Thiruvananthapuram, July 21 — The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has lost its last founding pillar with the demise of Velikkakathu Shankaran Achuthanandan, fondly known as VS, at the age of 101. He breathed his last at 3:20 PM at SUT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, marking the end of a legendary political chapter in Kerala and Indian leftist politics.
A former Kerala Chief Minister and lifelong Marxist, VS was admitted to the ICU after suffering a heart attack. He had been bedridden since 2019 following a stroke. On June 23, he was again hospitalized after a cardiac episode and had remained on ventilator support until his passing.
Last of the Founding 32
VS was the only surviving member among the 32 leaders who walked out of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1964 to form the CPI(M). A fierce voice of the working class, he was widely respected for his ideological commitment, personal integrity, and unyielding stance on corruption, land rights, and transparency in governance.
Born on October 20, 1923, in Punnapra, Alappuzha, VS had a humble beginning, losing both parents by the age of 11 and dropping out of school to support his family. He started his career as a coir factory worker and entered politics through trade union activism, joining the Congress in 1938 and CPI in 1940.
A Lifelong Revolutionary
VS’s political life was deeply tied to Kerala’s socio-political transformation. He was a key figure in the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising of 1946, spent over five years in prison, and went underground for another four-and-a-half years during turbulent times.
He was a three-time Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Assembly and served as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 — the oldest to assume the post at 82. During his term, he led bold initiatives, including action against encroachments in Munnar, championing free software, and laying groundwork for the Vallarpadam transshipment terminal.
Beyond Politics
Even after stepping away from active politics in 2019, VS remained a towering public figure, revered for his simplicity, transparency, and courage to speak against his own party when principles were at stake. He openly opposed party decisions in the Lavalin case, criticized corruption, and defended environmental conservation.
His speeches, marked by tonal uniqueness and clarity, made him a mass favorite. His legendary status led many to compare him with Fidel Castro, a comparison publicly acknowledged by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury.
Family and Legacy
VS is survived by his wife Vasumathi, retired from the state Health Department, son Arun Kumar, a deputy director in the state’s education sector, and daughter Asha, a scientist at the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Biotechnology.
His final public appearance was on October 18, 2019, during an election rally in Vattiyoorkavu — just two days before he turned 96. A week later, he suffered a stroke that eventually silenced one of Indian communism’s most powerful voices.
VS Achuthanandan’s life will forever remain etched in the political conscience of Kerala and the larger national discourse on justice, equity, and resistance.
