V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan


V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan was an Indian freedom fighter, Gandhian, journalist, trade unionist and Indian National Congress leader from Thrissur city in Kerala, India. Ezhuthachan was the founder general secretary of Kochi rajaya prajamandalam which was constituted on 26 January 1941. He is also founder of the now defunct Deenabandhu daily published from Thrissur..

Personal life

V.R Krishnan Ezhuthachan was born in Avinissery, Thrissur on 25 April 1909. As the tenth son of Vadakkoot Nelliparambil Raman Ezhuthachan and Njarasseri valappil Lakshmi amma. He completed his primary education from ezhuthupura which functioned in his own home., Thrissur
After passing the 10th-grade securing gold medal, he completed graduation in Economics and Law by securing rank. When Gandhiji arrived Thrissur in 1925, Ezhuthachan met him and then stepped into the freedom struggle. P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan, an active member of the Cochin State Congress Party, was his mentor in politics.
With the formation and activities of Kochi Rajya prajamandalam, V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan made his own identity in the field of politics.

The formation of Kochi Rajya Praja Mandalam

A group of young people who were displeased with the functioning of political movements in the erstwhile Kochi state, In the meeting held on 26 January 1941, under the leadership of Krishnan Ezhuthachan decided to form the Kochi Rajya prajamandalam. 'To end the sovereignty of Cochin king and to form responsible government' that was the main objective of Praja Mandala. On 9 February 1941 Prajamandal formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as founder general secretary.
To help the people of the Kingdom of Cochin from ravages caused due to the flooding in 1941, Prajamandalam formed Cochin flood relief committee. V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan, C. Achutha Menon were secretaries of it. Ezhuthachan actively worked in this organisation by collecting donations and distributing brochures about calamities throughout Kingdom of Cochin.

Cochin karshaka sabha

With the objective of ending difficulties faced by farmers due to Feudalism an organisation called Cochin karshaka sabha formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as president and C. Achutha Menon as secretary. Brochures about the difficulties of farmers distributed by this organisation. Cochin karshaka sabha stood for permanent ownership for farmers in their field. Protest by karshaka sabha caused acceptance of verumpatta kudiyan bill in 13 February 1943 at Cochin Legislative Council. In 1944, part of the restructuring of the Prajamandalam, Communist sympathizers abandoned the membership in Prajamandalam. After this incident Cochin karshaka sabha divided into two as All Cochin Kisan Congress with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as its leader and Cochin Karshaka sabha with C. Achutha Menon as the leader. Later All Cochin Kisan Congress merged to All India Kisan Congress.
In January 1942 Prajamandalam decided to conduct the first annual meeting at Irinjalakuda. Diwan A.F.W.Dixon banned it due to the resentment caused towards king by the activities of Prajamandalam and karshaka sabha. As a consequence of the ban, including Ezhuthachan many leaders of Praja Mandala got arrested. Leaders came forward to conduct the meeting arrested from the meeting place by the police send by Diwan. Leaders like K. Karunakaran arrested by police and
they faced brutal torture in jail.
Avinissery was one of the main weaving centre of Thrissur. Ezhuthachan actively worked in Cochi khadhi grama vyavasaya association an organisation to spread the use of khadi. He also worked actively in the formation of khadi weaving centres in Thrissur and Ernakulam. and P. A. Madhavan at INTUC meeting
In connection with Quit India movement on 5 August 1942 a conference conducted under the leadership of Gandhiji and Nehru for All India Congress Committee at Bombay. Ezhuthachan and S.Neelakanda Iyer attended the conference by representing Praja Mandalam.
As part of Quit India movement Praja Mandala actively participated in strikes. During that time there was strong ban in functioning of the press, Praja Mandala started a newspaper called Deenabandhu with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as Editor-in-chief.
With the intention of saving people from financial crisis caused due to the second world war, an organisation called gramasevakasamgham formed. Ezhuthachan worked as secretary of this organisation in Thrissur. During the spread of fifth fever and cholera gramasevakasamgham actively worked to prevent its spread.
, Thrissur
When prjamandal decided to face election. In 1945 Ezhuthachan unanimously elected to Cochin Legislative Council. Ezhuthachan was a member of Travancore-Cochin legislative council representing Nemmara.
Ezhuthachan married Lakshmi Bhai, Daughter of his political mentor and active congress politician P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan.
He died in 2004 at the age of 95 due to age-related diseases.
In 2009 as a part of V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi celebration M.P. Veerendra Kumar received V.R. Krishananezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi award.
Ezhuthachan gave leadership to a caste based organisation called Ezhuthachan samajam due to the honor towards his activities the law college started by Ezhuthachan samajam entitled his name.

Recognition's

The nation honored Ezhuthachan with Thamarapathra for his excellent service in Indian independence movement. Other major awards are University of Madras award for the study Gramoddharanam in the year 1931. sadanandan award and Prof. K. M. Chandy award for the contributions in the field of Cooperative movement in India. Swathanthra kanakopaharam by Kerala press foundation. Ramasrama award for excellent service in social and literature fields. Thissur Sahrudaya vedhi award, Tomyas award.

In Literature field

Ezhuthachan has contributions in the field of literature also, he was a poet. He received Kerala Sahitya Akademi award for his autobiography :ml:വി.ആർ. കൃഷ്ണനെഴുത്തച്ഛൻ: ആത്മകഥ|V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan: aathmakadha in the year of 2000.

Other works

In addition to this Ezhuthachan was co-author for a book named Kochi rajya charithram about the history of Kingdom of Cochin.