THRISSUR: Former Deputy Speaker, writer and CPI leader P K Gopalakrishnan, 86, passed away at his daughter’s residence at Irinjalakuda on Monday morning. Family sources said that the funeral would be held at his residence at Sreenarayanapuram, near Kodungallur, here on Tuesday.
After completing his high school education at Kodungallur, and graduation from Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, he had taken his degree in Law from Madras Law College.
His wife was the late Omana (high school teacher), Lesitha and Meena are his daughters.
Gopalakrishnan was elected to Madras Legislative Assembly from Natika by defeating his uncle, and Congress leader A P Raman in 1962. He was elected to Kerala Assembly from Kodungallur in 1967 and also in 1997 and 1980 from Natika. He worked as a Deputy Speaker of the Kerala Assembly during the period 1977-1980.
Apart from being a Communist leader, he was a scholar in history and literature. He had written several books, including Kalayum Sahityavum, O Chandu Menon, Samaskradhara, Purogamana Sahitya Prasthanam: Nizhalum Velichavum, and Kerala Samskarika Charithram. He had also served as an editor of Navajeevan Daily, Navayugam Weekly and Kiran Magazine. He had also served as the secretary of Kerala History Association, Purogamana Sahitya Prasthanam and Samastha Kerala Sahitya Movement.
Gopalakrishnan had also bagged many awards, including the Kerala Sahitya Akademy Award, K Damodaran Memorial Award and V K Rajan Memorial Award.