VS inspired leaders, workers of all parties in Alappuzha to adopt ‘jubba’ as their regular attire

Alappuzha: V S Achuthanandan’s favourite attire comprised a ‘lungi’ and sleeveless banian at home, t-shirt during morning walks and a body-hugging white ‘jubba’ whenever he stepped out of the house. VS had a regular tailor for his jubba.

However, the jubba became the VS’s regular dress not because he had worked as a tailor as a youth, but because it was a symbol of protest. In fact, VS carried on the legacy of the ‘jubba agitation’ which created a big storm in VS’s native place Alappuzha decades ago.

The jubba agitation is described in the book ‘Malayala cinema charithram vichithram’ (Curious aspects of Malayalam cinema history) by noted film historian Chelangad Gopalakrishnan, who heard the details from actor Alleppey Vincent. As per the book, the Diwan of Travancore, C P Ramaswamy Iyer, loved wearing the jubba. At the same time, the Diwan did not like to see the others in the same attire.

Those days, the Communist Party and the State Congress were strong in Alappuzha. Similarly, Communist leader T V Thomas and film actor Alleppey Vincent were close friends. Leaders of both political parties assembled every evening at a big bungalow near the Shavacottah bridge in Alappuzha town to discuss various issues. VS and R Sugathan joined these meetings occasionally.

During one such discussion, the party leaders decided to challenge the Diwan by wearing the jubba. Meanwhile, VS announced that jubba would be his attire for his entire life.

Other leaders who came to know about the protest became excited and ordered new jubbas. Soon, Alappuzha became a town with all political leaders clad in jubbas. Inspired by the leaders, party workers in Alappuzha also gradually adopted the jubba as their regular attire.