faces around 500 cases, including charges of murder, attempt to murder and incitement to riot, among others. His last protest was in 2023, against the killing of Maoist leader Kuppurajan and Ajitha by the Thunderbolt force in the Karulai forest region. He received their bodies from Kozhikode Medical College and conducted their last rites. He later argued with the police and was taken to jail, where he went on a hunger strike.

Vasu at 13

Vasu’s revolutionary fervour began when he was 13. “How can I remain silent when the suppression of democracy continues even today, just as Varghese was shot dead by the police at Thirunelli? Most of it happened during the rule of Communist governments,” said Vasu, a companion of Naxalite Varghese.

Vasu is the first accused in the Thirunelli-Thrissilery murder case. After Varghese was shot dead, the police made Vasu the first accused.