Latest news with #V.S
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Kerala comes out on the streets to bid an emotional farewell to V.S. Achuthanandan
Crowds gather unbidden, drawn by an unseen emotional bond formed over many decades, when true mass leaders depart. Kerala witnessed one such outpouring of grief on its streets on Tuesday, over the passing of a leader whose life trajectory and political journey closely parallels that of the modern history of the State, freed from the chains of feudal oppression. When people gathered on either side of the road from the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram to his hometown Alappuzha to catch one last glimpse of former Kerala Chief Minister and Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leader V.S. Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday, it also became an occasion to recount that history. 68-year old Prasad, a former headload worker who made the journey from Bharathannoor to the capital city ignoring his spinal issues, reminisced about participating in protests that the departed leader led. 72-year old Sadasivan from Neyyattinkara has been a staunch follower of Achuthanandan since the emergency days, when the leader was jailed. Women's reservation Women came in droves to pay respects to the leader, with many of them recounting the several instances in which he fought for justice for survivors of sexual assault. Some of the women local body members remembered the Bill ensuring 50% reservation for women in local bodies which was passed during his tenure, a move which revolutionised women's participation in governance. A huge number of young people too lined the streets, inspired by the ideals he stood for, and in a way countering the refrain of 'the last communist,' which has accompanied the deaths of popular left leaders in recent decades. With people gathering in huge numbers, the hearse made slow progress, covering only 10 kilometres in the first five hours. Earlier in the day, the mortal remains of the leader was carried in the hearse from the his residence and placed at the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat for the public to pay their last respects. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan, CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Brinda Karat and Prakash Karat and Ministers escorted the body to the hall. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, leaders of all political parties, MLAs, trade union leaders, writers, artists, film artistes and people from all walks of life made a beeline to the Durbar Hall till 2 p.m., when the body was carried out to the modified KSRTC bus which was turned into a hearse allowing public to have a clear view of the leader. Teary-eyed and with cracking voices, the people bid goodbye with revolutionary slogans as Achuthanandan passed by them for one last time. The slogans never ceased throughout the journey, which is expected to reach Alappuzha only early on Wednesday.
The Hindu
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
V.S. Achuthanandan: A life of conscience and courage
V.S. Achuthanandan lived by a guiding principle: public service must be grounded in integrity. For him, ethics and politics were profoundly interlinked — one could not exist meaningfully without the other. He believed ideas should determine action, not remain confined to texts or slogans. His approach to Marxism was thoughtful and practical, not rigid or ceremonial. It reflected a genuine commitment to justice, equality, and honesty. This is why his concerns extended beyond class issues to include the environment and gender rights. His convictions were influenced by lived experience, not just ideology. Achuthanandan believed that natural resources — land, water, and air — belong to everyone, not just the elite. He was among the first to raise concerns about unsustainable development in Kerala. He consistently warned that haphazard construction of malls, resorts, and highways was destroying the State's ecological balance. For him, progress should never come at the cost of nature or human dignity. He frequently questioned who truly benefited from the environmental degradation that accompanied rapid modernisation. These questions often made him unpopular with those in power. Driven by foresight In Kerala's political history, few leaders spoke as passionately about the environment as Achuthanandan did. His activism was not driven by trends, but by foresight. He marched with the Adivasis in Muthanga, supported women plantation workers in Munnar, and stood with victims of chemical exposure in Kasaragod. He stood with the people of Plachimada in their fight against corporate misuse of water resources. He challenged unlawful land acquisitions — even when it meant confronting his own political party. His sense of justice was expansive, including both social equity and environmental protection. VS argued that laws must uphold science and environmental responsibility. He was vocal in holding both political opponents and allies accountable. He criticised his own government when it ignored expert assessments on the Western Ghats, and he criticised the Emerging Kerala summit for encouraging unchecked privatisation. For him, political slogans were meaningless without the courage to act on them. Achuthanandan never shied away from standing alone. While others operated behind closed doors, he chose transparency. He called out every shortcut, backroom deal, and hollow promise made in the name of progress. His simple but powerful message was clear: protect what truly matters. Don't fall for superficial glamour. Uplift the marginalised. Care for the earth. Honour the truth. He did not win every political fight, but he remained true to his ideals. His strength was not measured by positions held, but by his bold dissent. Through shifting governments and cooling alliances, he stayed committed to one idea: politics must answer to the people, the environment, and the judgement of history. V.S. Achuthanandan's life reminds us that genuine change is not loud or self-congratulatory. It is rooted in moral strength, courage, and the refusal to look away from injustice. His legacy lives on — not in statues, but in every person brave enough to speak for what is right. (The writer is Director, Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension, MG University)
New Indian Express
18 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Thousands pay tribute to VS Achuthanandan at Durbar Hall
THIRUVANTHAPURAM: A sea of people gathered at the Durbar Hall in the Secretariat from the early morning hours of Tuesday to pay their final respects to veteran Communist leader and former Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan. The body of the 101-year-old leader arrived at the premises around 9:10 a.m., greeted by emotional chants of 'Comrade VS never dies; he lives through us.' The mortal remains were brought in an ambulance accompanied by CPM general secretary M.A. Baby, state secretary M.V. Govindan, MLA Kadakampally Surendran, and other senior leaders. Upon arrival, the police presented a ceremonial guard of honour to the late leader. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, cabinet ministers, senior CPM leaders including Prakash Karat and several MLAs, and Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar were present at the venue to offer their tributes. 'We will be remembering him very fondly every time,' the governor said, reflecting on VS's contributions to Kerala's political and social landscape. Businessman M.A. Yusuff Ali, who also paid his respects, said, 'He was a visionary who worked not just for Kerala but for the entire country. He even stood for the welfare of Gulf Malayalis.'
The Hindu
19 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
V.S. Achuthanandan's body moved to Durbar Hall at Secretariat to lie in state
Former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan's mortal remains were moved to the iconic Durbar Hall at the Secretariat to lie in state for the public to pay homage on Tuesday (July 22, 2025). Scores of workers walked alongside the hearse from the veteran communist leader's residence near Barton Hill in Thiruvananthapuram to the Secretariat precincts. Ministers and top party apparatchiks accompanied the hearse in their official cars. People lined up on the street to watch the procession go by, several hailing the departed leader by raising revolutionary slogans. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] general secretary M.A. Baby, and CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan escorted the body into the chandeliered hall, built in the Indo-Saracenic style by the rulers of the erstwhile princely State of Travancore in 1869. Hundreds of people, including leaders cutting across the political aisle, lined up outside the hall to pay their last respects to Mr. Achuthanandan. Many described to reporters how it was an 'emotional experience' to see the iconic communist for the final time. Scores raised their fists as they filed past Mr. Achuthanandan's coffin. Mr. Vijayan and his Cabinet colleagues occupied seats set aside for them near the coffin. Mr. Achuthanandan's son, V.S. Arun Kumar, was present. Political leaders, including #Kerala CM #PinarayiVijayan, and others pay their last respects to #VSAchuthanandan at Durbar Hall in Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday morning 📹 @ — The Hindu - Kerala (@THKerala) July 22, 2025 Mr. Achuthanandan will lie in state till 2 p.m., after which party workers will escort the body in a cavalcade of vehicles to Alappuzha. The cortege will stop at several points along the route for the public to pay homage. The government has declared a holiday for educational institutions, government offices, State-run undertakings and statutory bodies on Tuesday as a mark of respect for the departed leader. It has declared a three-day state of mourning, during which the national flag will fly at half-mast.
The Wire
a day ago
- Politics
- The Wire
V.S. Achuthanandan: The Last Commissar and His Many Ropes to Bind the People
Undated photo of former Kerala chief minister and veteran Communist leader V.S. Achuthanandan. Photo: PTI
