Legendary communist turns a centenarian today

K.R. Gowriamma is among the most respected women politicians of independent India, said President Ram Nath Kovind, while inaugurating the 'Festival of Democracy' seminar last year to commemorate the diamond jubilee of the Kerala legislative assembly.

Every word that the President spoke was apt considering her high profile and illustrious political career spanning nearly seven decades. Born to a landlord K. Raman who owned over 2000 acres of paddy fields in Chertala, none would have thought that Gowriamma will go on to become one of the most revolutionary  and firebrand leaders of the communist movement in the country.

She was among the few girls in her area to study at the Thurvaoor English Medium School. After completing college, she had the distinction of becoming the first lawyer from Ezhava community and began practicing at the Cherthala Munsif court in the late 1940's.

It was her elder brother Sukumaran who took part in 1946 Punnapra Vayalar rebellion who inspired Gowriamma to take the plunge into active politics. Since then, she never looked back.

The only surviving member of the first communist government led by E.M.S. Namboodiripad in 1957, she had the distinction of piloting several important Bills including the historic Land Reforms Bill which triggered ground breaking socio-political and economic changes in the state. She is the only woman legislator in the State who has piloted many several important Bills including those related to land utilisation, women's commission and criminal code.

While being revenue minister in the first EMS ministry (1957-59) she married her cabinet colleague and industries minister T.V. Thomas in a simple function arranged by the party. After the split in the communist party in 1964, Thomas chose to stay with the CPI while Gowriamma parted ways and joined the newly formed CPI(M). The marriage could not last long as ideological issues triggered serious differences among the couple and they separated in 1965.

Gowriamma became a minister again Namboodiripad led government in 1967.  Subsequently she was minister in four other governments including two led by the United Democratic Front.

About four years ago her special puja at a temple triggered a major controversy. Interestingly, the visit came close on the heels of another controversy surrounding her late husband, Thomas. Former archbishop Joseph Powathil in his memoir had revealed that Thomas wanted to come back to Christianity and in his death bed wanted to confess and receive holy communion. However, the archbishop's claims were vehemently denied by the CPI.

Gowriamma was very close to becoming the first woman chief minister of Kerala in 1987 but it did not materialise.  Later, owing to serious differences with the leadership she parted ways. She had also shared her disappointment over Thomas not being made the chief minister of Thiru-Kochi.

After her expulsion from the CPM in 1994, Gowriamma floated her own party Janathipathya Samrakshan Samithi and secured four seats in the subsequent Assembly elections.  Several attempts by the Left parties for her "ghar wapsi" could not succeed.

Usually those expelled from the CPM become politically irrelevant in the state. But due to Kerala's bi-polar politics, leaders like Gowriamma and late M.V. Raghavan not only survived but stayed politically relevant. The UDF had rewarded both with cabinet berths. Also the never say die spirit of the communists kept leaders like Gowriamma going.

Ahead of Assembly elections in 2011, the CPM tried to woo the veteran leader in an attempt to create fissures in the UDF.  However she chose to stay with the UDF which she finally quit in 2014. The state then witnessed CPM leaders taking turns to eulogise Gowriamma.  "`She is an inseparable part of the communist folklore; she has special place in the communist movement,'' they reminded all.  National leaders including CPI general secretary S. Sudhakar Reddy had described Gowriamma as  a respected leader of Kerala and she would be an asset to the communist movement if she returned.

Many in the political sphere believe that CPM's magnanimity towards Gowriamma could be out of genuine respect and concern for her. The party is keen on Gowriamma's return as it wants to accord an honourable place in the twilight of her life.

A section in the CPM wants Gowriamma to be treated on par with communist stalwart like former Tripura chief  minister  Nripen Chakraborty, who was  expelled for anti party activities in 1995 and then readmitted, a day before his death in 2005. The firebrand leader who will turn 101 on Friday is no less in stature compared with Nripen da.

The CPM has not abandoned its efforts to bring back Gowriamma to party fold. Many say the 101st birthday celebrations to be held at her house in Chathanad in Cherthala on Friday for which even the Assembly session has been suspended for a day will set the stage for a befitting honour to the legendary leader of Kerala.