Kerala: Remembering Historic Karivellur Struggle
DECEMBER 20, 1946 was witness to historic Karivellur Struggle against feudal landlords. After the Second World War, faced with a famine like situation due to shortage of food, the grains produced by the peasantry were being forcibly transported to the Chirakkal royal household. Karshaka Sangham under the leadership of Comrade A V Kunhambu, Comrade K Krishnan Master, Comrade P Kunhiraman and others organised a massive resistance at Kuniyan in which the people including women and children marched to the Kuniyan river with whatever weapons they had and faced the feudal goons and the notorious Malabar Special Police. In the firing by Malabar Special Police, two comrades – Thidil Kannan and Keeneri Kunhambu – were martyred. Hundreds were brutally attacked. Comrade A V Kunhambu, Comrade Krishnan Master and Comrade Puthiyadathu Raman were thought to be dead and taken with the dead bodies of the two martyrs to Payyanur. Cases were registered against 197 comrades.
Kayyoor and Karivellur along with Punnapra Vayalar have been the stories that inspired always. Observing the Karivellur Martyrs' Day, the anniversary of the legendary struggle, CPI(M) organised a march and a public meeting in Kannur on December 21 which was addressed by Party general secretary, Sitaram Yechury.
