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“Njangalude nethaavu.”
“He was our own leader.” That’s the answer people kept giving, over and over, when reporters asked why they stood for hours along highways, crowding into junctions, climbing onto walls and rooftops, just to catch a glimpse of VS Achuthanandan’s final journey from Thiruvananthapuram to Alappuzha. It was a tribute to a comrade who had walked with them through decades of struggle, in spirit and in flesh. A veteran Communist, a former Chief Minister, and to many, the very soul of the Left of Kerala, VS Achuthanandan was not above the people, but of them.
VS passed away on July 21 in Thiruvananthapuram following a cardiac arrest. His final journey, a 150-km stretch from the state capital to his native Alappuzha, became one of the largest public farewells in Kerala’s history. On the night of July 22 and into the early hours of the 23rd, lakhs lined the roads to pay last respects. The journey took over 22 hours, as his funeral cortège halted at 12 designated points arranged by the CPI(M) to allow the public to grieve.
VS’ funeral was held at the crematorium at the Punnapra-Vayalar Memorial in Valiya Chudukad, Vayalar — a site steeped in the Communist struggle that shaped his politics and his life. It is also where many martyrs of the historic Punnapra-Vayalar uprising were laid to rest. Originally scheduled for the afternoon of July 23, the funeral had to be postponed to the night due to the overwhelming crowds.
As thousands gathered in Punnapra to pay their last respects, Sandhya, a hotel owner near his home, decided to offer free food to the people. “They came to see sir, they shouldn’t go hungry. Most hotels and shops are shut for the day, so I decided to give them food,” she told the media. Heartwarmingly, recognising that many had travelled from different districts, she also arranged washroom facilities to ensure they were taken care of.
Senior Congress leader and Haripad MLA Ramesh Chennithala described VS as a man who never lost touch with the people. “He stood for the common man. He went beyond his party lines many times, especially on subjects like environment and corruption,” he told TNM after paying his respects in Haripad.
Both natives of Alappuzha, Chennithala remembered watching VS speak as a child. “We had political differences, but we maintained a good relationship. He might have seemed rough on the outside, but he had a compassionate heart.”
R Bindu, CPI(M) leader and state Higher Education Minister, remembered VS as a leader known for his positive interventions on women's issues, and for his role in strengthening the Students' Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M). “When I was working with SFI, VS was the CPI(M) state secretary. At that time, the party took an uncompromising stand against communalism. The younger generation responded positively to this, and that conviction played a key role in the growth of SFI,” she told TNM.
Bindu also emphasised that VS had a remarkable ability to identify students with leadership potential. “He always made an effort to mentor girl students. Many of the women leaders he spotted and trained are still active in the party,” she said.
She recalled his firm stance on gender justice, noting that he had taken a clear and unequivocal position in support of the survivor of the Suryanelli case, even when it was politically inconvenient.
Bindu also spoke of a personal moment when VS stood by her. “During my time as mayor of the Thrissur municipality, I faced derogatory comments. VS intervened and warned the person who made them, saying such remarks against a woman would not be tolerated. That support gave me tremendous confidence as a politician.”
Veteran Congress leader AK Antony described VS as a frontline leader of the oppressed. “He was a warrior who devoted his life to the cause of the poor and marginalised. When I was a child, labourers were treated like slaves. VS was the leader who connected protest with purpose, to make sure they were treated with dignity and paid a fair wage. He stood by them through countless struggles," he told the media.
“VS — those two letters embody struggle, courage, and resistance,” said CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan. “Through his life, he proved that struggle and life are not separate things. It is impossible to quantify the loss his passing has brought to Kerala.”
VS Achuthanandan served as Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011, and as Leader of the Opposition for three terms. He held multiple key positions within CPI(M), including secretary of the Kerala State Committee (1980–91), and Politburo member (1985-2009). In 2018, he stepped away from active politics due to ill health.
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, state ministers, CPI(M) general secretary MA Baby, and numerous prominent politicians were present to pay their respect.