Dear comrade’s final journey: A sea of sorrow and strength

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The final journey of former Kerala Chief Minister and CPM leader V.S. Achuthanandan turned into a sea of emotions, as thousands gathered to bid farewell to their beloved comrade. The funeral procession, which began at the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat, took nearly five hours to cover the 14 kilometres to Kazhakoottam, moving inch by inch through massive crowds.

As the procession reached Attingal, the entire scene transformed. Even in the silence of the night, people gathered in huge numbers, braving fatigue and sleep, to catch one last glimpse of the leader. The heartfelt outpouring of love and respect from the people marked this as more than just a procession—it was a people’s tribute.

Despite the rain showers, the enthusiasm and emotional energy remained undiminished. The flower-decked vehicle carrying V.S. Achuthanandan’s mortal remains left for his hometown, Alappuzha, at 2:26 PM after public viewing at the Durbar Hall.

Along the route, from roadside corners to flyovers, people formed human walls to pay their respects. Even late into the night, large crowds waited at every stop. After crossing into Kollam district, the flow of people became overwhelming. Many walked alongside the procession on foot as a mark of respect.

Those accompanying the body in the funeral vehicle included CPM General Secretary M.A. Baby, Ministers P. Rajeev, K.N. Balagopal, P. Prasad, senior leaders Puthalath Dineshan, M.V. Jayarajan, MLAs V. Joy, V.K. Prasanth, and V.S. Achuthanandan’s son Arun Kumar. CPM State Secretary M.V. Govindan and Secretariat member M. Swaraj followed in other vehicles.

Human wall of tribute
The procession reached the front of the Legislative Assembly at around 2:50 PM, where the vehicle paused briefly for people gathered there to pay their final respects. By 3:20 PM, when the procession reached Plamoodu Junction, a human wall had already formed. At Pattom Junction, a young boy waited with a hand-painted portrait of V.S. Achuthanandan. MLA V. Joy accepted the drawing on behalf of the family.

Even as the vehicle moved through the crowded Kesavadasapuram Junction and beyond Kazhakoottam, the sheer volume of people made crowd control nearly impossible. The procession continued to move forward, guided by the love and respect of the people who had come to honour a leader they cherished deeply.