The 125th birth anniversary of eminent freedom fighter T.R. Krishnaswamy Iyer, who led several social reformation movements ignoring threats from his own community, will be commemorated in a set of programmes planned for a year in Palakkad.
KPCC president V.M. Sudheeran will launch the celebrations at a function to be held at Tharekkad here on Thursday. Leaders of various political parties and close relatives of Krishnaswamy Iyer will take part in the inaugural function.
Floral tributes would be paid to the leader at his statue located inside T.R. Krishnaswamy Park, near Government Moyans School. Talking to media persons here, celebrations committee chairman A. Ramaswamy said that Krishnaswamy Iyer had rendered yeoman service in building up the national movement and ensuring social reformation.
The only place visited thrice by Mahatma Gandhi in Kerala was the Sabari Ashram founded by him at Akathethara.
“One among the visits by Gandhiji was on March 18,1925. Gandhiji had reached the Sabari Ashram as a part of a campaign against untouchability. There was opposition to Gandhiji from some quarters and they had planned to stage a black-flag demonstration at the Olavakkode railway station. Krishnaswamy Iyer came to know of the demonstration and he gathered people to wave red flags and stop the train at Akathethara,’’ said Ramaswamy. Subsequently, Gandhij, along with Krishnaswamy Iyer, cut through paddy fields and walked to the Sabari Ashram.
Krishnaswamy Iyer was also active in the Vaikom and Guruvayur temple entry agitations.
