From Struggle to Rest; VS's Funeral Procession Begins

A sea of people gathered, hoping to catch one last glimpse of the leader who fought tirelessly for the dignity of women and the rights of workers. V S Achuthanandan is bidding farewell to his partisans, returning to the very land that shaped him, the resting place of the Punnapra-Vayalar martyrs at Valiyachudukad, Alappuzha. Workers, Auto Drivers,Daily Wage Labourers paused their shifts and rushed to the roadside, just to say a final goodbye to the leader who once stood for them.

From organising farmers in Kuttanad to taking part in the Indian independence struggle, VS lived a life steeped in legacy. The people he touched, directly or indirectly, poured into the streets of Kerala’s capital, united in grief and gratitude.

Among them were parents who had brought their children. One father spoke to his son about the man whose name echoed through their household for years. A police officer gently lifted the child above the crowd, just high enough to see the passing leader. That fleeting moment, etched in the boy’s mind, may one day become the spark for future struggles, just as VS once was to a generation before.

The extraordinary orator and crowd-puller that he was is reflected in his funeral procession. The KSRTC bus carrying his mortal remains moves slowly, allowing everyone a chance to see their beloved leader one last time.