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The Hindu
02-08-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
M.K. Sanoo, critic and orator, passes away
M.K. Sanoo, distinguished Malayalam critic, biographer, orator, retired professor, and former member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, died at 5.35 p.m. here on Saturday. Mr. Sanoo had been hospitalised for the past few days due to complications sustained from a fall. He was 97. He was born on October 27, 1928, to M.C. Kesavan and K.P. Bhavani at Mangalath House in Thumpoly, then part of the erstwhile Travancore Kingdom, now in the Alappuzha district of Kerala. Growing up during Kerala's renaissance, in an environment that nurtured curiosity and a passion for learning, left an indelible mark on Mr. Sanoo from a young age. A formative moment came on his tenth birthday, when his father gifted him Twenty-Three Tales by Leo Tolstoy—opening the door to a lifelong engagement with literature. Though, over the years, his reading spanned a wide range of genres and cultures, by his own admission, it was the influential figures of Kumaran Asan and Sree Narayana Guru who shaped his thinking and writing the most. He became aware of the harsh realities of labour movements and the emerging trade union struggles at a very young age. One of his earliest memories was of a police firing on protesting workers in Alappuzha when he was around seven years old. His autobiography, Karmagathy, in fact, opens with a haunting image: walking past a bloodstain on the road on his way to school the morning after the incident. His literary sensibility emerged rather early. In the eighth standard, when a teacher asked him to write about his future career, he responded by quoting from Kumaran Asan's celebrated poem Nalini. Left-backed Independent Although Mr. Sanoo was later elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly as a Left-backed Independent, his college days at S.D. College, Alappuzha, saw a run-in with Left student leaders. As the college union chairman, he refused to support a strike organised by the Left on January 26, 1950—the day India was declared a Republic. When the protesters arrived to picket the college, he lay down at the entrance, declaring they would have to walk over him to carry out their demonstration. Early signs of his teaching abilities and talent for winning over students became evident during his tenure at Sanathana Dharma High School in Alappuzha. The headmaster entrusted him with a class that included three so-called 'rogue' students who had previously threatened to stab the school Principal. Yet, Mr. Sanoo managed to earn their trust — a success he later attributed to his willingness to acknowledge and accept their humanity. After four years as a schoolteacher, he joined Sree Narayana College in Kollam in the 1950s. He was later appointed, through the Public Service Commission, as a lecturer in the Malayalam department at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam. Except for two years, he served at Maharaja's College until retiring in 1983 as the head of the department. Oratory skills Mr. Sanoo was not a trained orator and, in fact, was an accidental choice to deliver a speech in 1947, opposing Travancore Diwan C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer's decision not to join the Indian Union. The meeting was held at the Thumpoly SNDP shakha to pass a resolution in favour of joining the Indian Union. When his friend originally scheduled to speak failed to turn up, Mr. Sanoo had to fill in. His emergence as a prolific writer was likewise somewhat accidental — and somewhat linked to his oratory. Mr. Sanoo was invited to speak at a meeting convened by a faction of writers during a time when the Malayalam literary community was sharply divided. His speech so impressed the writer K. Balakrishnan that he urged Mr. Sanoo to submit it in writing, leading to its publication in three episodes. Since then, Mr. Sanoo has authored nearly 50 books and countless articles. His entry into politics was equally accidental. In 1987, he was approached by the late CPI(M) stalwart E.M.S. Namboodirippad to contest as a Left-backed independent candidate from the Ernakulam Assembly constituency. Initially, Mr. Sanoo declined the offer. However, Mr. Namboodirippad was determined to field him in the UDF stronghold, and as graffiti bearing his name began to appear around the city, Mr. Sanoo eventually relented. He went on to win the election, defeating the Congress candidate A.L. Jacob by over 10,000 votes. Since entering politics, Mr. Sanoo became a constant presence in Kerala's socio-cultural sphere, transcending political divides and engaging with a broad spectrum of organisations. The doors of his home, 'Sandhya,' at Karikkamuri Cross Road in Kochi, remained open to people of all ideologies. From presiding over the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangam and the Kerala Sahithya Akademi to actively supporting the Krishna Iyer Movement for the Kochi Cancer Centre, he devoted himself to a wide array of causes. Among the many positions he held were: chairman of the Board of Studies at Kerala University; Sree Narayana Chair at Mahatma Gandhi University; president of the Purogamana Kala Sahithya Sangham and the Kerala Sahitya Akademi; National Professor under the University Grants Commission; and director of the Sree Narayana Study Centre at Kerala University. In 2019, Mr. Sanoo courted controversy by resigning as president of the Vayalar Rama Varma Memorial Trust, following the selection of Thilacha Mannil Kalnadayaayi by Ramachandran Puthusserry as the recipient of that year's award. He argued that V. J. James's novel Nireeshwaran and Ezhacheri Ramachandran's poem Elathumbil Vajradaham, both of which were also in contention, had been unjustly overlooked due to extraneous considerations. Mr. Sanoo is survived by three daughters – Rekha, Geetha, and Seetha - and two sons – Ranjith and Haris. His wife N. Retnamma died on October 17, 2023.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Who was VS Achuthanandan, the former Kerala chief minister who passed away at the age of 101?
VS Achuthanandan Death : V.S. Achuthanandan , veteran Communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister, passed away at the age of 101 on Monday. His death was confirmed by CPI(M) state secretary M.V. Govindan, who said the leader had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital following a cardiac arrest nearly a month ago. Achuthanandan was a towering figure in Kerala's political landscape and one of the most respected leaders in India's Communist movement. A founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), he was widely known for his lifelong advocacy for workers' rights, land reforms, and social justice. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Others Design Thinking healthcare Degree MCA CXO MBA Data Analytics Project Management Public Policy Finance Cybersecurity Digital Marketing Leadership Healthcare Product Management Data Science Technology Data Science others Operations Management Skills you'll gain: Duration: 9 months IIM Lucknow SEPO - IIML CHRO India Starts on undefined Get Details All about V.S. Achuthanandan Born on October 20, 1923, in a working-class family in Punnapra, Alappuzha district, Achuthanandan's formal education ended at Class VII. He entered politics in 1939 through trade union activism in Travancore and joined the Communist Party in 1940. His political career was marked by hardship—he spent over five years in prison and more than four years underground during periods of repression. In 1964, he was among the 32 leaders who broke away from the Communist Party of India to form the CPI(M). He later served as the party's state secretary from 1980 to 1992. Achuthanandan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly seven times—in 1967, 1970, 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016. He served three terms as Leader of the Opposition and led the state as Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011, after winning from the Malampuzha constituency. Live Events Throughout his political life, Achuthanandan remained a symbol of integrity and an unwavering voice for the underprivileged. His legacy leaves an indelible mark on Kerala's political and social fabric. FAQs When did V.S. Achuthanandan pass away and what was the cause of death? V.S. Achuthanandan passed away on Monday at the age of 101. He had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital following a cardiac arrest nearly a month earlier. When did Achuthanandan become Kerala's Chief Minister? He became the 20th Chief Minister of Kerala in 2006 after winning from the Malampuzha constituency and held the position until 2011. How many times was V.S. Achuthanandan elected as an MLA in Kerala? V.S. Achuthanandan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly seven times. He won elections in the years 1967, 1970, 1991, 2001, 2006, 2011, and 2016, representing the Communist Party of India (Marxist). His long legislative career reflected his enduring popularity and influence in Kerala politics.
Mint
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Mint
Nimisha Priya Case: This Congress MLA played a key role in halting Kerala nurse's execution in Yemen. Who is he?
Nimisha Priya Case: The execution of Nimisha Priya, the Kerala nurse on a death row in Yemen since 2020, was deferred on July 15, a day before the scheduled date. Prominent Muslim cleric Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musliyar, originally named Sheikh Abubakr Ahmad, is being hailed for initiating the mediation efforts through his long-time friend and Yemeni Sufi Islamic scholar Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz. But who prompted Abubakar to intervene? Abubakr's office issued a formal statement on July 15 saying that the initiative began after the cleric was approached last Friday by Chandy Oommen, the Congress MLA from Puthuppally. Chandy sought the Grand Mufti's assistance due to his longstanding ties with leading Sufi scholars in Yemen, the statement said. "With a deep sense of national responsibility and humanitarian concern, I decided to act upon this request," the Grand Mufti said. Oommen had also approached several other influential figures, including Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, for intervention. "Beyond his role as a Governor, he acted as a fellow human being. His sincere efforts will never be forgotten by Kerala and its people. I thank him from the bottom of my heart," Oommen said after the execution was halted, adding that the Governor reached out to foreign governments, businessmen, and officials. "He did whatever he could," the Congress MLA said after the execution was deferred. Oommen, son of late Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, met Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar on Wednesday to seek urgent intervention in the case. Oommen was accompanied by his mother, Mariyamma Oommen, during the meeting at Raj Bhavan. The family has taken up the issue as a matter of moral responsibility, recalling that the late Oommen Chandy had personally advocated for Nimisha Priya's release in his final days. "Appa (father) gave this issue priority even amid his own health struggles. He spoke to everyone who visited him about intervening in Nimisha's case," Chandy Oommen said. 'We believe this is one of the responsibilities he entrusted to us. Now, with the date of execution approaching, we cannot remain silent,' he said in a Facebook post. Nimisha Priya, 38, a nurse from Palakkad district in Kerala, was convicted of murdering her Yemeni business partner in 2017. She was sentenced to death in 2020, and her final appeal was rejected in 2023. She is currently imprisoned in a jail in Sana'a, the capital of Yemen. Chandy Oommen, 39, is an Indian lawyer, lecturer, and Congress MLA who practices law at the Supreme Court of India since 2016. He is the incumbent Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly representing the Puthuppally Assembly constituency since 2023. Chandy was the Chairman of the National Outreach Cell of the Indian Youth Congress. On September 9, 2024, the Government of India appointed Oommen as the Empanelled Advocate to represent the National Highways Authority of India in Courts in Kerala. Chandy Oommen was born on March 1 1986 in Puthuppally, Kottayam district of Kerala, India as the only son of former chief minister Oommen Chandy and Mariamma Oommen. Chandy completed his schooling at St Thomas Residential School, Thiruvananthapuram, and Loyola School, Thiruvananthapuram. He then went to Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram, for a bachelor's degree in economics. He then pursued his bachelor's ( BA Hons) and master's (MA) degrees in history at St. Stephen's College, Delhi, where he was the president of the college students' union from 2006 to 2007. After completing his post-graduation, he went on to earn an LLB from Delhi University and an LLM in criminology from the National Law University, Delhi. Additionally, he completed a summer course at the London School of Economics. Subsequently, he obtained an additional LLM in constitutional law from Christ University, Bengaluru in 2016. With a deep sense of national responsibility and humanitarian concern, I decided to act upon this request. Chandy's father, Oommen Chandy, represented the Puthuppally Assembly constituency consecutively for 53 years. Puthuppally by-election was necessitated by the death of his father in July 2023. Chandy was selected as the candidate of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). Chandy won the by-poll with a record margin of 37,719 votes against Jaick C Thomas of the Left Democratic Front (LDF). It was the highest margin for any candidate in the history of the Puthuppally assembly election.
The Hindu
30-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
CM inaugurates new office building of Vadakara municipality
Government services are among the rights of the public, and government officials are duty-bound to deliver these services, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said while inaugurating the new office building of the Vadakara municipality here on Monday (June 30). 'Services like K-Smart were introduced so that the public does not have to keep visiting the offices. The officials should understand the intentions completely and work accordingly,' he said. The Chief Minister appreciated the municipality for setting up an office suited to current times and for its efforts to improve the overall living standards of people in the town. 'The State is being urbanised at a fast pace. We need to take into consideration its possibilities as well as its challenges. We need to focus on environment-friendly development,' he said, calling for better and more efficient methods of waste disposal and for moving towards a 'Carbon Neutral' Kerala. Minister for Public Works P.A. Mohamed Riyas presided over the event. Minister for Forests A.K. Saseendran, Vadakara MLA K.K. Rema, Vadakara MP Shafi Parambil, and Kuttiady MLA K.P. Kunhahammadkutty were the guests of honour on the occasion. Chairperson of the municipality K.P. Bindu, Vice Chairman P.K. Satheeshan, chairpersons of various standing committees, and councillors were also present. The new office-cum-shopping complex of the Vadakara Municipality is a four-storeyed structure built at a cost of ₹15 crore. It includes a council hall, lifts, fire control systems, parking facilities, and separate rooms for each wing. The council hall has been designed in the style of the Kerala Legislative Assembly hall. Vadakara is the first municipality in the State to adopt the net-zero campaign, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to near zero and offset the remaining emissions through carbon removal. Accordingly, the new office will be maintained in adherence to green protocol and net carbon guidelines.
India Gazette
24-06-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
Kerala LoP Satheesan urges PM Modi for Indian expatriates' safety in Gulf
Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) [India], June 24 (ANI): Expressing serious concern over the worsening situation in the Gulf, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly V D Satheesan on Tuesday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to safeguard Indian expatriates in Qatar and other Gulf countries. In a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Satheesan expressed concern over the rapidly escalating tensions and the imminent threat of war in the region. 'It has come to light that Iran has launched an attack on United States forces stationed at the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, as part of its retaliatory actions, raising alarm about a possible broader conflict,' he wrote. The letter, shared in a post on X, highlighted the significant Indian diaspora, particularly from Kerala, residing in the Gulf. Satheesan emphasised the 'critical emotional and social significance' of ensuring the safety of these expatriates, given their contributions to families and communities back home. 'As you are well aware, a large number of Indian expatriates, particularly from my home state of Kerala, reside and work across the Gulf countries. In this volatile situation, the safety and welfare of these individuals is of critical emotional and social significance, not only to their families but also to the people of Kerala as a whole,' he urged. Satheesan called on the Union Government to act with urgency, highlighting the possibility of further escalation and emphasising the need for proactive measures to ensure the protection and welfare of Indian nationals in the region. This comes after Iran, in retaliation to the US strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, launched multiple missiles at US military installations in Qatar and Iraq, including the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military base in the region, CNN reported. The conflict began on June 13 when Israel launched a massive airstrike on Iranian military and nuclear sites, code-named 'Operation Rising Lion'. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) initiated a large-scale drone and missile campaign called 'Operation True Promise 3', targeting Israeli fighter jet fuel production facilities and energy supply centres. (ANI)
