Thiruvananthapuram: The heroic queen of revolution and one of the foremost names in Kerala’s communist history, KR Gouri Amma, departs aged 102. The end came this morning at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram, while under treatment for age-related illnesses.
Gouri Amma’s life is intrinsically woven into history of modern Kerala. Her life mirrored unmatched courage and commitment to public life to the point of sacrificing levels.
Gouri Amma was part of the 1957 EMS cabinet - the first time the communist party assumed power in Kerala. She was elected from Cherthala in 1957 - 1960 and later represented Arror constituency between 1965 - 1977 and 1980 - 2006.
Gouri Amma joined communist party while practicing as a lawyer. Strong-willed and a great organiser, Gouri Amma played pivotal role in building Keala’s Communist Party alongside stalwarts P Krishna Pillai, EMS, AKG, Nayanar, VS and others. While inducted into EMS cabinet, she became the Revenue Minister - the golden era that saw historic land reforms in Kerala.
Gouri Amma penned her experience on her early days of assuming the ministerial chair : “I assumed charge on 5th April, 1987. It was a huge phenomenon. How daunting were the tasks faced by the Communist Party that came into power 10 years after independence Lacking experience, I at first didn’t know how to look up files. More than technicalities, the despair of people’s lives they held bore greater importance after all. However, having been part of fervent protests to their miseries, I did not encounter much difficulty to learn these files thereaftrr. Even so, the problems faced by farmers became prime thought and emotion that left me deeply unsettled inside. I spoke with farm organisation leaders E Gopalakrishnan Nair, Pandalam PR Madhavan Pillai and CH Kanaran. Later, following discussions with the department, a vivid concept took form. That concept transformed into words, then departments, then a law and in its culmination on April 10 and 11, laid founding pillars to laws for agricultural reforms. On that day, the ordinance for prohibition of evictions was passed and lend the hardest-ever blow to the kingly rule and feudalism in the state . It became the most memorable day of my life”, she wrote.
ഗൗരിയമ്മ 1957ല് ആദ്യ മന്ത്രിസഭയിലെ അംഗമായി സത്യപ്രതിജ്ഞ ചെയ്യുന്നു
Gouri Amma was part of the cabinet in 1967, 1980 and 1987. Her work as a minister fethed wide praise. Then, after being among earliest of frontline party names, she left CPI(M) in 1994 to form her own party, the JSS. The party allied with the UDF from where she later exited over differences.
The Guiding Light For Generations
Gouri Amma was a heroic woman who did all in her powers for the marginalized in society. Emphasising how woman remain oppressed and exploited, Gouri Amma shone as a guiding light for ordinary masses.
Gouri Amma was the longest-lived member of the 11th Legislative Assembly. She also wields the credit of been elected the highest number of times. Records comprise having been the oldest legislator, the MLA elected the highest number of times, the oldest minister and so forth. Her autobiography was published in 2010 titled “K. R. Gauri Amma.” The book won Kerala Literary Award in 2011.
On becoming Minister for Revenue, Food and Civil Supplies, Commercial Tax and Social Security in the 2nd EMS government, Gouri Amma got the historic Land Reforms Act passed in the Assembly. A historic turn that saw 3.5 million resident settlers and over 5,00,000 tenants on landlords’ estates become landowners. Gauri Amma handled Agriculture and Social Security portfolios in the first ministry.
ടി വി തോമസ്, ഗൗരിയമ്മ വിവാഹ ഫോട്ടോ
Gouri Amma was born on 14 July, 1919 to Kulathilparambil KA Raman and Parvathy Amma in Andhkarnazhi village of Cherthala taluk and did her schooling in Tirur and Cherthala before doing her B. A. from Maharajas College in Ernakulam.
She married TV Thomas, the Labour Gouri Amma was born on 14 July, 1919 to Kulathilparambil KA Raman and Parvathy Amma in Andhkarnazhi village of Cherthala taluk and did her schooling in Tirur and Cherthala before doing her B. A. from Maharajas College in Ernakulam. Minister in 1957 cabinet. Later in 1964, when the communist party split up, TA Thomas moved to CPI while Gauri Amma stood grounded in CPI(M).
In last years of her life Gauri Amma maintained close ties with CPI(M) and LDF. Prior to the just concluded Assembly polls, Gauri Amma had openly announced JSS’s campaign support for the LDF.
