, July23, 2025: A silence, heavy with collective grief, descended upon Alappuzha today as Kerala bade a final, tearful farewell to Comrade V. S. Achuthanandan, a leader whose very life was a testament to unwavering struggle and indomitable spirit. As the sun began its descent, casting long shadows, the last rites were performed at Valiya Chudukadu, the hallowed ground where the echoes of the Punnapra Vayalar martyrs' sacrifices still resonate, and where many giants of the communist movement now rest. It was a poignant homecoming for a son of the soil, returning to the very earth he fought to reclaim for the common man.
Earlier in the day, the Alappuzha District Committee Office of the CPIM became a pilgrimage site of sorrow and respect. From the earliest hours, a tide of humanity flowed, their faces etched with pain, their eyes brimming with unshed tears. CPIM General Secretary M. A. Baby, his voice thick with emotion, led the party's tributes, joined by Polit Bureau members Pinarayi Vijayan, B. V. Raghavulu, M. V. Govindan Master, A. Vijayaraghavan, K. Balakrishnan, U. Vasuki, and Vijoo Krishnan. Each senior leader, in their solemn demeanor, reflected the profound void left by this towering figure. Veteran leaders Biman Basu and S. Ramachandran Pillai stood shoulder to shoulder with the masses, their presence a silent acknowledgment of the monumental loss.
But it was not just the political elite who gathered. The true measure of Comrade Achuthanandan's legacy was seen in the ordinary men and women who stood for hours, under the open sky, often in the rain, for a final glimpse of their "Achu Mamam" (Achu uncle), their "Kanne Karale VS-e" (Our eyes, our heart, VS). They were factory workers, farmers, daily wage earners, students – people from every walk of life whose lives had been touched by his relentless fight against injustice. Many recounted personal stories of how his interventions, his uncompromising stand against corruption, and his fiery speeches had brought them hope and tangible change. They choked back sobs, whispering "Comrade VS will never die! He lives through us, through the blood that flows through us," their voices a collective testament to the enduring bond he forged with the masses.
As the funeral procession, a sea of red flags and tear-streaked faces, slowly made its way to Valiya Chudukadu, it transformed into a people's march, mirroring the countless struggles he had led throughout his 101 years. This was not merely a funeral; it was a profound act of remembrance, a reaffirmation of the ideals he embodied. At Valiya Chudukadu, where the very soil breathes history and sacrifice, Comrade V.S. Achuthanandan's mortal remains were laid to rest, becoming a part of the glorious narrative of struggle he so passionately lived. His passing leaves an irreplaceable void, but the echoes of his voice, the fire of his convictions, and the indelible mark he left on the heart of Kerala will continue to inspire generations to march forward, carrying the torch of his revolutionary spirit.
