People's Democracy

         E K Nayanar: A Legendary Leader Of The Masses

S Ramachandran Pillai

MY association with Comrade E K Nayanar dates back to as early as 1960s and since then I have had an opportunity to work with him in various forums of the Party --- Kerala state committee, state secretariat, Central Committee and Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). One may come across a leader like him very rarely. E K Nayanar, one of the most popular leaders of the Communist movement in Kerala, was one of the most simple, straightforward and open-minded leaders that we have had.

I would like to use an epithet used by a Malayalam poet to describe a peasant, to describe Nayanar. As the legend goes, the poet attributed the quality of a peasant to that of a coconut, which goes like as follows: “Though its outer surface is rough and hard, the kernel inside is soft and sweet.”  

You may not have come across many leaders who have always been with the masses --- in their sorrows and joys. People considered Nayanar as one among them, who spoke their language. He had a unique style to interact with people. His speeches were full of rustic logic, satire, question and apt replies. In public meetings, there was no gap between Nayanar and the audience. They all moved together. Through the waves of laughter, he always managed to explain the political line of the Party. A style which was truly inimitable. 

He had a unique style of functioning. For example, before a decision is taken in the Party on an issue, Nayanar expressed his views in his characteristic style. But after a decision was taken, he implemented it in its sincerity. There have been occasions, where the decision taken was contrary to his opinion, but after a call was taken by the Party on the issue, he was the front-runner in implementing them.

He never allowed any concessions to anyone on the Party decisions. If he decided to express his opinion or Party’s views, then nobody could stop him. I do remember an incident, which involved him and late prime minister Rajiv Gandhi.

In one of the meetings, which, was attended by Comrade E K Nayanar as the chief minister, Rajiv Gandhi decided to proceed to another item in the agenda without giving him an opportunity to speak on an important issue. As a mark of protest, Nayanar turned his back to the dais by turning the chair and sat. A stunned Rajiv Gandhi, who was chairing the meeting, apologised and tried to persuade him. But, Nayanar relented only when he was allowed to speak on the issue.

Nayanar was a voracious reader who read whatever came across him. He had the habit of preparing detailed notes on them. Even when the illness tried to subdue him, whenever he got an opportunity to lay his hand on a book, he never gave it up.

I was a witness to an interesting discussion he had with the famous painter Ms Anjoli Ila Menon, at the Escort Hospital in New Delhi.  He was reading Anna Kareena the day after angioplasty. Ms Menon, who was undergoing treatment for some heart ailment in the same hospital. She was in a wheelchair and came to Nayanar and asked him about the book he was reading. On learning that it was Anna Kareena, Ms Menon jokingly told him: “Don’t try to push up your blood pressure by reading a love story the day after angioplasty.” 

Nayanar’s reply was that he was always young at heart and liked love stories. Ms Menon did not continue the discussion, as she was unsure about the next reply that Nayanar might give. Even when he was recently admitted in Thiruvananthapuram Medical Hospital, had a bundle of books in his room for reading. 

Nayanar had the innate ability to understand the strengths and weaknesses of the cadres he worked with. He always gave priority to the interests of the Party and did not allow his personal interests to subordinate it. He was a true disciplined soldier of the Party, who was an agitator, propagandist and a lovable administrator who knew the likes, dislikes and needs of the people. All the qualities of a good Communist was blended in him in a fine proportion.

The death of Comrade Nayanar is an irreparable loss to the Communist, Left, progressive and democratic movement in the country.