Thousands bid farewell to legendary communist leader V S Achuthanandan

Kerala witnessed a historic farewell as thousands of people poured into the streets to pay their last respects to legendary Communist leader V S Achuthanandan, who passed away at the age of 101.

His final journey, a 150-km-long funeral procession from Thiruvananthapuram to Alappuzha, unfolded like a people’s march, echoing the mass movements he once led. Beginning at the state Secretariat around 2.30 pm on Tuesday, the flower-decked KSRTC bus carrying his mortal remains moved at a slow pace as people from all walks of life , party workers, and supporters lined the roads — many standing in the rain, some waiting through the night — to pay tribute to the iconic leader who gave voice to the voiceless.

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The funeral of legendary communist leader and former Kerala Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan is set to be held with full State honours at Punnapra-Vayalar Martyrs’ Memorial at Valiya Chudukkad in Alappuzha district, a site of historical significance connected to the memories of the Punnapra-Vayalar martyrs.

Earlier, it was decided to hold the cremation at 5 pm after completing the public viewing at the Beach Recreation Ground. However, the cremation was delayed as the funeral cortege could not keep up the time schedule because of the overwhelming response of the crowd waiting in the streets to see a last look at their beloved leader.

The funeral cortege which started from Thiruvananthapuram at 2.30 pm on Tuesday, reached Alappuzha after 22 hours. The mourning procession was delayed as the people of all walks of life lined the two sides of the roads to have a last look at the leader of the people. Despite the rain and overnight wait, thousands of people stood with flowers in hand, determined to catch one last glimpse of the leader they revered.

The mortal remains of the veteran communist leader reached his ancestral house Velikkakathu veedu at Paravur in Alappuzha on Wednesday afternoon . As VS Achuthanandan’s remains arrived at his ancestral home, a mix of emotions erupted, and tears flowed freely among the thousands who had gathered to bid farewell to the legendary leader.

Thousands of people gathered there to bid goodbye to the man who stood for the voiceless. Cries of “Kanne Karale VSe!” (Beloved VSe, our dearest) echoed through the air as people raised their fists in solemn tribute, their voices both a farewell and a vow to carry forward his legacy.

The police and Red Volunteers struggled to manage the vast crowd gathered in front of the residence. VS Achuthanandan‘s only surviving sibling, Azhikutty, is also at the ancestral home to bid him farewell.

After the public viewing at his Velikakathu house and the CPI-M Alappuzha district committee office, the body was taken to the Beach Recreation Ground for public viewing. As the ocean of people turned up to see the beloved leader for the last time the public viewing was completed much later than planned at all places.