VS: A revolutionary who cherished family

Thiruvananthapuram: During her time as a research scholar, V V Asha, daughter of veteran communist leader VS Achuthanandan, once received a six-month stipend. She expressed her wish to buy a gold anklet with the money. Her father’s response was characteristic: “You are the daughter of a workers’ leader. You may buy the anklet and wear it, but always keep that in mind,” he said.

Achuthanandan was clear that his ideology should guide not just his public life but also that of his family. Despite discontinuing formal education after Class 7, he remained a lifelong learner, reading and updating himself as long as his health permitted. He expected the same commitment from his children. On the rare occasions he returned home after prolonged party programmes or public engagements, his priority was to assess their academic progress. He would personally review their textbooks to assess how far they had studied.

A life shared in simplicity
Having remained unmarried until the age of 43, it was the death of fellow communist R Sugathan, who spent his final days alone in a party office, that persuaded party seniors to propose marriage for VS. A match was arranged with Vasumathi, a party worker from Thuravoor. When VS became Chief Minister in 2006, the discovery of his wedding invitation among old papers evoked a flood of memories.

That year, VS moved from the Cantonment House, the Opposition Leader’s official residence, to the Cliff House, the Chief Minister’s residence. While cleaning out the former, his son Arun Kumar stumbled upon an old, faded piece of paper. It was his father’s wedding invitation.

The wedding had no elaborate arrangements, no decorated wedding stage, no gifting of saree and no feast. The bride and groom simply exchanged garlands. VS then took the bride to his sister's residence. The very next day, VS left for Thiruvananthapuram to attend an Assembly session; he was then MLA for Ambalapuzha.

Vasumathi had to make all the arrangements herself for building the family, right from gathering vessels for cooking. From that day on, she became the quiet guardian of their household. With the birth of Asha and Arun Kumar, VS began to show his softer side, as a doting father.

The 'V' in transformation
The expansion of VS in his name originally was Venthalathara Sankaran Achuthanandan. Born at the Venthalathara House, he later settled in Velikkakathu House after starting his family. In 1969, he purchased the house at Punnapra North Panchayat in his wife’s name. Years later, his son Arun Kumar too named his new house in Thiruvananthapuram as Velikkakathu, honouring his father's wishes.

As the Opposition Leader, VS lived 15 years at Cantonment House, followed by five years at Cliff House as the Chief Minister. When he first moved into the Cantonment House, the only piece of furniture he brought was a wooden cot made of Kanjiram tree (strychnine tree)

In 2016, after stepping down as the Opposition Leader for the third time, VS moved into a rented house named 'Namitha' near the AKG Centre. From there, he soon relocated to a house purchased by his son Arun Kumar.

From warm embrace to custody
During the Emergency, police surrounded his home one night and took VS into custody. His daughter Asha, then seven, burst into tears, soon joined by her younger brother Arun Kumar. VS embraced his children, kissed them on their cheeks and departed for jail. A few days later, the children visited him with their mother, bringing along a pack of oranges. VS accepted their gift with affection and returned it to the children before leaving.

Asha once recalled a family outing to Ponmudi during her MSc days. When she expressed a wish to see the hill station, VS took the family there in an Ambassador car. Upon reaching the valley, he remarked, “This is Ponmudi. Go and take a look, be back in ten minutes,” before heading off to a political event with party workers.

Not a movie goer, but an actor once
Though VS Achuthanandan was not a regular movie-goer, he once made a rare appearance on the silver screen. In 2016, he played himself in a cameo role in Campus Diary, directed by Jeevan Das. To watch the film, he even went to the theatre, and that possibly was the last time he did so. While he rarely found time to watch movies with his family during his hectic public life, he enjoyed stage plays.

He did, however, take his children to the cinema when they asked. On one such occasion, his daughter Asha requested to see Sagara Sangamam, the Kamal Haasan classic. While the audience was absorbed in the film, Asha glanced at her father, only to find him fast asleep!

The 'Achus' in his family
In V S Achuthanandan’s family, three grandsons affectionately share the nickname “Achu.” The first is Anand, son of Asha and Dr T Thankaraj. When Arun Kumar had his first son, Arjun, he too was nicknamed Achu, though over time the family began calling him "Kochachu." Arun’s younger son, Aravind, was also given the same pet name. Asha’s elder daughter, Athira, is now married.

Politics stops at the door
Despite being one of Kerala’s most influential political figures, VS kept politics out of his home. He was careful never to let his political struggles burden the family. When news broke on television in 2006 that he had won the election, after initially being denied a ticket, his wife Vasumathi was confined to her bed, down with a fever. She called to congratulate him, but VS, in his usual understated style, simply inquired about her health before hanging up.

Even during hectic travels, Vasumathi’s calls came regularly. These calls were not to discuss party matters, but to check whether he had eaten or taken his medicines. No matter how busy he was, VS always took her calls and responded without fail.

While he largely kept his family away from political affairs, there were a few exceptions. When the party decided to expel K R Gowri Amma, VS personally visited her home at Kalathiparambil in Chathanad. However, Gowri Amma turned him away, saying, “I have my path, and VS has his.” The next day, VS sent his wife, Vasumathi, to meet her.

He often involved them in the political protests that CPM had organised. In 2012, his wife Vasumathi took part in a street protest organised by the party against the hike in cooking gas prices. As a symbolic act of defiance, she prepared payasam right on the roadside. At the time, VS was serving as the Leader of the Opposition.

Circle of care
The last six years of VS’s life were spent largely at home, away from public life. During this time, his family stood by him with unwavering dedication. His wife, children and in-laws ensured he was cared for with both professional expertise and personal love.

Arun Kumar’s wife, Dr Rajani, an ENT specialist and Asha’s husband, Dr T Thankaraj, Urologist and Chief Surgeon at Thiruvananthapuram General Hospital, played key roles in his medical care, offering treatment and guidance in their respective areas. But perhaps the most constant and tender care came from his wife Vasumathi, a trained nurse, who was always by his side. In his final stage, two home nurses were also brought in to assist with his care.