Kerala has been ruling the roost for being one of the most educated and developed states in the country for many years now. The natural beauty that surrounds it which earned it the name ‘God’s own country’ is just one aspect. The other aspect is the political strings that run the state.
Pinarayi Vijayan is the man who has played an important role in the state’s well being and upliftment. He was the longest-serving secretary of the Kerala State Committee of the CPI(M) from 1998 to 2015 and now is the Chief Minister of Kerala. Recently, he became the first CM to pass the anti-CAA law in his state.
His humble beginnings
He was born on 21 March 1944 in Pinarayi, Malabar district of Kerala and hailed from a very economically strained family. He had 14 siblings out of which only 3 survived. He had a difficult life as he worked at a bakery in Karnataka and also worked as a handloom weaver.
It was in 1964 when he joined the Communist Party of India (M) and started his political career. Before that, he was the Kannur District secretary of the Kerala Student Federation and was later the President of the state committee. It was around this time that he was also made the president of the Kerala State Co-operative bank.
Tryst with communism
During the 1975 Emergency, he was arrested and according to records, he was also tortured inside the jail cell. He has also mentioned how one time the police brutally beat him up until he passed out.
The idea of communism was instilled in him since childhood when his mother would tell him stories of police brutalities. He also watched his brother get arrested by the police for being a communist which only solidified the notion of communism in him.
Great political prowess
From 1996-1998, he served as the state’s electricity minister and did wonders with the post as the power generation capacity of Kerala shot up and he was hailed as the most successful electricity minister of the state.
When CPI and CPI(M) merged and created LDF (Left Democratic Front), he was elected as their leader and became the 12th CM of Kerala. As the CM of Kerala, he has implemented some great initiatives like Ardram Mission, Project LIFE and has undertaken some serious education reforms. He also established the first all-female police patrol team called Pink Patrol which is a step forward when it comes to female empowerment.
