Revolutionary leader turning 100 years old

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: VS Achuthanandan, who popularized politics and was a burning light in the minds of the common man and the working class, will turn 100 tomorrow. VS, the embodiment of a legendary century in Kerala politics and the communist movement, is resting now.

He is at his son's residence near Bartonhill Law College in Thiruvananthapuram. There is no birthday celebration. His wife Vasumathi, sons VA Arunkumar, Dr. VV Asha, in-laws and grandchildren will be at home with VS. He suffered a stroke after his birthday in 2019, and doctors advised him to take complete rest. He has been absent from the public platform for four years, yet the two letters VS remain with the times with an indelible influence and corrective power.

He was born on 20th October 1923, as the second of five children of Sankaran and Akkamma, at Ventalathara house (VS lived in Velikkakathu house later) in Punnapra North Grama Panchayat of Paravur in Ambalapuzha taluk. Born on Anizham Nakshatra in the month of Thulam. His mother died of smallpox when he was four years old and his father also died when he was eleven. Then he grew up under the protection of his elder brother and paternal sister. VS's education stopped in 7th standard. He worked as a tailor for a while with his elder brother VS Gangadharan, who ran a garment shop and taught tailoring. Later he also worked in a coir factory.

The communist mind that Kerala's first Communist found

When the Nivarthana agitation broke out, VS who was energized by it became a member of the State Congress and became active in the trade union arena as well. Comrade P. Krishnapillai was the first to see the communist mind of VS. With his blessing, VS joined the Communist Party in 1940. At the suggestion of Comrade P. Krishnapillai, he was assigned to organize agricultural workers in Kuttanad. Police arrested VS, who went on the run after the Punnapra-Vayalar strike, in Poonjar. Severe thrashing in the lockup. Locked in Poojappura Central Jail for four years. The wound where the policemen stuck him with a bayonet in the lock-up is still on VS's leg as a sign of sacrifice and bravery.

The glory of VS is that he brought common people to his style and views. VS who fought against corruption uncompromisingly is the one who made environmental protection a political agenda.