P. K. Vasudevan Nair
Encyclopedia
Padayatt Kesavapillai Vasudevan Nair , March 2, 1926 Kidangoor
, Kottayam
- July 12, 2005 AIIMS, New Delhi), popularly known as PKV,
was the 9th Chief Minister of Kerala
and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India
(CPI).
His father was Kesava Pillai
. He began his political life as a student activist while studying in Union Christian College
, Aluva
, when the whole country was in upheaval having entered the final phase of freedom struggle
. After graduating in Physics he went for study law at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram
. PKV had his baptism in politics during his students days as an activist of the All India Students Federation
(AISF). The initial years were tumultuous as AISF, which was part of the then undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), was fighting against British imperialism.
Then he joined the Communist Party of India
in 1945 like many young radicals of his time who thought Congress too moderate and pro-rich. The subsequent years saw him evolve as a student and youth leader. He was the president of Travancore Students’ Union in 1947 and elected as President of All Kerala Students Federation in 1948.
PKV faced his first arrest during those days for making a speech against the royal ruler of Travancore. PKV was among hundreds of communists who went underground when the Communist Party of India was banned following its adoption of the Calcutta Thesis that called for armed struggle against the ruling government in 1948. He took part in underground activities from 1948–51 and was arrested in 1951 in connection with students' movement.
P K Vasudevan Nair and Balraj Sahani backed the idea of All India Youth Federation. Delhi's firebrand youth leader, Guru Radha Kishan
was very active in organising the first national conference of AIYF in Delhi, this wholehearted effort was visible when more than 250 delegates and observers across India representing several youth organizations of various states attended this conference. PKV had acted as president of All Kerala Students Federation, All India Youth Federation
(AIYF) and Vice President of World Federation of Democratic Youth
(WFDY).
When the Communist Party split in 1964, he threw his lot with the CPI. After a long national parliamentary career, PKV returned to state politics in 1970s and was elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1977 in the election held after the Emergency. He was the Industries Minister in the Karunakaran and A.K. Antony ministries from April 1977 to October 1978. When Antony resigned in 1979 protesting against the Congress' choice of Indira Gandhi
as a candidate in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha
by-election, PKV became Chief Minister with the support of the Congress on October 29, 1978 and occupied the post till 7 October 1979.
PKV, who never went after positions, threw away his Chief Ministership after a year in office to realise the alliance with the CPI-M, ushering in an era of Left unity in the country which lead to the formation of Left Democratic Front (LDF). Suave and soft-spoken, PKV had over the years earned several friends cutting across political lines. From 1982 to 2004, PKV had stayed away from electoral politics, concentrating his time and energy on the organisational front. During this period, he mostly served as the state secretary of CPI.
Whether in or out of power, he always kept a simple lifestyle and had been accessible to all sections of people. An ardent communist, the epitome of simplicity and a crusader for people's causes in his long political career spanning six decades that saw him elected to the post of Chief Minister, four-time MP and leader of CPI's Parliamentary Group in the Lok Sabha. He had left a vivid impression in the minds of the people.
PKV also served as editor of Janayugom daily, the organ of the Communist Party of India between 1954-57. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tiruvalla
in 1957 from Ambalappuzha
in 1962 and from Peermade
in 1967. He was in the panel of chairmen and secretary of CPI Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1970.
He was a member of parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram
constituency, elected in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections when died on 12 July 2005 following multiple organ failure brought about by chronic heart ailment and severe diabetes.
Kidangoor
Kidangoor is a village in Kottayam district, near Pala, India. It is strategically located between the two major towns in Kottayam District, Kottayam and Pala. The Meenachil River flows through the heart of Kidangoor village. The village is mentioned in many old manuscripts and is believed to have...
, Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
- July 12, 2005 AIIMS, New Delhi), popularly known as PKV,
was the 9th Chief Minister of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
and a senior leader of the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
(CPI).
His father was Kesava Pillai
Pillai (Nair title)
Pillai is a title among the Nair community of Kerala. There is also a caste called Vellalar or Pillai in Tamil Nadu, which is different from the Nair community....
. He began his political life as a student activist while studying in Union Christian College
Union Christian College
* Union Christian College, Merom, a small co-educational college located in Merom, Indiana, the United States* Union Christian College Aluva, in Aluva, India...
, Aluva
Aluva
Aluva , is a suburb of the city of Kochi, situated north of the city center and a municipality in Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Aluva is also a major industrial center of the state....
, when the whole country was in upheaval having entered the final phase of freedom struggle
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
. After graduating in Physics he went for study law at Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
. PKV had his baptism in politics during his students days as an activist of the All India Students Federation
All India Students Federation
The All India Students Federation was the first student union in India level.It was founded by students] on 12 August 1936 with the banner Freedom Peace Progress, with the guidance of Nehru. At that time, it worked for the independence of India. The organisation now works for the betterment of...
(AISF). The initial years were tumultuous as AISF, which was part of the then undivided Communist Party of India (CPI), was fighting against British imperialism.
Then he joined the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
in 1945 like many young radicals of his time who thought Congress too moderate and pro-rich. The subsequent years saw him evolve as a student and youth leader. He was the president of Travancore Students’ Union in 1947 and elected as President of All Kerala Students Federation in 1948.
PKV faced his first arrest during those days for making a speech against the royal ruler of Travancore. PKV was among hundreds of communists who went underground when the Communist Party of India was banned following its adoption of the Calcutta Thesis that called for armed struggle against the ruling government in 1948. He took part in underground activities from 1948–51 and was arrested in 1951 in connection with students' movement.
P K Vasudevan Nair and Balraj Sahani backed the idea of All India Youth Federation. Delhi's firebrand youth leader, Guru Radha Kishan
Guru Radha Kishan
Guru Radha Kishan was born in the year 1925 on Krishna Janmashtami in Bid village of district Harda of Madhya Pradesh in a Brahmin family of farmers. He has to experience the hardships of the life very early as his father was expired while he was a kid...
was very active in organising the first national conference of AIYF in Delhi, this wholehearted effort was visible when more than 250 delegates and observers across India representing several youth organizations of various states attended this conference. PKV had acted as president of All Kerala Students Federation, All India Youth Federation
All India Youth Federation
All India Youth Federation is the youth wing of Communist Party of India. AIYF is a member of World Federation of Democratic Youth. AIYF was started by Balraj Sahni and P.K. Vasudevan Nair, among others, in 1959.The All India Youth Federation came into being in 1959...
(AIYF) and Vice President of World Federation of Democratic Youth
World Federation of Democratic Youth
The World Federation of Democratic Youth is a progressive youth organization, recognized by the United Nations as an international youth non-governmental organization. WFDY describes itself as an "anti-imperialist, left-wing" organisation...
(WFDY).
When the Communist Party split in 1964, he threw his lot with the CPI. After a long national parliamentary career, PKV returned to state politics in 1970s and was elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1977 in the election held after the Emergency. He was the Industries Minister in the Karunakaran and A.K. Antony ministries from April 1977 to October 1978. When Antony resigned in 1979 protesting against the Congress' choice of Indira Gandhi
Indira Gandhi
Indira Priyadarshini Gandhara was an Indian politician who served as the third Prime Minister of India for three consecutive terms and a fourth term . She was assassinated by Sikh extremists...
as a candidate in Chikmagalur Lok Sabha
Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha or House of the People is the lower house of the Parliament of India. Members of the Lok Sabha are elected by direct election under universal adult suffrage. As of 2009, there have been fifteen Lok Sabhas elected by the people of India...
by-election, PKV became Chief Minister with the support of the Congress on October 29, 1978 and occupied the post till 7 October 1979.
PKV, who never went after positions, threw away his Chief Ministership after a year in office to realise the alliance with the CPI-M, ushering in an era of Left unity in the country which lead to the formation of Left Democratic Front (LDF). Suave and soft-spoken, PKV had over the years earned several friends cutting across political lines. From 1982 to 2004, PKV had stayed away from electoral politics, concentrating his time and energy on the organisational front. During this period, he mostly served as the state secretary of CPI.
Whether in or out of power, he always kept a simple lifestyle and had been accessible to all sections of people. An ardent communist, the epitome of simplicity and a crusader for people's causes in his long political career spanning six decades that saw him elected to the post of Chief Minister, four-time MP and leader of CPI's Parliamentary Group in the Lok Sabha. He had left a vivid impression in the minds of the people.
PKV also served as editor of Janayugom daily, the organ of the Communist Party of India between 1954-57. He was elected to the Lok Sabha from Tiruvalla
Tiruvalla
Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...
in 1957 from Ambalappuzha
Ambalappuzha
Ambalappuzha is a small town in Alappuzha district of Kerala state, south India. The town is famous for its Sri Krishna temple. The Ambalappuzha temple is one of the three important Sri Krishna temples in the state of Kerala....
in 1962 and from Peermade
Peermade
Peermade, also transliterated as Perumade, Peerumed, Peerumade or Peermede, is a hill station in the state of Kerala, India...
in 1967. He was in the panel of chairmen and secretary of CPI Parliamentary Party in the Lok Sabha from 1967 to 1970.
He was a member of parliament from the Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram
Thiruvananthapuram , formerly known as Trivandrum, is the capital of the Indian state of Kerala and the headquarters of the Thiruvananthapuram District. It is located on the west coast of India near the extreme south of the mainland...
constituency, elected in the 2004 Lok Sabha elections when died on 12 July 2005 following multiple organ failure brought about by chronic heart ailment and severe diabetes.