Communist Party of India (CPI) State secretary C.K. Chandranppan has said the late M.N. Govindan Nair, leader of the Communist movement in Kerala, “used his political power in bringing basic changes in the lower strata of society to create a 'welfare Kerala'.''
Inaugurating the birth centenary observance of M.N. Govindan Nair organised by the district committee of the Communist Party of India here on Friday, Mr. Chandrappan said that “M.N was the architect of the democratically elected first Communist government in the State that came to power in 1957.”
“It was also the successful experiment of the United Front politics where he roped in all progressive and democratic forces together for implementing some of the radical laws like the Land Reforms Act, nationalisation of private forests in Malabar, nationalisation of Kuttanand paddy land, etc.”
He was a man of practical politics and during his period as Agriculture Minister he brought about revolutionary changes in the farm sector.
His biggest achievement was the ‘one-lakh housing scheme' (Laksham Veedu) that provided shelter to one-lakh poor families. This was the best example of humanism as he knew that a shelter to the shelter less poor would bring a sea change in social life. This example was also an answer to the problem of shelter in the third world countries during that period, Mr. Chandrappan said.
The meeting was presided over by Deputy Speaker Jose Baby.
It was addressed by CPI assistant secretary K.E. Ismail, MP, State executive committee member V. Chamunni, veteran journalist Joy Sasthampadikkal and P.A. Vasudevan, economist.
CPI district secretary Vijayan Kunisseri welcomed the gathering and assistant secretary K.P. Suresh Raj proposed a vote of thanks.
