The late VS Achuthanandan, who passed away on Monday, thought his party activities could be an obstacle for marital life. He often avoided discussions of marriage when his relatives and fellow comrades brought up the topic. However, he later realised that it would be better to have a companion around when he fell ill.
Once, his elder brother Gangadharan came to meet VS who was then an MLA and CPI(M) Alappuzha district secretary, and lived in the district committee office. Gangadharan reminded VS that he was over forty and it was high time that he found a companion and started a family.
Meanwhile, TK Raman – a senior comrade from Cherthala – introduced a suitable woman to Achuthanandan. It was Vasumathi, a final-year student at Secundarabad Gandhi Hospital, who left her temporary job as a social worker at NES block Cherthala to pursue her nursing course. Her only priority was to secure a job to support her mother as her father had passed away. The thought of marriage had never crossed her mind.
In her memoir, Vasumathi mentions her first interaction with the man she would marry. “VS came to attend a meeting in Kodamthuruth. Other women and I were listening to the speech from the back. When the meeting was over, comrade TK Raman called me. I went. During that time, VS always carried a bag. VS opened the bag and handed over some party document to comrade TK Raman who gave it to me. Once VS left, comrade TK Raman asked me how VS’ speech was. I did not answer. At that moment, I did not think about the meaning of that question. Even though I did not know, comrades like TK Raman had already imagined me as the wife of VS. It was like that in the party during those times. The party had specific decisions on the lives of each comrade…”
VS and Vasumathi tied the knot on July 18, 1967 at Alappuzha Narasimhapuram auditorium after 3 PM. The wedding invitation was in the name of N. Sreedharan. The wedding did not have an auspicious time, reception, decorations, or feast. All the couple did was to garland each other. Next morning, the newly-married groom left the bride at his sister’s place before heading to the legislative assembly meeting in Thiruvananthapuram.
The brief invitation read: "The marriage between comrade Achuthanandan, district committee secretary of the Communist Party, and Vasumathiamma of Kochuthara, Kuthyathod, Kodamthuruthumuriyil, is scheduled to take place on Sunday, July 18, 1967 at 3 PM at Alappuzha, Mullakkal, Narasimhapuram wedding auditorium and your esteemed presence in the occasion is requested. Yours sincerely, N. Sreedharan, joint secretary, Communist Party, Alappuzha District Committee."
Strict focus on health
VS started focusing on his health in 1980 after a heart failure. He weighed 80 kg at the time and doctors advised him to reduce it to below 50 kg. He strictly followed the diet and exercise prescribed by his doctors. He avoided tea and coffee, and completely gave up spicy and oily food, and soft drinks. He also started practising yoga. Gradually, he reduced his weight down to 50 kg and regained his heart strength.
He would wake up early and walk for half an hour. Yoga, sun basking and a relaxed oil bath were compulsory for him. After his routine, he would read for around three hours and sleep by 10 PM. He would also take a one-hour nap after lunch. This timing would change in unusual circumstances but never his dietary practices.
