K.V.Surendranath

My Asan Maman
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Personally,K.V.Surendranath,was "Asan maman" to me.Being my dad's uncle and staying with us,he actually was my role model of a grandpa.I remember teaching him (he being my only student) while playing as a teacher.He was very fond of me and ironically,he was the reason,I got my first beating.Once,while playing,I called his name while taking attendance,but,he didn't respond because he was busy reading the newspaper.I had a stick with me,at that time,using which,I gave him a beating, & that too a strong one .I remember him crying out loud,hearing which my dad came out & needless to say,I got the taste of my first beating.

I remember seeing his astonished face,while hearing me reciting poems at the age of 3 (thanks to my mom) , turning into delight.I also remember sitting in his lap and seeing him pacify many people,who came to see him.He was a great philanthropist & humanitarian.

I remember his pride,when I got good marks for my board examinations (10th) and later,him asking my mom not to scold me,when I got only enough marks for passing the 12th examinations.He took great joy in explaining to everyone that I'm studying Biotechnology.He used to say "avalu BIOTECHNOLOGY ya padikkunnathu".I remember some of my relatives' faces when he didn't feel that studying Engg is not a great thing,but studying Biotechnology is.

I used to get thrilled at his sucess in the elections and also sad,at his failures.But it astonished me that he was the bravest of his gang,even when he failed terribly ,albeit due to the foul play,while competing with Mr.K. Karunakaran.The foul play was later acknowledged & accepted by Mr.Murali,at the memorial meeting which took place at Victoria Hall,TVM.But by the time,it was too late ,because he was no more.


My good memories of him are many,but I feel very sad,when I remember his last days.Fragile,old & vulnerable to his own relatives' foul play,his only source of solace were my parents.I give my sincerest thanks to god,that,I had the chance to meet and interact with this great personality during my life time.


Asan to his fellow beings
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Surendranath or “Asan” to everyone who knew him, was an epitome of probity and a man with deep understanding of Indian philosophy and Marxism-Leninism. He can be rightly called as “Gandhian Communist”.

A scholar and intellectual, Surendranath was known for his spartan lifestyle and unblemished public life full of personal sacrifices for the causes he stood for.

Surendranath was an astute environmental campaigner joining force with greens in the state on issues like conservation of Silent Valley forests.

He was a member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly for three consecutive terms starting in 1980, and also served 2 years as a member of parliament, during which time, he was given the “Best Parliamentarian Award”.

He entered politics while he was a student and had founded the Thiruvananthapuram Students Organisation (TSO). After his studies, he worked for a brief while, as reporter for a newspaper of the time `Indian Thinker', but had to leave the job when it was revealed that he was a Communist sympathiser. He returned to journalism much later in life as editor of `Marxist Veekshanam', an ideological journal. `Lokathinte Mukalthattil', a travelogue written after a journey to Manasarovar, is a widely acclaimed work in its genre. It is now a text book stipulated by Kerala University.Surendranath became a member of the Communist Party in 1945 and played a major role in building the party in Thiruvananthapuram district. Police repression forced him to go underground for a year during 1946-'47 and later during 1948-'52. Branded a `Chinese spy' along with hundreds of Communist leaders during the Indo-China war, he was in jail for six months during 1963. An efficient trade union leader, Surendranath was in the forefront of the efforts to organise transport workers and the moving spirit, along with T. V. Thomas, behind the 1954 transport workers' strike. He was also one of the first to organise workers of Travancore Titanium Products Limited, Travancore Rubber Works Limited and the Metropolitan Company. He was the Thiruvananthapuram district secretary of the CPI and member of the party State executive and national councilThough a disciplined communist and keen trade unionist, Surendranath was reputed as liberal Marxist opposed to doctrinaire approach to issues.

He passed away on September 9,2005.