E. M. S. Namboodiripad
Encyclopedia
Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, , popularly known as EMS, was an India
n Communist leader and the first Chief Minister
of Kerala
. As the first non-Congress
chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world. He was renowned as a socialist and a Marxist theorist.
, in Perinthalmanna taluk of the present Malappuram
district. In his early years, he was associated with V. T. Bhattathiripad
, M. R. Bhattathiripad and many others in the fight against the casteism and conservatism
that existed in the Namboothiri community. He became one of the office bearers of Valluvanadu Yogaskshema Sabha, an organization of progressive Namboothiri youth. During his college days, he was deeply associated with the Indian National Congress
and Indian Independence Movement
.
He was a writer
and author of several literary works and his book on the history of Kerala is notable.
, a socialist wing within the Indian National Congress and was elected as its All India Joint Secretary from 1934 to 1940. During this period he was also elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly (1939).
He remained committed to socialist ideals and his compassion towards the downtrodden working class made him join the ranks of the Communist movement. He was considered to be one of the founders of the Communist Party of India
(CPI) in Kerala, for which he had to go in hiding for some time. During the 1962 Sino-Indian war
, he was among those leaders who aired China's view on the border issue. When the CPI split in 1964, EMS stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
(CPI(M)). He served as a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo of the CPI(M), before becoming its General Secretary in 1977, a designation he held until 1992. He was a member of the party Politburo until his death.
to victory in the first election for the state government, making him the first communist leader anywhere to head a popularly elected government. It was also the first time for a regional party anywhere in India to win state elections. On 5 April 1957 he was appointed as the first chief minister of Kerala. His government soon introduced the Land Reform Ordinance and Education Bill
. His government was dismissed in 1959 by the Central Government, which invoked the controversial Article 356
of the Indian Constitution following what later became known as 'The Liberation Struggle'. He became the Chief Minister of Kerala for the second time in 1967 as the leader of a seven-party coalition including the Muslim League. This time his tenure lasted for two and a half years.
EMS was the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
from 1960 to 1964 and again from 1970 to 1977. He influenced Kerala society by his vision on decentralization of power and resources (People's Plan
), and the Kerala Literacy Movement. He authored several books in English & Malayalam. Chintha Publication, Kerala has published all his books under the title, 'E M S Sanchika'. He was well-known as a journalist as well.
, when left wing parties were under attack for their pro-China stance, he laid stress on the significance of solving the border dispute through talks.
, Joseph Mundassery
, M. P. Paul
and K. Damodaran
were architects of "Jeevat Sahitya Prastanam", which later came to known as Purogamana Sahitya Prastanam. (Progressive Association for Arts and Letters). Though Kesari was considered to be one of the visionaries of the Progressive Movement of Arts and Letters of Kerala, serious difference of opinion emerged later between full-time Communist Party activists and other personalities, namely Kesari and Joseph Mundassery. In this context, EMS famously called Kesari a "Petit-Bourgeois intellectual", which he later corrected. EMS also acknowledged some of the earlier misconceptions of the Communist Party with respect to the Progressive Literature and Arts Movement. This debate is known as 'Rupa Bhadrata Vivadam', an important milestone in the growth of Modern Malayalam Literature.
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India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n Communist leader and the first Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. As the first non-Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
chief minister in independent India, he became the leader of the first democratically elected communist government in the world. He was renowned as a socialist and a Marxist theorist.
Personal life
EMS was born on June 13, 1909, the son of Parameswaran Namboodirippad, at ElamkulamElamkulam
Elamkulam is a village Perinthalmanna Taluk of Malappuram district in Kerala state.-Geography:It is located at .-Prominent People:Elamkulam is the birthplace of the famous Indian communist leader late E. M. S. Namboodiripad....
, in Perinthalmanna taluk of the present Malappuram
Malappuram
Malappuram is a municipality in the South Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 33.61 km2. It serves as the administrative headquarters of Malappuram district. As per the 2011 census Malappuram urban agglomeration is the fourth largest UA in kerala with a total population of...
district. In his early years, he was associated with V. T. Bhattathiripad
V. T. Bhattathiripad
V. T. Bhattathiripad, was an Indian social critic, well-known dramatist and a prominent freedom fighter.Bhattathiripad was born to Nambudiri brahmin parents in kaippilly mana at kidangoor,a village near angamaly, Kerala state...
, M. R. Bhattathiripad and many others in the fight against the casteism and conservatism
Conservatism
Conservatism is a political and social philosophy that promotes the maintenance of traditional institutions and supports, at the most, minimal and gradual change in society. Some conservatives seek to preserve things as they are, emphasizing stability and continuity, while others oppose modernism...
that existed in the Namboothiri community. He became one of the office bearers of Valluvanadu Yogaskshema Sabha, an organization of progressive Namboothiri youth. During his college days, he was deeply associated with the Indian National Congress
Indian National Congress
The Indian National Congress is one of the two major political parties in India, the other being the Bharatiya Janata Party. It is the largest and one of the oldest democratic political parties in the world. The party's modern liberal platform is largely considered center-left in the Indian...
and Indian Independence Movement
Indian independence movement
The term Indian independence movement encompasses a wide area of political organisations, philosophies, and movements which had the common aim of ending first British East India Company rule, and then British imperial authority, in parts of South Asia...
.
He was a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
and author of several literary works and his book on the history of Kerala is notable.
Socialism
In 1934, he was one of the founder leaders of Congress Socialist PartyCongress Socialist Party
The Congress Socialist Party was founded in 1934 as a socialist caucus within the Indian National Congress. Its members rejected what they saw as the anti-rational mysticism of Mohandas Gandhi as well as the sectarian attitude of the Communist Party of India towards the Congress Party...
, a socialist wing within the Indian National Congress and was elected as its All India Joint Secretary from 1934 to 1940. During this period he was also elected to the Madras Legislative Assembly (1939).
He remained committed to socialist ideals and his compassion towards the downtrodden working class made him join the ranks of the Communist movement. He was considered to be one of the founders of the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
(CPI) in Kerala, for which he had to go in hiding for some time. During the 1962 Sino-Indian war
Sino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
, he was among those leaders who aired China's view on the border issue. When the CPI split in 1964, EMS stood with the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
(CPI(M)). He served as a member of the Central Committee and the Politburo of the CPI(M), before becoming its General Secretary in 1977, a designation he held until 1992. He was a member of the party Politburo until his death.
Election to state Government
During his political career, EMS was defeated only once in the public elections, when he lost to K.P.Kuttikrishnan Nair (the founder leader of Trade Union Movement in India) of the Indian National Congress by a huge margin from the Kozhikode constituency. In 1957, EMS led the CommunistsCommunist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
to victory in the first election for the state government, making him the first communist leader anywhere to head a popularly elected government. It was also the first time for a regional party anywhere in India to win state elections. On 5 April 1957 he was appointed as the first chief minister of Kerala. His government soon introduced the Land Reform Ordinance and Education Bill
Education Bill
The Education Bill was introduced in the Kerala assembly by Prof. Joseph Mundasseri, the then education minister for the first elected Communist Party of India government...
. His government was dismissed in 1959 by the Central Government, which invoked the controversial Article 356
President's rule
President's rule is the term used in India when a state legislature is dissolved or suspended and the state is placed under direct federal rule...
of the Indian Constitution following what later became known as 'The Liberation Struggle'. He became the Chief Minister of Kerala for the second time in 1967 as the leader of a seven-party coalition including the Muslim League. This time his tenure lasted for two and a half years.
EMS was the Leader of Opposition in the Kerala Legislative Assembly
Kerala Legislative Assembly
The Kerala Legislative Assembly more popularly known as Niyamasabha , is the law making body of Kerala, one of the 28 States in India. The Assembly is formed by 140 elected representatives and one nominated member from the Anglo-Indian community...
from 1960 to 1964 and again from 1970 to 1977. He influenced Kerala society by his vision on decentralization of power and resources (People's Plan
People's Plan
People's Plan refers to the efforts made to involve the masses in the process of decision making in the field of local self government by the Left Democratic Front government of Kerala headed by Sri...
), and the Kerala Literacy Movement. He authored several books in English & Malayalam. Chintha Publication, Kerala has published all his books under the title, 'E M S Sanchika'. He was well-known as a journalist as well.
Sino-Indian war
During the 1962 Sino-Indian warSino-Indian War
The Sino-Indian War , also known as the Sino-Indian Border Conflict , was a war between China and India that occurred in 1962. A disputed Himalayan border was the main pretext for war, but other issues played a role. There had been a series of violent border incidents after the 1959 Tibetan...
, when left wing parties were under attack for their pro-China stance, he laid stress on the significance of solving the border dispute through talks.
Association with Progressive Movement for Arts and Letters
EMS, Kesari Balakrishna PillaiKesari Balakrishna Pillai
Kesari Balakrishna Pillai , was a prominent Malayalam writer, art and literary critic, journalist, thinker and visionary.Kesari Balakrishna Pillai, who was known by the name of the newspaper he ran, "Kesari". He was also a literary critic, essayist and translated literary works form French and...
, Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery
Joseph Mundassery was a renowned literary critic and Indian politician from Kerala state. He was one among the towering literary critics in the Malayalam language and literature...
, M. P. Paul
M. P. Paul
M. P. Paul was a scholar and a well-known literary critic of Malayalam. He was among the torchbearers of the progressive literature movement in Kerala...
and K. Damodaran
K. Damodaran
K. Damodaran -Was one of the founder leaders of the Communist Party in Kerala, India, Marxist theoritician and writer....
were architects of "Jeevat Sahitya Prastanam", which later came to known as Purogamana Sahitya Prastanam. (Progressive Association for Arts and Letters). Though Kesari was considered to be one of the visionaries of the Progressive Movement of Arts and Letters of Kerala, serious difference of opinion emerged later between full-time Communist Party activists and other personalities, namely Kesari and Joseph Mundassery. In this context, EMS famously called Kesari a "Petit-Bourgeois intellectual", which he later corrected. EMS also acknowledged some of the earlier misconceptions of the Communist Party with respect to the Progressive Literature and Arts Movement. This debate is known as 'Rupa Bhadrata Vivadam', an important milestone in the growth of Modern Malayalam Literature.
Death
EMS died on March 19, 1998. He was married to Smt. Arya Antharjanam and had two sons and two daughters.External links
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