Velikkakathu Sankaran Achuthanandan, better known as VS Achuthanandan, stood as a towering figure in the history of politically vibrant Southern Indian state Kerala and in India’s Left movement. From his early days as a landless worker to becoming the 11th Chief Minister of Kerala, Achuthanandan’s political journey was marked by unwavering commitment to Marxist principles, a fierce advocacy for the downtrodden, and an indomitable personal integrity that earned him reverence across party lines.

Born on October 20, 1923 in Punnapra, a small village in Alappuzha district, Achuthanandan was orphaned at a young age and had to discontinue his education in Class 7. He took up work in a tailoring shop to support himself. But adversity only sharpened his resolve. Drawn to politics through the early workers’ movements in earstwhile Travancore, he became actively involved in trade union struggles during the 1940s.

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Achuthanandan was a founding member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) after the 1964 split in the Communist Party of India. Over the decades, he rose steadily within the CPI(M), becoming one of its most recognisable faces in Kerala. His fierce oratory, dogged commitment to agrarian rights, and incorruptibility made him immensely popular with the masses.

A stalwart of land reform movements, Achuthanandan played a crucial role in mobilising peasants and workers in Kerala’s southern districts. He spent over five years underground during various crackdowns on Communists, and even endured long spells in prison. These formative years solidified his public image as a fighter who lived his ideology, rather than simply preached it.

His political career saw him serve in several leadership roles: as State Secretary of the CPI(M) in Kerala, Member of the Polit Bureau, Opposition Leader, and finally, Chief Minister of Kerala from 2006 to 2011. Remarkably, he became Chief Minister at the age of 82, to be the oldest to hold the position in the state.

His tenure as Chief Minister was characterised by a series of impactful and often controversial decisions.

Achuthanandan led a crackdown on illegal encroachments in Munnar and other parts of the state, bulldozing powerful interests, including within his own party. He also took a strong stance against corruption and corporate exploitation, particularly in the Smart City Kochi project and Lavalin case, a move that set him at odds with other senior leaders in the CPI(M) including the current Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan.

One of the most enduring legacies of his government was its focus on public education, land reclamation, and IT development. He was instrumental in launching the ‘Free Software Movement’ in Kerala and boosting public sector IT initiatives like KELTRON and INFO Park. His support for the anti-piracy drive in Malayalam cinema and campaign against child pornography on the internet showed his willingness to take on new-age issues with the same vigour he brought to traditional struggles.

His relationship with his party was often uneasy. In 2009, he was removed from the CPI(M) Polit Bureau for his defiance of the party line, though public sympathy remained overwhelmingly in his favour. He became something of a rebel within, respected and feared, admired and marginalised in equal measure. His differences with fellow senior leader Pinarayi Vijayan were well documented, reflecting ideological tensions between reformists and hardliners within the party.

Yet, even as intra-party politics sought to sideline him, Achuthanandan remained the people’s politician. His stoic lifestyle, refusal to indulge in nepotism or luxury, and devotion to Communist ideals kept his credibility intact long after his active political years. He was a rare figure whose personal integrity was never in question—a rarity in contemporary Indian politics.

After stepping down as Chief Minister in 2011, he continued to serve as Leader of the Opposition until 2016. Following the Left’s return to power, he was appointed the first Chairman of the Kerala Administrative Reforms Commission, a post he held until 2021.

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A voracious reader, VS (as he is fondly called) was married to K Vasumathi, who was a government nurse for three decades. Children: He has one son and one daughter. His son’s name is V. A. Arun Kumar.

His speeches—whether delivered from public stages or assembly halls—were marked by a raw honesty, occasionally peppered with humour, but always grounded in conviction.

As Kerala and the broader Indian Left gradually transitioned into a new generation, VS Achuthanandan remained the last living link to the era of revolutionary idealism in Indian politics. His century-long life was not just a personal odyssey—it was a political epic.

Though increasingly away from public life after 2021 due to health reasons, his influence continued to shape political discourse in Kerala. He is frequently cited as a benchmark for ethical leadership and people-first governance.