V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan
Personal details
Born 25 April 1909
Avinissery, Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, British India
Died 13 May 2004(2004-05-13) (aged 95)
Thrissur, Kerala, India
Political party Indian National Congress
Spouse(s) P.K.Lakshmi Bhai
Children Three daughters and Four sons
Residence Thrissur
Alma mater Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram

V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan (1909–2004) was an Indian freedom fighter, Gandhian, journalist, trade unionist and Indian National Congress leader from Thrissur city in Kerala, India.[1] Ezhuthachan was the founder general secretary of Kochi rajaya prajamandalam which was constituted on 26 January 1941. He is also founder of the now defunct Deenabandhu daily published from Thrissur.[2][3][4][5][6].

Personal life

V.R Krishnan Ezhuthachan was born in Avinissery, Thrissur on April 25, 1909. As the tenth son of Vadakkoot Nelliparambil Raman Ezhuthachan and Njarasseri valappil Lakshmi amma. He completed his primary education from ezhuthupura(old traditional village school) which functioned in his own home.[7]

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan's home at Avinissery, Thrissur

After passing the 10th-grade securing gold medal, he completed graduation in Economics and Law(BL) by securing rank. When Gandhiji arrived Thrissur in 1925, Ezhuthachan met him and then stepped into the freedom struggle. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan, an active member of the Cochin State Congress Party, was his mentor in politics.[8] With the formation and activities of Kochi Rajya prajamandalam, V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan made his own identity in the field of politics.[9][6]

The formation of Kochi Rajya Praja Mandalam

A group of young people who were displeased with the functioning of political movements in the erstwhile Kochi state, In the meeting held on 26 January 1941, under the leadership of Krishnan Ezhuthachan decided to form the Kochi Rajya prajamandalam. 'To end the sovereignty of Cochin king and to form responsible government' that was the main objective of Praja Mandala. On 9 February 1941 Prajamandal formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as founder general secretary.[3][1]

To help the people of the Kingdom of Cochin from ravages caused due to the flooding in 1941, Prajamandalam formed Cochin flood relief committee. V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan, C. Achutha Menon were secretaries of it. Ezhuthachan actively worked in this organisation by collecting donations and distributing brochures about calamities throughout Kingdom of Cochin.[9]

Cochin karshaka sabha

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan and his wife Lakshmi bhai

With the objective of ending difficulties faced by farmers due to Feudalism an organisation called Cochin karshaka sabha formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as president and C. Achutha Menon as secretary. Brochures about the difficulties of farmers distributed by this organisation. Cochin karshaka sabha stood for permanent ownership for farmers in their field. Protest by karshaka sabha caused acceptance of verumpatta kudiyan bill in 13th February 1943 at Cochin Legislative Council. In 1944, part of the restructuring of the Prajamandalam, Communist sympathizers abandoned the membership in Prajamandalam. After this incident Cochin karshaka sabha divided into two as All Cochin Kisan Congress with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as its leader and Cochin Karshaka sabha with C. Achutha Menon as the leader. Later All Cochin Kisan Congress merged to All India Kisan Congress.[9][10]

In January 1942 Prajamandalam decided to conduct the first annual meeting at Irinjalakuda. Diwan A.F.W.Dixon banned it due to the resentment caused towards king by the activities of Prajamandalam and karshaka sabha. As a consequence of the ban, including Ezhuthachan many leaders of Praja Mandala got arrested. Leaders came forward to conduct the meeting arrested from the meeting place by the police send by Diwan. Leaders like K. Karunakaran arrested by police and they faced brutal torture in jail.[9][1]

Avinissery was one of the main weaving centre of Thrissur. Ezhuthachan actively worked in Cochi khadhi grama vyavasaya association an organisation to spread the use of khadi. He also worked actively in the formation of khadi weaving centres in Thrissur and Ernakulam.[1]

V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan(Third from right), with P. P. George and P. A. Madhavan at INTUC meeting

In connection with Quit India movement on 5th August 1942 a conference conducted under the leadership of Gandhiji and Nehru for All India Congress Committee at Bombay. Ezhuthachan and S.Neelakanda Iyer attended the conference by representing Praja Mandalam. As part of Quit India movement Praja Mandala actively participated in strikes. During that time there was strong ban in functioning of the press, Praja Mandala started a newspaper called Deenabandhu with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as Editor-in-chief.

With the intention of saving people from financial crisis caused due to the second world war, an organisation called gramasevakasamgham formed. Ezhuthachan worked as secretary of this organisation in Thrissur. During the spread of fifth fever and cholera gramasevakasamgham actively worked to prevent it's spread.

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan's samadhi at Avinissery, Thrissur

When prjamandal decided to face election. In 1945 Ezhuthachan unanimously elected to Cochin Legislative Council. Ezhuthachan was a member of Travancore-Cochin legislative council representing Nemmara.[11][9][8][6]

Ezhuthachan married Lakshmi Bhai, Daughter of his political mentor and active congress politician P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan. He died in 2004 at the age of 95 due to age-related diseases.[6]

In 2009 as a part of V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi celebration M.P. Veerendra Kumar received V.R. Krishananezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi award.[12] Ezhuthachan gave leadership to a caste based organisation called Ezhuthachan samajam due to the honor towards his activities the law college started by Ezhuthachan samajam entitled his name.[13]

Recognition's

The nation honored Ezhuthachan with Thamarapathra for his excellent service in Indian independence movement. Other major awards are University of Madras award for the study Gramoddharanam in the year 1931. sadanandan award and Prof. K. M. Chandy award for the contributions in the field of Cooperative movement in India. Swathanthra kanakopaharam by Kerala press foundation. Ramasrama award for excellent service in social and literature fields. Thissur Sahrudaya vedhi award, Tomyas award.[7]

In Literature field

Ezhuthachan has contributions in the field of literature also, he was a poet. He received Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his autobiography V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan: aathmakadha in the year of 2000.[14][15]

Other works

  • Gramoddhaaranam
  • Aashayaanjali
  • Gandhi Jinna Kathukal(Translation)
  • Vishwacharithraavalokanam(Translation of Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru)
  • Indiayile vargeeya thrikonam(Translation of Ashok metha's Communal triangle)
  • Kochikkoru abhivruddhi paddhathi
  • Niyamasabhaprasangangal(Compilation of Krishnan Ezhuthachan's speeches in legislative assembly)

In addition to this Ezhuthachan was co-author for a book named Kochi rajya charithram about the history of Kingdom of Cochin.[7][16]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യം @ 70". Madhyamam online. 10 October 2017. Archived from the original on 4 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Gandhian remembered". The Hindu. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  3. 1 2 "THRISSUR - HISTORY". Govt of Thrissur. Retrieved 2018-04-05.
  4. ↑ "Fall in poll percentage due to middle class indifference: Ravi". Zee News. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  5. ↑ "VR Krishnan Ezhuthachan remembrance meet on Sunday". City Journal. Retrieved 2012-05-16.
  6. 1 2 3 4 "വി.ആര്‍. കൃഷ്ണനെഴുത്തച്ഛന്‍ അന്തരിച്ചു". One India Malayalam. 13 May 2004. Archived from the original on 13 February 2018. Retrieved 13 February 2018.
  7. 1 2 3 "വി. ആർ. കൃഷ്ണൻ എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ". ഗുരുവിഷൻ: ചരിത്ര, സംസ്കാരിക, മാസിക(വി. ആർ. കൃഷ്ണൻ എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ സ്പെഷ്യൽ പതിപ്പ്). Thrissur: K. Sasidharan. 31 March 2018.
  8. 1 2 "vrkrishnanezhuthachanlawcollege". vrkrishnanezhuthachanlawcollege. Retrieved 2018-02-17.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "FORMATION OF KOCHI RAJYA PRAJAMANDALAM" (PDF). Shodhganga:a reservoir of Indian theses. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  10. ↑ "MARXIST PRAXIS: COMMUNIST EXPERIENCE IN KERALA: 1957-2011, E.K. SANTHA, DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, SIKKIM UNIVERSITY GANGTOK-737102, November 2016" (PDF). 22 May 2018. p. 125.
  11. ↑ "Statistical report on general election, 1951 to the legislative assembly of Travancore - Cochin" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Minister calls for schemes to promote khadi". The Hindu online. 14 May 2009. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  13. ↑ "Palakkad gets its first law college". The Hindu online. 13 May 2004. Archived from the original on 17 February 2018. Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  14. ↑ http://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/awards.php?award=13
  15. ↑ [http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw6.htm Works that won Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for Biography/Autobiography.
  16. ↑ "Keralaliterature.com/കൃഷ്ണൻ എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ വി.ആർ". Archived from the original on 21 June 2018.


Further reading

  • Formation of Kochi Rajya Prajamandalam
  • V.R Krishnanezhuthachan aathmakadha
  • guruviṣan: caritra, sanskārika, māsika(vi. ār. kr̥ṣṇan eḻuttacchan speṣyal patipp) ഗുരുവിഷൻ: ചരിത്ര, സംസ്കാരിക, മാസിക(വി. ആർ. കൃഷ്ണൻ എഴുത്തച്ഛൻ സ്പെഷ്യൽ പതിപ്പ്), Thrissur: K. Sasidharan. 31 March 2018.
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