Kerala: In CPI(M) Party Congress, Social Media Chronicles Kannur’s Working Class Heroes

Kannur: Stories of local working class heroes, historic movements, and legendary leaders from Kannur, the stronghold of the Left in Kerala, have become a major attraction on social media as the district hosts the 23rd Party Congress of the CPI(M).

‘Kannur Manifesto’, a short video series released through the party’s official handles, on Facebook and YouTube, presents local heroes like Paripadi Damu, Pushpan, Jagannathan- a migrant worker from Odisha, and Raveendran to a give the viewers a picture of how the party in Kannur is rooted on the ground.

In another series, ‘The Party and Me’, well-known cultural figures and writers recollect the communist movement’s influence on them in their formative years.

‘Comrade Jagannathan from Odisha’ in the series ‘Kannur Manifesto’ received wide appreciation on social media. The video, showcasing the life of a migrant worker, a member of the party in the Thaliparamba North Town branch and a red volunteer in the party congress, went viral across platforms.

‘Paripadi Damu’, another short video in the series, celebrates local hero K Damodaran, a veteran leader who never misses any public event in the region. In the video, Damodaran reveres Patyam Gopalan’s guidance. He is one of the pioneers of the Left movement in the region.

“In a party class attended by young volunteers back in the 1970s, Patyam Gopalan told us to attend every event in the locality, be it a marriage or a funeral, to offer voluntary help wherever needed. He told as to be the face of the party at such events. This guidance keeps me going. That’s how I got the name Paripadi Damu,” Damodaran recollects.

Veteran writer T Padmanabhan recalls seeing P Krishnapillai in a peculiar circumstance among his intense memories.

“In 1948, when I was waiting for a bus to Valapattanam at Kannur bust stand, I saw a man severely injured and soaked in blood, being carried by three people near the bus stand. It was a time when the Communist Party was banned, the workers and leaders of the party were facing brutal attacks from the police, and many of them were working underground. Later, when I learned that it was P Krishnapillai, the legendary leader who was being carried,” says Padmanabhan. 

Nilambur Ayisha, senior theatre-cine artist recollects how the Left-progressive movements inspired her to fight all odds in her journey. Noted short story writer Santhosh Echikkanam acknowledges the influence of the party and progressive libraries in shaping his worldview.

Echikkanam was born in an upper-caste, affluent family, closely connected to the Congress party and other Right-wing outfits. He says his exposure to progressive ideas and literature transformed him into what he is today. Writer M Mukundan and playwright Ibrahim Vergara have also shared their experiences through the series.

The series also includes a video on the life of Pushpan, who was shot and paralysed during the Kuthuparamba Firing, where five other cadres of the Democratic Youth Federation of India died. The official handles also feature interviews with public intellectuals like Justice K Chandru, journalist Sashi Kumar, and Sunil P Ilayidom.

‘Red Memories’- another series, marks iconic struggles led by the party in the district. ‘People’s Leaders’ celebrates the life and struggle of the pioneers of the communist movement, and ‘History Wall’ documents the local history. 

In addition, daily news bulletins are streamed through the official handles, featuring prominent figures as news presenters. The news presenters include DYFI All India President AA Rahim MP, actor Santhosh Kizhattur, quiz master GS Pradeep, and PP Divya, Kannur District Panchayat President.