The tiger who prowled the state once is now confined to his home due to his age-related ailments. Although he has been away from public life for a while now, VS still likes being kept up-to-date with world events, his family says. 

VS Achuthanandan's wife, fondly called Vasumathy sister speaks about VS, his quirks, and his persona.

He has been a party worker since a young age. Never has a day passed without being near the people. It is definitely hard for him to be away from the public. Everyone knows VS Achuthanandan the revolutionary. He has gone through a lot of challenges including going into hiding and being jailed. At home, he is more than a communist, a loving family man who hasn't changed whether he was the party secretary, the chief minister, or the leader of the opposition.

We got married on July 18, 1967. On the very next day, he dropped me home and caught a bus to Thiruvananthapuram to attend the Assembly session. I was also a party worker who used to listen to VS’ speeches with enthusiasm. I knew how the comrade’s life and work were and that’s why when the wedding proposal came, I already knew what to expect. 

I first went to Thiruvananthapuram to meet VS when he was jailed during the Emergency period. He has always been a source of inspiration for me. Politics and personal life never mixed at home. 

He is not someone who is affected by defeat, victory, or controversies. We don’t talk politics at home and often I learn something only when I read the news.

Translated excerpts from an interview originally published in 2022.