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K. P. R. Gopalan

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K. P. R. Gopalan (1 June 1906 – 5 August 1997), popularly known as KPR was an Indian politician and a communist leader from Kalliasseri, Kerala.[1][2][3] Once a member of the Kerala State Assembly, he lost his seat in the general election of 1 February 1960.[4][5] He was subsequently re-elected. While a member, he led a failed attempt at armed revolt in the Cannanore area.[6][7][verification needed] At one point he was sentenced to death by the colonial authorities, before the sentence was commuted by Charu Chandra Biswas, at the urging of A. K. Gopalan.[8][9]

Gopalan was one of the founding members of the Communist Party in Kerala in 1940. He, in cooperation with the KPCC, was the main organizer of Morozha protest on 15 September 1940.[10] The protest became violent when police tried to suppress it. One Sub-Inspector and a Constable died in the clash with the mob, mainly constituted of farmers, agricultural labourers, and other trade union workers.

The police caught all prominent leaders, including Gopalan and E. Narayanan Nayanar, the elder brother of E. K. Nayanar, former Kerala Chief Minister for 11 years.[11] The court sentenced all of them to imprisonment and later on appeal, Madras High Court sentenced Gopalan to death. He was sent to Bellary Jail. The verdict attracted wide protest across Kerala and India. Kerala observed a day honoring K.P.R. Gopalan and Mathrubhumi, the leading newspaper wrote an editorial demanding that his death sentence be commuted. Gandhiji was also involved and said it is not acceptable. British communist party protested and the case even received the attention of the British Parliament. Due to this mass protest, the British Government finally reduced the punishment from hanging to life imprisonment. Later, he was released when Congress Interim Government took power in Madras state. Eminent Communist leader P. Krishna Pillai wrote an article hailing Gopalan entitled "The Bolshevik Hero of Kerala". Gopalan died of natural causes on 5 August 1997, aged 91. His niece K. P. Sarada was married to E. K. Nayanar.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "ഗാന്ധിജിയുടെ ഗോപാലൻ നമ്പ്യാർ; കൃഷ്ണപിള്ളയ്‌ക്ക്‌ ബോൾഷെവിക്ക്‌". Deshabhimani (in Malayalam). 16 March 2022. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  2. ^ https://amritmahotsav.nic.in/district-reopsitory-detail.htm?16857
  3. ^ https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/veteran-communist-gopalan-dead-197080601159_1.html
  4. ^ http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m189.htm
  5. ^ "General Elections in Kerala. - Victory of Anti-Communist Alliance. - Congress-Praja Socialist Coalition Ministry formed by Mr. P. T. Pillai". Keesing's Record of World Events. March 1960. p. 17312.
  6. ^ "Activities of extremist communist groups in Indian states". Keesing's Record of World Events. January 1969. p. 23161.
  7. ^ "Political developments in Kerala and West Bengal". Keesing's Record of World Events. January 1970. p. 23798.
  8. ^ "K.P.R. Gopalan: Founder member of Kerala's communist movement is still driven by the cause". India Today. 30 September 1996. Retrieved 29 June 2024.
  9. ^ Singh, Virendra (2015). INDIAN POLITY with Indian Constitution & Parliamentary Affairs: Special Focus on CSAT and Different State PSC Prelims & Mains, Graduate & Post Graduate Course (Public Administration & Political Science) Staff Selection Commission Examination (Metric & Graduate level and also helpful for different Law examination. Neelkanth Prakashan. p. 201. ISBN 978-81-925472-9-9.
  10. ^ Parameswaran, VB (25 October 2015). "KERALA: CPI(M) Scores Victory in Local Body Elections". People's Democracy (newspaper). Retrieved 29 June 2024. During the freedom struggle, the KPCC gave a call to the people of Malabar to observe September 15, 1940 as an anti -imperialist day. The action was disapproved by the Congress high command, but there were meetings and demonstrations all over in north Malabar on this day. Morazha was the centre of this agitation. There were violent clashes between the people and the police at several places and lathicharge and firing were resorted to by the police to meet the situation. Sub Inspector KM Kuttikrishna Menon was killed in that scuffle. In connection with this incident, KPR Gopalan, a prominent communist leader was arrested on a charge of murder and later sentenced to death. But, owing to the intervention of several top-ranking political leaders including Mahatma Gandhi, the death penalty was not carried out. The Quit India Movement of August 1942 also had its echoes here in Morazha.
  11. ^ https://ras.org.in/articles/102/text/article.html


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