EMS gets salvation at Thirunavaya

“All are equal; but some are more equal,” seems to be the basic theme of the Communist movements all over the world. Though George Orwell wrote the novel Animal Farm way back in the 40s, all actions of the comrades in India and all over are exactly like the way scripted by Orwell.

E M Sankaran Namboodirippadu, the CPM ideologist, was well known for his hatred towards the Sangh Parivar. More than seven years after the passing away of  EMS here comes the news that his mortal remains were immersed at the Nila river  at Thirunavaya in Kerala. “EMS, who passed away on March 19, 1998 was cremated with state honours at the Thyccadu electric crematorium on March 20. The urn containing the ash of EMS was brought to Thirunavaya by his son EM Sreedharan and three other close relations within one week of the cremation. The ash was immersed in the Nila  as per Namboodiri rituals. An Othikkan (a person belonging to the Namboodiri community who is competent to perform  the rituals) directed the entire ritual and it was kept as a closely guarded secret.

The news reporters accompanying the ashes of former President K R Narayanan were told about this incident by the priests at Thirunavaya. The mortal remains of Koladi Govindan Kutty, a former CPI leader, too was immersed at Thirunavaya as per the Hindu custom.

“Mangalam”, a Christian newspaper published from Kottayam, was the one which revealed this news to the world. But the Communist dominated media in the state kept the matter under wraps. “Kesari”, a leading Malayalam weekly, in its issue dated December 4 has re-published the Mangalam news item. The Mangalam report says that the CPM created a smoke screen all over the state with reports that the family members of EMS did not collect the ash from the crematorium. But   the urn reached the EMS household very secretly.

The immersion of the ash was kept a closely guarded secret. “No entries were made against the column meant to write the name of the deceased in the register maintained at Thirunavaya. But many people who were present at the site were quick to identify E M Sreedharan, who was carrying the urn,” the Mangalam report continues. 

It may be worth remembering that the mortal remains of former chief minister E K Nayanar was immersed at Kanyakumari as per the wishes of his family members.