V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan

A group of young people who were displeased with the functioning of political movements in the erstwhile Kochi state, In the meeting held on 26 January 1941, under the leadership of Krishnan Ezhuthachan decided to form the Kochi Rajya prajamandalam. 'To end the sovereignty of Cochin king and to form responsible government' that was the main objective of Praja Mandala. On 9 February 1941 Prajamandal formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as founder general secretary.[3][1]

To help the people of the Kingdom of Cochin from ravages caused due to the flooding in 1941, Prajamandalam formed Cochin flood relief committee. V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan, C. Achutha Menon were secretaries of it. Ezhuthachan actively worked in this organisation by collecting donations and distributing brochures about calamities throughout Kingdom of Cochin.[9]

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan and his wife Lakshmi bhai

With the objective of ending difficulties faced by farmers due to Feudalism an organisation called Cochin karshaka sabha formed with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as president and C. Achutha Menon as secretary. Brochures about the difficulties of farmers distributed by this organisation. Cochin karshaka sabha stood for permanent ownership for farmers in their field. Protest by karshaka sabha caused acceptance of verumpatta kudiyan bill in 13 February 1943 at Cochin Legislative Council. In 1944, part of the restructuring of the Prajamandalam, Communist sympathizers abandoned the membership in Prajamandalam. After this incident Cochin karshaka sabha divided into two as All Cochin Kisan Congress with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as its leader and Cochin Karshaka sabha with C. Achutha Menon as the leader. Later All Cochin Kisan Congress merged to All India Kisan Congress.[9][10]

In January 1942 Prajamandalam decided to conduct the first annual meeting at Irinjalakuda. Diwan A.F.W.Dixon banned it due to the resentment caused towards king by the activities of Prajamandalam and karshaka sabha. As a consequence of the ban, including Ezhuthachan many leaders of Praja Mandala got arrested. Leaders came forward to conduct the meeting arrested from the meeting place by the police send by Diwan. Leaders like K. Karunakaran arrested by police and they faced brutal torture in jail.[9][1]

Avinissery was one of the main weaving centre of Thrissur. Ezhuthachan actively worked in Cochi khadhi grama vyavasaya association an organisation to spread the use of khadi. He also worked actively in the formation of khadi weaving centres in Thrissur and Ernakulam.[1]

V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan(Third from right), with P. P. George and P. A. Madhavan at INTUC meeting

In connection with Quit India movement on 5 August 1942 a conference conducted under the leadership of Gandhiji and Nehru for All India Congress Committee at Bombay. Ezhuthachan and S.Neelakanda Iyer attended the conference by representing Praja Mandalam. As part of Quit India movement Praja Mandala actively participated in strikes. During that time there was strong ban in functioning of the press, Praja Mandala started a newspaper called Deenabandhu with V.R.Krishnan Ezhuthachan as Editor-in-chief.

With the intention of saving people from financial crisis caused due to the second world war, an organisation called gramasevakasamgham formed. Ezhuthachan worked as secretary of this organisation in Thrissur. During the spread of fifth fever and cholera gramasevakasamgham actively worked to prevent its spread.

V. R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan's samadhi at Avinissery, Thrissur

When prjamandal decided to face election. In 1945 Ezhuthachan unanimously elected to Cochin Legislative Council. Ezhuthachan was a member of Travancore-Cochin legislative council representing Nemmara.[11][9][8][6]

Ezhuthachan married Lakshmi Bhai, Daughter of his political mentor and active congress politician P. Kumaran Ezhuthachan. He died in 2004 at the age of 95 due to age-related diseases.[6]

In 2009 as a part of V.R. Krishnan Ezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi celebration M.P. Veerendra Kumar received V.R. Krishananezhuthachan Janmashadabdhi award.[12] Ezhuthachan gave leadership to a caste based organisation called Ezhuthachan samajam due to the honor towards his activities the law college started by Ezhuthachan samajam entitled his name.[13]

• Gramoddhaaranam
• Aashayaanjali
• Gandhi Jinna Kathukal(Translation)
• Vishwacharithraavalokanam(Translation of Glimpses of World History by Jawaharlal Nehru)
• Indiayile vargeeya thrikonam(Translation of Ashok metha's Communal triangle)
• Kochikkoru abhivruddhi paddhathi
• Niyamasabhaprasangangal(Compilation of Krishnan Ezhuthachan's speeches in legislative assembly)

In addition to this Ezhuthachan was co-author for a book named Kochi rajya charithram about the history of Kingdom of Cochin.[7][16]