Mannar : Early time communist party worker and frontliner at Ennakkad protest, Palakkyamannil Thankamma, has died aged 87. On forefront of Ennakkad protest in Budhannur demanding ownership rights, Thankamma has suffered torture at the hands of police and undergone jail sentencing. The protest erupted after a gang of goondas, led by the feudal lord, GR Rajaraja Varmakoyi Thampuran, attacked her home for encroaching the farmland and house her family lived in.
To confront the gross injustice, a protest group comprising workers took form, organised by SR Shankaranarayanan, who would later become Kerala’s first Assembly Speaker, R Rajashekaran Thambi, Kuttiyil Kirshnapillai, Kuttiyil Karunakaran and Thankamma’s brother PJ Mathai.
PJ Thankamma also played significant role alongside Radhamma Thankachi, Suibhadrama Thankachi and Saradama toward organising women workers and building of the party. Thankamma became president of Chengannur Block Panchayat and member of District Committee of party’s Mahila Association, District Committee of Farmers and Workers and Taluk Committee. She was member of Enakkad CPI(M) Local Committee up until now.
Thankamma had lately moved to her son’s house in Mynagapally owing to age-related illnesses. The end came around 8 am this morning.
The funeral will be held at home premises in Ennakakad 5 pm this evening.
