Memoirs

Yesterday, I started writing blog in Malayalam but there was some problem in doing so since I had written the same using transliteration method in google of internet and I could not write correct words. Hence I thought of writing in English also

I have been toying with the idea of starting my blog and write something continuously without any interruption; however, it could only be cherished now. As the saying goes, it is better late than never.

At the outset I want to share many an experience of mine since my childhood with the readers.

First of all, let me talk of about my native place.  I am a native of Cherthala Taluk in Alappuzha District of Kerala which is on the coastal area.  I hail from 8^th ward of Cherthala Municiality near Shastham Kavala.  I belong to Cheriamurianatt which is an ancient family of the locality.

I am sure that there won’t be any Keralite who has not heard about Cherthala.  When one hears the name of Cherthala , the first thing that comes to one’s mind is the uprissng of Vayalar launched against the autocratic rule of Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyyer in which thousands of people have become martyrs.  Moreover, many political personalities like K.R.Gowry Amma, A.K.Antony, Vayalar Ravi , cinema actors like Rajan P.Dev and Jagannath Verma are native of Cherthala.  Also, the great film lyricist and poet of Kerala Vayalar Ramavarma also hailed from Cherthala.

I was borne and brought up under purely conservative environment.  Major chunk of my childhood was spent at Kanjirappally in Kottayam District and Nilambur Taluk of Malappuram District of Kerala.  During the year 1954 or so we have started staying at Kanjirappally where my father used to work in a cinema theatre named ‘Baby’ as Manager.   During the period of my childhood  I used to hear all sorts of strories about Communist Party and have grown up as a person who hates  the Communists. I was told that Communists are cruel people who have got no mercy for others and  who will go any extent to attain their goals.  The most valid point they were citing in support of this argument was the role of Communists in Vayalar uprising in which hundreds of Communists were killed.  The Vayalar uprising and the resistance against Sir CP Ramaswamy Iyyer was interpreted as a classic example of deceit and Congress Party started observing ‘Deceit Day’ on Vayalar Martyrs Day telling that Communists had deceived followers into attacking the army of Sir CP with  spears made out of coconutt tree wood and in the process  hundreds of followers had become martyrs. Hearing such things, a fear complex had developed in my mind about Communists during my childhood.  I was afraid of going near the office of Communist Party those days and was scared even  to see the red flag.

While I was at Kanjirappally also, I was hearing all bad things about Communists. After the   first Communist Government headed by EMS Namboothirippad was assumed office, I had shifted my residence to Nilambur and during the period of  ‘Vimochana Samaram’ I was there only.  After the government led by EMS was dismissed by the Cental Giovernment headed by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, I have come back to my native place and resumed my studies at Cherthala High School. That was in the year 1961.  During this year I started my political work as a K.S.U. worker and have been an active member of K.S.U., the student wing of Congress.  Those days  I used to visit Congress Party office on almost all the holidays or Sundays.  Moreover, whenever some State leader or all-India leader used to visit Cherthala, I used to participate in the pub lic meetings held  during theiir visits.  My association with Congress Party continued till 1964 when I have completed my  high school education.  Then how come I have become an active Communist? What are the circumstances that have led to that?  About that I will narrate later.