A towering figure in Kerala’s political landscape, veteran communist leader and former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan has passed away at the age of 101. Affectionately known simply as “VS” among Malayalis, VS Achuthanandan breathed his last at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. With his death, Kerala bids farewell to a freedom fighter, social reformer, and one of the last living links to India’s anti-colonial resistance.
VS Achuthanandan is survived by his wife, K. Vasumathi, two children—Asha and Arun—and his grandchildren. He had largely withdrawn from public life after suffering a minor stroke in 2019, but his legacy remained etched in the public consciousness.
Born in 1923 into a family of agricultural laborers in Punnapra, Alappuzha, VS Achuthanandan’s life was shaped by the relentless hardships of poverty and personal loss. Orphaned at a young age, he was drawn into the national freedom movement at just 16, inspired by pioneering communist leader P. Krishna Pillai—whom he later hailed as his political guru.
VS Achuthanandan began his political journey by organizing bonded agricultural laborers and workers at the Aspenwall coir factory in Kayamkulam. His activism soon led him into the thick of militant struggles, notably the 1946 Punnapra-Vayalar uprising—one of the most significant leftist agitations against British rule. After going underground to evade arrest, he was eventually captured, brutally tortured, and left for dead by the colonial police. He often recounted how a fellow prisoner spotted signs of life and saved him from an unmarked grave.
VS Achuthanandan’s political career spanned over eight decades. In 1964, he became a founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] following a split from the undivided Communist Party of India. Over the years, he held numerous key positions, including serving as the party’s state secretary and leader of the opposition. He became Kerala’s 11th Chief Minister, serving from 2006 to 2011.
VS was known as a crusader for the underprivileged, a fearless voice for justice, and a relentless campaigner for people’s rights. His political career was marked by a commitment to environmental protection, gender equality, wetland conservation, labor rights, and the promotion of free software. He also championed the cause of nurses, transgender individuals, and marginalized communities long before these became mainstream political issues.
“VS Achuthanandan: A Rebel Within and the Conscience of Kerala’s Left”.
Despite his dogmatic adherence to Marxist ideology, Achuthanandan was not afraid to stand up to his own party when conscience demanded it. In 2009, he was expelled from the CPI(M) Politburo after defying the party’s state secretariat. In 2012, he again went against the party line by visiting KK Rema, the widow of slain rebel Marxist leader TP Chandrasekharan—a gesture that made headlines and reaffirmed his sense of justice over party loyalty.
Known for his sharp wit and rustic eloquence, VS was a compelling orator whose speeches blended biting sarcasm with hard-hitting truths. He was both a darling of the masses and a favorite of political satirists. His speeches often revealed a deep-rooted skepticism toward dogma, including religious belief. When once asked by a schoolchild which Hindu god he favored, he wryly replied, “Like all of us, the tales of gods fascinate me. But like everyone else, I wonder if they even exist, and if so, on which planet.”
Achuthanandan’s political legacy is vast and complex. He was a relentless idealist in an increasingly pragmatic political world. While some critics argued he was out of step with modern economic realities and occasionally fomented factionalism within his party, few could question the purity of his convictions or the depth of his public commitment.
On his 100th birthday, CPI(M) leader and playwright Varanthoor Murali offered a poignant reflection on Achuthanandan’s role in history, stating, “VS is not just a man, he is an era.” Today, as Kerala mourns his passing, those words ring truer than ever.
VS Achuthanandan’s life was a testament to courage, conviction, and an unwavering dedication to the ideals of justice and equality. His absence leaves a void that will not be easily filled—but his legacy will continue to inspire generations to come
