Dr Malathi Damodaran, daughter of Kerala’s first chief minister EMS Namboodiripad, passes away

Thiruvananthapuram: Senior paediatrician Dr Malathi Damodaran, daughter of Kerala's first Chief Minister and Communist leader EMS Namboodiripad, passed away at the age of 87 on Saturday. She had been battling age-related health complications and breathed her last peacefully at home on Sasthamangalam Lane early in the morning.

Dr Malathi was married to Dr A D Damodaran, a renowned scientist and former director of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), who passed away in 2023.
Her father EMS Namboodiripad was not only Kerala’s first democratically elected Communist Chief Minister but also the leader of the world’s first democratically elected Communist government. Her passing was deeply mourned by leaders, including CPM General Secretary M A Baby, who offered heartfelt condolences.

She is survived by her children—Prof Sumangala based in Delhi and Harish Damodaran, a journalist with Indian Express, Delhi. Her siblings are E M Radha, E M Sreedharan (late) and EM Sasi (late).