Tributes Pour In for Iconic Communist Leader Achuthanandan

The influential figure passed away at 101, leaving behind a legacy of resilience and dedication to social justice.

Thousands of individuals have come together to pay their respects to VS Achuthanandan, a venerated veteran of the Indian communist movement, whose funeral is set for Wednesday. Well-known simply as VS, Achuthanandan passed away on Monday at the remarkable age of 101. He was a founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the largest communist party in India, and notably served as the chief minister of Kerala, a southern Indian state.

Mourners have flooded the streets to honor Achuthanandan, who is celebrated as a pivotal figure in Kerala's political landscape. His journey from poverty and childhood trauma, including being forced to leave school and enduring police torture, to becoming one of the state's most loved leaders, inspired many. Achuthanandan received treatment for a cardiac arrest last month and will be laid to rest in Alappuzha district with full state honors. MA Baby, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M), highlighted his life’s work in advocating for the oppressed and called him "the epitome of struggle."

Kerala's current chief minister, Pinarayi Vijayan, also from the CPI(M), referred to Achuthanandan as a "limitless repository of inspiration and lessons." In addition to his tenure as chief minister, Achuthanandan served as opposition leader three times and was a Politburo member of CPI(M) for 23 years. His influence among Indian communists is comparable only to that of Jyoti Basu, a co-founder of the CPI(M) and long-serving chief minister of West Bengal.

Unlike Basu, who was educated in London, Achuthanandan hailed from humble beginnings and lacked a formal education. He began working at a young age after losing both parents, and entered politics by joining the Communist Party at 17. Renowned for his grassroots approach, he worked tirelessly to organize agricultural laborers during his early years.

Former Kerala chief minister AK Antony, from the Congress party, reminisced about how he would eagerly await Achuthanandan's speeches as a schoolboy in the 1960s. He recalled Achuthanandan's courageous leadership during the 1946 revolt against state authorities, which led to the deaths of numerous communists and resulted in his arrest and torture.

Achuthanandan’s impact spans various social issues, including labor rights, education, women’s rights, anti-corruption initiatives, and environmental advocacy. His unwavering commitment to communism often led him to challenge his party, notably when he met the family of T.P. Chandrasekharan, a former CPI(M) member murdered in 2012.

Despite facing political attempts to sideline him, Achuthanandan served as Kerala’s chief minister from 2006 to 2011 and remained a formidable figure until suffering a stroke in 2019, after which he lived with his son in Thiruvananthapuram.