Veteran CPM leader M M Lawrence no more

KOCHI: Veteran CPM leader MM Lawrence, who helped the communist party gain a foothold in Ernakulam district, passed away on Saturday. He was 95. Lawrence has been undergoing treatment for the past month due to age-related ailments in Ernakulam Medical Trust Hospital.

Throughout his political career, Lawrence served as CPM Central Committee Member, Left Front Convener, State Secretariat Member, Ernakulam District Secretary, CITU State General Secretary and Lok Sabha Member from Idukki during 1980 - 1984.

He was imprisoned for 22 months in the infamous Edappally police station attack case in 1950. He spent six more years in prison at different times including the state of emergency. He was the office bearer of several trade unions such as dock workers, transport merchant shipping workers and others.

Lawrence was born on June 15, 1929, to Avira Mathu and Mangalat Maryam, natives of Mulavukad in Ernakulam district. During the freedom struggle, he was expelled from St. Albert's School for wearing the tricolour in his shirt pocket.

Later he continued his studies at Munavirul Islam School, Ernakulam. He stopped formal education in the 10th standard and became active in politics. He was the secretary of the Kochi State Students' Federation. He joined the Communist Party in 1946.

Late Abraham Madakkal, a freedom fighter and famous writer, is the elder brother of Lawrence.