KR Gouriamma, one of the strongest leader of the undivided Communist Party and later CPM, since early forties, once remarked, “If Police lathis had the power to induce child birth, I would have given birth to several children.” An understatement for the amount of torture, this childless leader underwent, in the early days of Communism in Kerala. Sensing she was a threat to the ‘Malabar lobby’ of CPM, who wanted EK Nayanar as CM, she was expelled by the CPM. She joined the Congress led UDF and defeated the CPM in her home constituency of Aroor and became Agriculture Minister.
An MLA of the Kerala Assembly for almost fifty years, Gouriamma, past 80, recently attended the ‘Onam get together’ of child inmate homes run by VHP’s Seva Vibhag in Kerala.
Speaking at the meeting, Gouriamma said, since she was behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ of the CPM, she could not understand other organisations. She said, “There is no politics or religion in hunger and suffering. VHP is doing commendable work by adopting poor children and looking after their welfare and education. I will co-operate and work with any organisation that has the nation and its welfare, uppermost in its mind.” Gouriamma gave new Onam dresses to the children and partook of the grand lunch. VHP leader Shri Kummanam Rajasekharan also addressed the get together.
By S Chandrasekhar
