VS Lives On in a Wildflower: A Blooming Tribute to a Legend

Thiruvananthapuram:In the silence of the Western Ghats, where mist clings to the hills and trees hum age-old melodies through whispering branches, a delicate wildflower has bloomed, carrying within its petals the memory of a man Kerala will never forget.

V S Achuthanandan, the former Chief Minister who was laid to rest in Valiyachudukad on Wednesday, now finds a new resting place, beyond the pages of history and the hearts of millions, in the quiet sanctuary of nature itself.

High in the mist-covered slopes of the Kallar forest in Thiruvananthapuram, a newly discovered species of balsam (Kashithumba), identified in 2021, now bears his name. Named as Impatiens achudanandanii, the balsam It stands as a living, breathing tribute to a life anchored in justice, humility, and an unwavering devotion to Kerala’s green soul.

The flower is tender yet striking, creamy white petals tinged with yellow, with a golden patch glowing at its heart. It was discovered more than 1,200 metres above sea level, blooming softly in the solitude of the forest, much like the quiet strength of the man it now honours.

This naming was no coincidence. It is a heartfelt gesture by a group of Malayali researchers who sought to immortalise VS’s relentless commitment to protecting the Western Ghats, especially his decisive role in declaring Mathikettan Shola a national park. “This is our way of saying thank you,” they wrote in a scientific paper.

Now, in a forest where time moves slowly and every leaf holds memory, this gentle wildflower blooms, not just as a botanical discovery, but as a whisper of a legacy. The legacy of a leader who once walked barefoot into struggle, who stood firm for the land and its people.