Legacy of a People's Leader: The Life and Times of V S Achuthanandan

V S Achuthanandan, a prominent Marxist leader from Kerala, rose from a working-class background to become India's revolutionary Chief Minister. A founding member of the CPI(M), he dedicated over eight decades to championing workers' rights, social justice, and anti-corruption, leaving a powerful legacy in Indian politics.

V S Achuthanandan, a legendary Marxist from Kerala, passed away at the age of 101. Known for his anti-corruption crusades and commitment to social justice, Achuthanandan was India's first communist leader from a working-class background to rise to the esteemed position of Chief Minister.

His political journey began in the pre-Independence era as a trade unionist, propelling him to become a founding figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) after a pivotal split in 1964. Despite coming from humble origins, he matched strides with his upper-caste contemporaries, E M S Namboodiripad, Jyoti Basu, and E K Nayanar, carving a unique place in Left politics.

Achuthanandan's eventful life was marked by intense struggles, both within and outside his party, championing the causes of workers and the poor. His tenure as Kerala's Chief Minister from 2006 to 2011 was defined by rigorous anti-corruption efforts and policies aimed at the welfare of ordinary citizens, a legacy that profoundly impacted the Indian Left.

(With inputs from agencies.)