Narayana Pillai weds at 90 to share love, pension

Kozhikode: For A.S Narayana Pillai, a freedom-fighter from Wayanad, 90 is not an age to sit back and recall the tumultuous days of his struggles  against colonialism. Instead, it is the age of action for the left-wing sympathiser who has found a new companion, Radha, 61, whom he married at  the registrar office at West Hill here on Thursday.

Though he faced stiff opposition from his six children, he was full of vigour while Radha was shy  watching the crowd and the media attention they got at the registrar office.

The nonagenarian has a solid reason for the marriage. “At present, I have freedom fighter’s pension from both central and state governments which is around Rs 26,000 per month. If I die, only my wife will be entitled to receive it and so I thought I could give a life to a woman from a financially-backward family.

This is the main reason for the marriage. Besides, I have some health issues and I am taking medication at Kottakkal Ayurveda Hospital. So I need a companion,” said Narayana Pillai, who lost his first wife in 1986.

Radha is an ‘anganwadi’ teacher from Moozhikal and was living a solitary life here.  He managed to zero in on the new love with the help of friends and some of his relatives. “I have rented out a building at Mayanad in Kozhikode. We will be moving out to the  house soon,” said a jubilant Narayana Pillai.

He started his protest against British rule when he was 14 while living in his ancestral home at  Thodupuzha. Narayana Pillai has never stopped his protest against the government.
The recent strikes  in which he took part include the endosulfan agitation and the hunger stir against alleged corruption against Kozhikode  corporation.