Pilgrimage centre for communists: Valiya Chudukadu Burial Ground to become final resting place of VS

ALAPPUZHA: The Valiya Chudukadu Burial Ground in Alappuzha commemorates the shooting, burning and burying of workers who had marched on the birthday of the King of Travancore for adult suffrage and the realisation of the dream of a united Kerala.

The growth of the communist movement was made possible by the brave men who fought against the American model and for an independent Travancore. It can be said that there is no other historical monument that shares the memories of so many martyrs and leaders. Valiya Chudukadu, the final resting place for many prominent communist leaders, including P Krishna Pillai, is a pilgrimage centre that enlightens communists.

The Punnapra firing took place on 7th Thulam, Kollavarsham 1122. This is the place where the soldiers gathered and burned the bodies of those who lost their lives in that firing. The monuments, which were owned by the Alappuzha Municipality and stand on half an acre, are now the property of both the communist parties. On 7th Thulam, Kollavarsham 1133, the foundation stone of the Valiya Chudukadu Martyrs' Memorial was laid by communist leader R. Sugathan. Following the split of the Communist Party in 1964, the CPI and the CPM built separate memorials. The CPI memorial was modelled after the memorial in the Soviet Union. The construction was completed in two days. On 6th Thulam, Kollavarsham 1148, the memorial was dedicated to the nation by T.V. Thomas. Due to age, many parts of the memorial built by the CPI were damaged. Following this, the CPI District Council reconstructed the memorial.

This historical land is enriched by the memories and as the final resting places of communist leaders like P. Krishna Pillai, M.N. Govindan Nair, S. Kumaran, C.K. Chandrappan, R. Sugathan, T.V. Thomas, P.T. Punnoose, George Chadayammuri, P.K. Chandranandan, K.R. Gouriamma, P. Padmanabhan, T.V. Ramesh Chandran, M.K. Sukumaran, C. G. Sadashivan, N. Sreedharan, V. Simon Ashan, K.C. George, V. K. Viswanathan, P.K. Kunjachan, K.K. Kunju, C.K. Kesavan, M.T. Chandrasenan, S. Damodaran.