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V.S. Achuthanandan, a leader of the masses with no parallels
V.S. Achuthanandan, a leader of the masses with no parallels

The Hindu

time21-07-2025

  • Politics
  • The Hindu

V.S. Achuthanandan, a leader of the masses with no parallels

When I first saw him, comrade VS was addressing a mammoth party rally at Fort Maidan, Palakkad. In his own characteristic style of mixing unusually long and short sentences and gestures using his whole body, he was elaborating on the suffering of local pepper cultivators due to the price crash as a consequence of GATT (General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade). Since then, I have had many opportunities to watch him from a distance and later in a more direct manner. Like his speech, the perfect fit white jubba was also his trademark. My first interaction with VS was in 2000. As the State secretary of the Students Federation of India, I was in the midst of an indefinite hunger strike at the gates of SN College, Kollam. VS visited me, enquired about my health, and fondly advised me to take care. He was the convener of the ruling Left Democratic Front and we often had to discuss issues related to education with him. Some of his great qualities that I have observed are his patient listening and sharpness in quickly identifying issues and offering solutions. In the 2001 Assembly elections, comrade VS' candidature was announced from Malampuzha, Palakkad. His opponent was the then Kerala Students Union president Satheesan Pacheni. VS summoned me to our party headquarters and instructed me to concentrate on Malampuzha. His rationale was that as the opponent was a student leader, I should be present in his constituency to mobilise the youth and students for electioneering. It proved to be a unique opportunity for me to work closely with him, who subsequently became the Leader of the Opposition. Later, on one of his visits to Palakkad, I was assigned by the party to accompany him. He had a habit of having an early dinner, which the organisers, the Indian Medical Association, had arranged in a restaurant. I had never used forks before, and was trapped in a dilemma about the related etiquette. When I saw VS push aside his cutlery and start eating with his hands, I was relieved and delighted to follow suit. During his tenure as the Leader of the Opposition, his image of an 'apparatchik' created by the media was transformed to that of a popular communist leader with mass appeal. It is very uncommon for a leader to undergo a transformation like this in their late seventies, and it was a testament to his amazing ability to adapt to changing circumstances. Comrade VS was moulded as a leader in the second half of the 20th century, when television was not at all a factor. Despite this, he quickly adapted to the complexities of the televised era with an enviable ease. He had a great sense of humour. Once I introduced one of our SFI colleagues who was sent to Delhi to work at the national level, VS asked him if he knew Hindi, and when he answered that he did, VS replied in his characteristic demeanour 'so when someone speaks to you, you can understand the language is Hindi, right?' We all burst out laughing. When I was a Member of Parliament, VS was Chief Minister and he used to take me to meet with Union Ministers. One such memorable meeting was with the then Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee. Senior leaders like Pranab Mukherjee had great respect and consideration towards comrade VS. By then, I had come to notice how he was a surprising personality for leaders and journalists in Delhi for his vigour, energy, dedication, and steadfastness. His strict adherence to his diet and exercise, even in his 90s, was a valuable life lesson for youngsters like us. Comrade VS was a great communist and a leader of the masses who could strike an emotional bond with the common people. His unparalleled revolutionary life spanning over a century has come to an end. Red salute comrade VS. (The writer is Excise Minister and State committee member of the CPI(M))

‘Thilakan' life story: Saved by Nehru, clashed with stars, lost National Award to Amitabh
‘Thilakan' life story: Saved by Nehru, clashed with stars, lost National Award to Amitabh

Time of India

time18-07-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Time of India

‘Thilakan' life story: Saved by Nehru, clashed with stars, lost National Award to Amitabh

The late, legendary Malayalam actor was a powerhouse of talent, celebrated for his intense performances and fearless integrity within the film industry. But did you know his life took a remarkable turn during his army days, where Prime Minister himself intervened to save him from a potential leg amputation? This extraordinary incident set the stage for a career marked by both unparalleled acting prowess and controversial clashes with leading stars, even leading to him reportedly losing a National Award to due to alleged lobbying. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Delve into the incredible life story of a true cinematic icon. About Thilakan's life story Veteran Malayalam actor Thilakan who was born in the village of Ayiroor near Thiruvalla, Kerala, had a life filled with dramatic turns, even before he entered cinema. During his college days at SN College in Kollam, he was deeply involved in theatre and acted in classic plays like Julius Caesar. Before entering into the film industry, Thilakan had a brief stint in the . However, during his service, he suffered from a serious illness, which led the camp doctors to consider amputating his leg. In a rare and remarkable incident, Thilakan got the chance to speak to then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was visiting the camp. When Thilakan shared his situation, Nehru immediately issued orders that no amputation should be carried out without the consent of the soldier. This decision saved Thilakan's leg and, in many ways, his acting career. He returned home and went back to what he loved the most and that was theatre. Once back in Kerala, Thilakan resumed his work in drama troupes, joining famous groups like KPAC and Kalidasa and even co-founding his own drama company called Mundakayam Nataka Samithy. Thilakan's powerful acting caught the attention of both filmmakers and audiences, and he gave outstanding performances in many critically acclaimed movies. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now And despite his talent, Thilakan often got sidelined in the Malayalam film industry's power structures. He was vocal against the dominance of superstar culture, particularly when it came to big names like and and he used to believe in talent over popularity and wasn't afraid to speak out when he felt sidelined due to industry politics. These confrontations often led to him being unofficially banned or avoided by some production houses, but he remained respected by fans and many within the artistic community. Thilakan's most controversial moment One of the most controversial moments in his career was related to the National Film Awards. In 1991, his performance in 'Perumthachan' was widely expected to win him the National Award for Best Actor. However, the award was given to Amitabh Bachchan for 'Agneepath'. In a later interview in 2008, Thilakan claimed that he lost the award due to political lobbying by a senior Congress leader who supported Amitabh Bachchan, as the actor was planning to enter politics with the party and this statement added fuel to discussions about the influence of politics on film awards in India. Thilakan left behind a strong legacy as one of the finest actors in and he was also known for his fearless nature in speaking up against injustice.

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