R. Sugathan Explained

R. Sugathan
Office:Member of Travancore-Cochin Assembly
Term Start:1952
Term End:1954
Constituency:Alleppey
Term Start1:1954
Term End1:1956
Constituency1:Mararikulam
Office2:Kerala Legislative Assembly
Term Start2:1957
Term End2:1959
Term Start3:1960
Term End3:1964
Constituency3:Karthikappally
Birth Date:23 December 1901
Birth Place:Aalissery, Alappuzha, Travancore
Death Date:14 February 1970
Death Place:Kerala
Nationality:Indian
Party:Communist Party of India (CPI)
Occupation:teacher, trade unionist, politician

R. Sugathan, (23 December 1901  - 14 February 1970), popularly known as Sugathansir, was an Indian Communist leader and an early trade unionist of Kerala. He was elected to the Travancore-Cochin Assembly in 1952 (Alleppey) & 1954 from Maraikkulam (Mararikulam),[1] followed by first Kerala Legislative Assembly elections in 1957 from Karthigapally (Karthikappally) in present Alappuzha district, and second assembly also from Karthikappally as a CPI member.[2] [3]

Early life and education

Born R. Shreedharan in Kerala. After passing his Malayalam Middle school he came under influence of Buddhist doctrine and soon changed his name to R. Sugathan.

Career

He was an active member of the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherhood Movement), later he left his teaching job at a private school to join SNDP, where he worked hard to eliminate caste as an institution, and also SNDP's political wing, Ezhava Political League, and when Congress came into existence in the state he became its part. In 1938, he organized coir factory workers into union and was arrested for agitating, and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment.

Later, he became involved with the Travancore Labour Association and finally he left Congress joined the Communist Party in 1942, he was imprisoned twice again in the following years.[4]

Legacy

In 2008, his death anniversary on 14 February was observed as 'flag day' by Communist Party of India (CPI) at its State conference at Thiruvananthapuram[5]

Further reading

External links

Notes and References

  1. http://www.kerala.gov.in/ele_rep/1954.pdf Interim Election to the Travancore-Cochin Assembly – 1954
  2. http://www.kerala.gov.in/ele_rep/1957.pdf ELECTIONS TO THE FIRST KERALA ASSEMBLY-1957
  3. Web site: Members - Kerala Legislature .
  4. Book: Sadasivan, S. N.. A Social History of India. 2000 . APH Publishing. 81-7648-170-X . 668 .
  5. News: CPI to mark 'flag day' . https://web.archive.org/web/20080302171042/http://www.hindu.com/2008/02/12/stories/2008021258320300.htm . dead . 2 March 2008 . . 12 February 2008 .