Kerala Bids Final Farewell to V S Achuthanandan

Alappuzha: Veteran CPI M leader and Former Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan now rests in Valiyachudukad, the red soil of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprisings, a land sanctified by the blood of martyrs. He was cremated with full state honours at 9.15 PM on Wednesday.

As mourners from across Kerala flocked to Alappuzha, the familiar phrase “All roads lead to Valiyachudukad” found its deepest meaning.

It was here that his journey began: a young Achuthanandan marching against British rule, defying the tyranny of Sir C P, and fearlessly championing the rights of the working class. Through decades of unyielding struggle, he endured immense hardships and, in doing so, won the love and respect of generations.

The funeral procession from Durbar Hall to Valiyachudukad drew a sea of mourners. Tens of thousands gathered, not merely to witness, but to say goodbye to their most beloved comrade -in- arms. Slogans echoed through the streets, yet many were left speechless, overwhelmed by the weight of their grief.

When the procession reached Achuthanandan’s home in Paravoor, Alappuzha, one poignant image stood out: Aira B Hamid, a Class 1 student from Puramattom Higher Secondary School in Pathanamthitta, stood near his house, raising slogans with clenched fists and unshaken resolve. It was a powerful reminder that even as a stalwart of the masses took his final bow, the spirit of his struggle lives on, carried forward by a child who never saw him in public life but knows him through the stories and values passed down by her family. The torch of resistance lit by VS continues to burn in young hands.

CPI M General Secretary M A Baby, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Speaker A N Shamseer, Ministers P Prasad, Saji Cherian, A K Saseendran, K Krishnankutty, Veena George, V N Vasavan, M B Rajesh, Dr R Bindu, P Rajeev, K N Balagopal, P A Mohammed Riyas, Chief Secretary K Jayathilak, State Police Chief Shaik Darvesh Saheb, MLAs M V Govindan, P P Chitharanjan, H Salam, M S Arun Kumar, U Pratibha, Daleema Jojo, C K Asha, V K Prasanth, G Stephen, Chandy Oommen, K K Rema, Mathew T Thomas, former ministers T M Thomas Isaac, P K Sreemathi, E P Jayarajan, J Mercykutty Amma, Nalakath Soopy, Elamaram Kareem, Mons Joseph, former MPs A M Ariff, A Vijayaraghavan, C S Sujatha, P K Biju, S Ramachandran Pillai, former MLAs T V Rajesh, A V Thamarakshan, V Dinakaran, M V Jayarajan, Geetha Gopi, P Jayarajan, former DGP Rishiraj Singh, social activist K Ajitha, film director Vinayan, BJP state general secretary Sobha Surendran, INL state general secretary Kasim Irikkur, former district panchayat president R Nassar, municipal chairperson K K Jayamma, and several other public representatives and leaders from political, social, religious, and voluntary organisations were present.

Achuthanandan was admitted to SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on June 23 following health complications and passed away on July 21. Before that, having suffered a stroke, he had been under long-term care at his son’s residence, Vellikakathu, in Thiruvananthapuram. Due to his advanced age, he had been living in complete rest.

He served once as Kerala’s Chief Minister and three times as Leader of the Opposition. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly seven times and held the post of Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011. A leader of numerous mass struggles, he served as CPI M’s state secretary from 1980 to 1991 and remained a permanent invitee to the CPI M state committee till the end.

He is survived by his wife K Vasumathi, son V A Arun Kumar, daughter Dr V Asha, daughter-in-law Rajani Balachandran, and son-in-law Dr Thankaraj.