Rebel with a cause: A long journey on right route to empowerment
Reflecting on the inspiration behind his activism, Mohan gives credit to his father, N Gurusamy Pillai, a farmer who was deeply influenced by socialist and communist ideologies. 'During my school days, many top communist leaders, including P Ramamurthy stayed in our house during their political campaigns,' he recalled. This early exposure laid the foundation for his political and social consciousness. After schooling in Mannadimangalam, he pursued a BA in political science.
However, Mohan's straightforward attitude often clashed with political realities. 'When the youths' voice and opinions are neglected, they feel marginalised and disengage from politics. That's what happened with me,' he said. Despite stepping away from active politics, his commitment to social welfare continued. In 1978, he joined the erstwhile Pallavan Transport Corporation (now TNSTC) as a conductor and became involved with the Labour Progressive Federation, which advocates for transport workers' rights.
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