Thrissur: Former Kerala minister and veteran Congress leader C N Balakrishnan is no more. He was 85.
Balakrishnan, who spearheaded the Khadi Movement in central Kerala, died at the Amrutha Hospital in Kochi at around 11 pm Monday.
Once close to the late four-time chief minister K Karunakaran, Balakrishnan was known as a strongman in the Congress 'I' group, and was district unit chief for well over 15 years, besides holding the post of the Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) treasurer.
He joined the Congress party through the Khadi Movement launched by Mahatma Gandhi. Yet Balakrishnan entered an electoral battle only at the age of 76, in the year 2011. He was elected from Vadakkanchery and became the minister of cooperatives.
Balakrishnan is survived by his wife Thankamani and children Geetha Vijayan and Mini Balaram.
The K Karunakaran Sapthathi building where the district Congress committee is based in Thrissur, the KPCC building in the state capital, the Sahakarana Bhavan, the V R Ezhuthachan memorial building at Avinisseri, the Panampilly Research Centre at Chalakudy, and the P R Francis Memorial at Ollur hold abundant proof of his organisational capabilities.
Balakrishnan was state president of the Kerala Khadi and Village Industries Federation, president of the district cooperative bank and joint secretary of the Grandhasala Sangham. After an year's training, he became a trainer in khadi at the Avinisseri centre.
The Congress leader donated his own land for the Milma when it was set up, and led the milk co-operative society in the district as its president.
Balakrishnan, born as the son of Narayanan and Paru Amma of Chemmanattu Valappil, Muthuvara, had his primary education at the Sreeramakrishna Ashram School in Puranattukara. As a student, he participated in a demonstration held in his village along with teachers on the eve of India's independence.
The student was then attracted by Acharya Vinoba Bhave's Bhoodan Movement (launched in 1951), and joined it along with Ikkanda Warrier, the only prime minister of the state of Cochin.
Balakrishnan led the Khadi Movement in Thrissur and Ernakulam districts, working as Khadi Gramodyog assistant manager and later manager for over a period of 15 years. An elected member of the Khadi Board, he also served as its president for long.
