Under an overcast sky, the hammer and sickle flag in front of the old AKG centre, the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s [CPI(M] former State headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, fluttered at half mast on Monday evening. Above it was hoisted a black flag, marking the passing away of former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan, the last remaining founding member of the CPI(M).
Party workers, young and old, milled about, awaiting the arrival of the departed leader’s mortal remains, while a few others went about their work of tying up banners with the leader’s image with mechanical precision, not showing the heightened emotions of the moment on their faces. “VSinu Vida,” read one of those banners which was tied across the entry point to the old AKG Centre.
Police barricades
Two hours passed by, and the crowd swelled, filling up the entire breadth of the road that leads from the Kerala University to the General Hospital. In anticipation of the crowd, the police had already barricaded both ends of the road, leaving one lane for traffic. An ambulance to General Hospital arrived, and the crowd with all its discipline parted ways to both sides. Among those who gathered was 78-year old Chellappan, who has been a member of the CPI(M) from his younger days in the Balasangam.
“I have so many memories of seeing and hearing VS, in party classes and in public functions. He was a leader who was dear to all of us and held up the ideals of the party till the very end,” says Mr. Chellappan.
Mani, an autorickshaw driver in the city, had come with his young daughter, to catch one last glimpse of the leader he admired a lot. As night fell, the crowd swelled further. The moment the ambulance siren was heard, the whole crowd of disparate people from various walks of life erupted, as if in practised unison. “Kanne, Karale, VSee…”, an endearing slogan that rang out across Kerala for decades, a slogan that reflected the immense affinity that the people had towards the man, was heard interminably for the next one hour, for one last time in front of the old AKG Centre. It became a moment marked by a groundswell of emotions, evident in the cracked voices which uttered the slogans.
Leaders’ tributes
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was tailing the ambulance from the hospital in his official car, walked to the steps of the building, to receive the mortal remains of the departed comrade. He was soon joined by CPI(M) general secretary M.A. Baby and other top CPI(M) leaders, who escorted the body inside the old AKG Centre. CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan wrapped Mr. Achuthanandan’s body in the red party flag emblazoned with the sickle and hammer symbol. Senior leaders raised their fists in salute as deafening sloganeering pervaded the atmosphere.
“Illa illa marichittilla, Jeevikkunnu Njangaliloode,” the slogans continued late into the night as the crowd gathered outside to pay their last respects to a leader who truly lived in many hearts.
