THRISSUR: Kunnath Paran Prabhakaran will remain in the minds of thousands of toddy tappers and kole farmers in Thrissur district for ever for his the sincere efforts he made for their uplift and against their exploitation. A politician of a different genre, Prabhakaran had the rare distinction of being president of the Thrissur Toddy Tappers’ Union for more than half a century.
Unlike many politicians of today, he fought for the rights of toddy tappers and kole farmers, ignoring his age and unmindful of which front ruled the State.
During his prolonged trade union life, there were many occasions when he had publicly criticised ministers belonging to his own party when he felt they were off the right path. A Communist leader who fought against the inequalities and the injustice in society throughout his life, Prabhakaran entered active politics with his activities in the Toddy Tappers’ Union at Anthikkad in Thrissur. During a strike by the toddy tapppers in Anthikkad in 1942 he was arrested and jailed.
He had represented Kochi at the first state meet of the Communist party in Kozhikode in 1943. After the party was banned following the Calcutta Thesis in 1948, he along with other party leaders was jailed for one year.
Though he had plans to end his political life after Independence, yielding to the pressure by leaders like C Achutha Menon he decided to continue his political career.
Thousands pay homage
People from different walks of life offered their last respects to the CPI leader K P Prabhakaran who died at his residence at Anthikkad on Tuesday night. The 84-year-old trade union leader died of ailments related to old age. Prabhakaran’s body, accompanied by his minister-son K P Rajendran, CPI district secretary C N Jayadevan, other leaders and a large number of party workers, was brought to the CPI district committee office on Wednesday morning and was kept there until 1.30 p.m. for the people to offer tributes.
Later, the body was taken to the Chadyammury Smaraka Mandiram at Anthikkad and then to Prabhakaran’s residence at 5 p.m, where the villagers offered tributes to their beloved leader.
Union Minister of State Mullappally Ramachandran, ministers Mullakkara Ratnakaran, Benoy Viswam, Elamaram Kareem, P R Rajan and P C Chacko, MPs Therambil Ramakrishnan and V S Sunilkumar paid tributes.
Prabhakaran was laid to rest with State honours at his residential compound at Anthikkad at 9 p.m on Wednesday.