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BBC News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
VS Achuthanandan: Thousands pay tribute to veteran Indian communist leader
Thousands are paying their respects to veteran Indian communist leader VS Achuthanandan whose funeral will be held on as he was popularly known, died on Monday at the age of 101. He was a founding member of India's largest communist party and a former chief minister of the southern state of of thousands of people have thronged the streets to pay tribute to the politician, widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in Kerala's political to drop out of school as a child, Achuthanandan overcame grinding poverty and torture in police custody to become one of the state's most beloved leaders. He was being treated at a hospital in Thiruvananathapuram after suffering a cardiac arrest last month. His funeral will be held near his hometown in Alappuzha district with full state honours. "Fighting for the rights of the oppressed and the exploited was the guiding principle of his life," MA Baby, general secretary of Achuthanandan's party, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), wrote in tribute. He described the leader as "the epitome of struggle".Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, also from the CPI(M), called Achuthanandan a "limitless repository of inspiration and lessons".Apart from being Kerala's chief minister, Achuthanandan was the state's leader of opposition three times and a member of the CPI(M)'s Politburo for 23 popularity among Indian communists rivals only that of Jyoti Basu, the long-serving West Bengal chief minister and CPI(M) co-founder. But unlike the London-educated Basu, Achuthanandan came from humble roots and didn't finish school. While Basu shaped his legacy in power, Achuthanandan did so from the streets, championing people's issues as an opposition leader. Achuthanandan started working young after losing his mother at four and father at 11. As a teen in a coir factory, he joined the undivided Communist Party at 17 and began organising agricultural workers in Travancore in then British-ruled Antony, a former Kerala chief minister from the Congress party, said that as a school student in the 1960s, he would wait beside paddy fields to listen to Achuthanandan's speeches."Achuthanandan's life and struggles and the torture and beatings he endured in the vanguard of the communist agitations for bonded agriculture workers in Kuttanad are unequalled and historical," he was quoted as saying by The Hindu led a 1946 revolt against the state authorities, in which hundreds of communists were reportedly killed. He went underground, was later arrested, tortured in custody, and spent five years in jail. His work spanned labour rights, land rights, education, women's right, anti-corruption measures and environmental protection. A staunch communist, Achuthanandan wasn't afraid to defy his party - most notably when he met the widow of TP Chandrasekharan, murdered in 2012 by a gang that included former CPI(M) colleagues after he broke away to form his own public outcry forced the CPI(M) to reverse its attempts to sideline him in 2006 and 2011, Achuthanandan served as Kerala's chief minister (2006–2011) before retiring from public life following a 2019 stroke and living with his son in BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
Indian Express
22-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
V S Achuthanandan: From the freedom struggle to free software, to bringing MGR and Ilaiyaraaja – he always thought of the people
Comrade V S Achuthanandan was a rare breed of leader: He rose from the ranks of Alleppey's coir workers to become the Chief Minister of Kerala. He attended only primary school, but with self-education, he became fully at ease with the English-educated. He was a mass agitator par excellence, but also proved to be one of the best administrators. Wherever he was, he never lost his link with the people. He was a man of the masses. In the 1930s and 1940s, the industrial port town of Alleppey was a crucible for a generation of revolutionaries who fought caste discrimination, struggled for labour rights and threw themselves into the freedom struggle against the army of Travancore. The estimate is that around 500 workers were massacred in what has come to be known as the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising. V S Achuthanandan was one of the leaders of the pinnacle of the freedom movement in southern Kerala. As with many other Alappuzha worker-leaders, it was P Krishna Pillai who identified the organiser in young Achuthanandan and deputed him to organise the agricultural workers in Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala. Since then, the story of the mobilisation of agricultural workers in Kerala has been intertwined with that of V S Achuthanandan. The struggle was not only for better wages but also against caste and for self-respect and dignity. During the Punnapra-Vayalar armed uprising, V S was arrested and brutally tortured. His main contribution came during the post-insurrection period when he played a key role in resisting repression and rebuilding the movement. He rose rapidly in the party leadership and, as the district secretary, earned widespread admiration for winning nine out of 11 seats in the then-unbifurcated Kollam district in the 1957 legislative assembly election. It was for the above reason that he was deputed to lead the election campaign in the prestigious by-election in Devikulam in 1958. The election campaign focused on new initiatives of the Communist government for the welfare of the plantation labourers, most of whom were migrants from Tamil Nadu. While Congress brought leaders and ministers from Tamil Nadu, V S stole the limelight by bringing M G Ramachandran (MGR) to campaign, making it the only time that MGR campaigned in Kerala elections. The musician Ilaiyaraaja was also a key player in the music troupe. The CPI candidate Rosamma Punnoose had a resounding victory. In the inner party struggle during the early 1960s, V S was one of the 32 members who walked out of the CPI National Council, which led to the split in the Communist Party. Since then, he has been one of the foremost leaders of CPI(M), being state secretary for 12 years and a Politburo member for 24 years. He was a member of the legislative assembly for 35 years. Whether in power or outside, he always identified himself with the struggles of the poor for land, wages and livelihood. He could communicate with them easily and endeared himself to the masses. There were two occasions for me to closely interact with and work with him. The first was during the People`s Plan Campaign when, after the demise of E M S Naboodiripad, he became the Chairman of its High-Power Guidance Council. Every month, we would undertake tours visiting panchayats, reviewing the work and learning from practice. One incident that I remember specifically occurred during our visit to an IT co-operative setup by Ernakulam District Panchayat. V S closely listened to the enthusiastic narrative of a bunch of youngsters about the digital future and the importance of free software in the people's struggles against the monopolistic control of the IT industry. A decade later, as Chief Minister of Kerala, he would draw up an IT policy where free software figured importantly and set up the International Centre for Free and Open-Source Solutions (ICFOSS). The picture of his meeting with Richard Stallman is as iconic as the many images of him among the people leading the agitations. The second occasion was when I worked as a member of his cabinet. I have watched with tremendous admiration his determined pursuit of some development projects. For example, he had a clear vision about the role the Vizhinjam port could play in Kerala`s development, and he tenaciously pursued the project against odds. Although delayed by a decade, the Vizhinjam deep water port has today become a reality. Another occasion was my 2009 budget when I startled many by announcing an anti-recession package of Rs 5,000 crore, after the plan and budget accounts were finalised. I found the chief minister receptive to my explanations of Keynesian tactics. This rather audacious action, which was later favourably commented on by the RBI, could not have been carried out but for his support. He oversaw the expansion of social security measures and also the revival of public sector units and the revamping of public education and public health. He was vocal about women's rights, and women constituted an important support base. He was uncompromising on corruption, and his dramatic campaign against encroachment of public land in Munnar raised a hornet's nest. His last contribution to the state was the Administrative Reforms Commission Report. The focus of his recommendations was on simplifying administration and making it more citizen-friendly. Each department was meticulously examined, and detailed recommendations were listed. V S Achuthanandan will always be remembered as one of the key architects of modern and egalitarian Kerala. The writer is former finance minister of Kerala
Pink Villa
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Alappuzha Gymkhana OTT Verdict: Box office, Twitter review of Naslen and Anagha Ravi starrer sports film
Alappuzha Gymkhana starring Naslen hit the big screens on April 10, 2025. As the Khalid Rahman directorial made its OTT debut on SonyLIV, netizens have taken to the internet to express their views. Alappuzha Gymkhana Box Office Collection Alappuzha Gymkhana was released in theaters during the Vishu festival this year, clashing with Maranamass and Mammootty's Bazooka. Following the success of Premalu, the actor's film fares well in Kerala and Telugu-speaking states, which were relevant to this movie. Remaining in theaters for 7 to 8 weeks, the movie grossed Rs 64.35 crore at the worldwide box office. The film, considered a super hit, was running successfully until Mohanlal starrer Thudarum made a dent in its run. Alappuzha Gymkhana Twitter reactions More than a month since its theatrical release, Alappuzha Gymkhana has begun streaming online. With the OTT debut, netizens appear to be lauding the sports film. A user on X (formerly Twitter) said, '10 mins into Alappuzha gymkhana and this is going to be an funny adrenaline ride, those who have been to martial arts classes can laugh more harder.' Another user made a similar reaction and said, 'Alappuzha Gymkhana is the best Mollywood film come out this year, even rewatch it gives fresh and excitement. Vishnu Vijay YOU BEAUTY. A well packed maja padammmm.' With mostly rave reactions from netizens, it seems the Khalid Rahman directorial will have a successful viewership in the OTT realm as well. Alappuzha Gymkhana plot and cast Alappuzha Gymkhana features the story of five friends from Alappuzha who have completed their 12th-grade exams. However, when the results arrive, 4 of them fail, which leads them to be uncertain about their college admissions. As the protagonist, Jojo (Naslen), searches for alternatives to gain admission, he figures out that the best way is through a sports quota. Further down the line, boxing seems like the best option for them, and altogether, they engage in it. What follows is how they manage to overcome the struggles in this coming-of-age sports comedy drama, figuring out a newfound passion. In addition to Naslen, the film features an ensemble cast of actors, including Lukman Avaran, Ganapathi, Sandeep Pradeep, Franco Francis, Habish Rahman (Baby Jean), Shiva Hariharan, Anagha Maya Ravi, and many more. Disclaimer: The box office figures are compiled from various sources and our research. The figures can be approximate, and Pinkvilla does not make any claims about the authenticity of the data. However, they are adequately indicative of the box-office performance of the films in question.
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Business Standard
01-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
L&T gears up for nuclear entry, to focus on small modular reactors
Company is actively scouting for global technology partners in the US and Europe Alappuzha Listen to This Article With the regulatory approval from the US Department of Energy in its kitty, Indian multinational conglomerate L&T is planning to focus on manufacturing small modular reactors (SMRs) to play a leading role in the commercialisation of nuclear energy in India. 'Nuclear by nature is long gestation. The global trend is now to move from these large reactors to small reactors. That technology is now available, but we'll have to have the right tie-ups,' said Subramanian Sarma, whole-time director and senior executive vice-president, L&T. The company is now actively scouting for global technology partners in the US and Europe, he added.
