Former IAS officer K Suresh Kumar, who was part of the eviction drives in the encroachments at Munnar during the term of the VS Achuthanandan government recollects his memories with the former CM. 

It was the first birthday of VS Achuthanandan after he had become the chief minister of Kerala, he said as an opening note.

“We were a three-man army. Advocates Ajith Prakash, Anil, and myself. VS Achuthanandan was flanked by us on several occasions while executing several smart political moves even when he was the opposition leader. We share a long-standing relationship with the communist maverick. Hence, we decided to greet him personally on his birthday after becoming the CM of the state. Suresh, who was Achuthanandan’s PA then informed us that the Leader would be present in the Ernakulam guest house before noon on that day. We decided to meet our beloved VS there. We also wanted to discuss a few other things with the visionary leader of Kerala,” recollects K Suresh Kumar.

“As per the plans, we had gone to the old building of the Ernakulam guest house to meet the man popularly known as the ‘Fidel Castro of Kerala’. As usual, the place was crowded. S Sharma, Chandran Pilla, and several other followers of Achuthanandan were among the crowd. But VS as always kept aside his engagements upon seeing us, he walked up to us with a sly smile on his face and exchanged greetings with us. Those were great days,” says the former IAS officer.

VS was the epitome of simplicity. He was always comfortable in his trademark check lungis and sleeveless banians (vests) during his leisure hours. The communist leader is truly a man of the masses in his appearance and in the way he thinks.

“After conveying our birthday wishes, we started engaging in discussions with him on several pressing issues. We informed VS of the laxity of officials in fighting out the fake lottery case in the Supreme Court back then. We also had brought to his notice the widespread discontentment over Thomas Isaac's decision to conduct lottery sales centered around schools. We expressed our concerns over VS’ reputation being tainted due to the acts of his party members. Noticing that Achuthanandan was caught in a precarious position in the issue, we suggested that he take up the issue for discussion in a monthly special review meeting chaired by CM. The problems surrounding the issue were discussed and debated in the suggested meeting. Clearly releasing Achuthanandan’s stand on the issue, Thomas Isaac retracted from his plans right after the very first meeting,” says K Suresh Kumar.         

“The place ‘Munnar’ helped us develop a great rapport with the former Kerala Chief Minister. Ajith initiated a conversation on how the government could regain the illegal land held by Tata. The State Land Board had handed over 75,000 acres of land to a foreign company named KDH- the predecessors of Tata. However certain rules were violated in this transaction.  Amidst all these tensions, a member of the Poonjar royal family filed a case at the Kerala High Court claiming that he exercised birth rights on the alleged piece of land in Munnar. The court had responded to the tussle by ordering a survey of the plot back then,” stated Suresh Kumar, rolling back the years.     

“Now that was a crucial chapter in VS Achuthanandan’s stint as the Chief Minister of Kerala. We used to often tantalise him by asking him to imagine the sight of fearless government surveyors strolling seamlessly on Tata’s lands discharging their duties. He obviously fell for it. But then he asked us a very relevant question. VS wanted to know the name of that daring officer who would lead the mission. He wanted us to assign the responsibility to a strong-hearted man with unflinching determination. I was quick to suggest the name of Ashwini Kumar Rai, who was the Collector of Wayanad back then,” Suresh Kumar told Mathrubhumi. 

“Amidst all the serious talks, VS reminisced some of the interesting memories of his prime days. He told us that years ago he had once found an ornamental box under his cot. Quite amused by it, Achuthanandan asked his wife what it was. To his surprise, she told him that it was nothing but tea leaves gifted by Damu, who was an officer working for Tata. Upon knowing this VS asked Damu to come to visit him. Upon meeting Damu, VS asked him about the tea leaves he had left behind at his home. Damu replied that it was a token of love. VS had the perfect answer for Damu. VS reminded him that he had given up the habit of drinking tea years ago, so he asked Damu to take back the tea leaves and leave behind some love if he didn’t bother. With such experience behind his back, VS was very adamant about putting a stout officer at the helm of the Munnar operations, he precisely wanted someone who wouldn’t be tempted by tea leaves or greater fortunes,” Suresh Kumar cherished his slew of memories with VS Achuthanandan in the conversation.

“However, our joint efforts for a section-6 survey were spoiled by the CPI-controlled revenue department back then. Hence, our first Munnar mission proved to be a failure. But that was not the end of it,” concluded K Suresh Kumar while hinting that there is another story that he wants to tell at another time.