E K Nayanar

E K Nayanar was born on 9th December 1919 in Kalliasseri, a place in Kerala. His father’s name was Govindan Nambiar and his father believed in feudalism. Despite his father’s believing, he had chosen his cousin path, and at a small age, he started his leadership in support of his cousin K.P.R Gopalan. For being a leader from a very young age, he became a part of several students’ movements which were held in the Malabar region and for this, he was dropped out of his school. Since being a youth, he showed his interest in joining the party and then he joined the party named as the ‘Communist Party of India in the year 1939’and also organized several movements. He was jailed for six months. The forty-six-day protest was led by him as the mill management had dismissed thirty workers from the mill in 1940.

He was also involved in organizing a rally on 15th Sept 1940 in Morazha where the people joined him in protest of the increasing prices. He went hiding for six years as he felt that he was one of the accused for the two policemen who died in the rally organized by him. At those times, he became a journalist and worked for ‘Kerala Kaumudi’. The people elected him as Kannur Taluk Secretary in 1948. Nayanar was accused as a pro-Chinese and was jailed in 1964 during the Sino-Indian war under the ‘Preventive Detention Act’. Nayanar became the Secretary of the United CPI of the Kozhikode district from 1956 to 1964. The people elected him as the MLA from Palakkad in 1967. Since he was an active leader of the party and he was elected as the Chief Minister of the state in 1980. The government was formed by him in which Congress party supported him. The two leaders such as A.K. Antony and K.M. Mani also supported him.

Being a Coalition government, it was dissolved on 20th October 1981, and he became the leader of the opposition party from 1981 to 1987. Nayanar became Chief Minister for the second time in 1987. Being a Chief Minister, he did various things for the state. Some of the reforms are listed below which were introduced by him are as follows ‘The Kerala Coir Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1987’: - The act aimed to provide the fund and relief to the workers, and the Act was for the welfare of the workers. The aim of the Act was to provide support to the workers. It was a financial support which includes pension to the workers who were working in Coir industry. ‘The Act for the Kerala Khadi Workers’ 1989’: - This act also focusses on providing the pension so that the workers working in Khadi industry would get relief and they can lead a happy life.

‘The Act for Abkari Workers’ welfare, 1989’: - This act also aimed to provide support to the Abkari workers so they may live happily and peacefully. ‘The Kerala, Construction Workers’ Welfare Fund Act, 1989’: - The act was most emphasized for the workers who were working in the construction sites, and they got daily wages to meet the meals for a day. The act was to support them financially. ‘The Kerala Ration Dealer’s Welfare Fund Act, 1998’: - The act provided funding and aimed to grant relief, and to promote the welfare of the ration dealers in the state of Kerala. During his tenure, The Kannur University was established. He also set up a government college in 1981. The college was renamed after him as E.K. Nayanar Memorial Government College. He died on 19th May 2004. He was a devoted and honest politician. May his soul rest in peace.