KPAC transformation is almost complete

KAKYAMKULAM: The historic KPAC building that suffused red revolution into many minds is now on the brink of an overhaul. The reconstruction of the building, which was demolished as part of the National Highway development, is in its final stages. The farmer sculpture in front of the old building has also been recreated in the new building.

Kambisseri Karunakaran Memorial and Thoppil Bhasi Auditorium are the main buildings undergoing a facelift. CPI State Secretary Binoy Viswam will inaugurate these buildings on 19th February.

KPAC was formed in 1950 by G. Janardhanakurup, Punalur Rajagopalan Nair, Isaac Thomas and N. Prabhakaran Nair who were then students of Ernakulam Law College.

Kayamkulam was chosen as the headquarters in 1957. Thoppil Bhasi, Vayalar, Devarajan, ONV, O. Madhavan, Kambisseri, V. Sambasivan, P.J. Anthony, K. Raghavan, K. P. Ummer, K. S. George and any of their ilks thrived though this cultural pantheon. The first play under KPAC was titled “ Ente Makananu Sheri’.However, it was through Thoppil Bhasi’s introduction that KPAC started spreading communist ideologies that mostly criticized the feudal lordship in Kerala.

Bhasi, who was then a fugitive after the Sooranad revolution revised the play 'Munnetam' written in 'Vishwakeralam' magazine and presented it as 'Ningalenne Communistaki', which turned into an epigraph of the highest order in theatre history of kerala.

ONV became known as a songwriter through KPAC. The poetic songs of ONV and Vayalar made the common man see KPAC only in deference.