CPI and CPI(M) clash over T.V. Thomas's role in Punnapra-Vayalar uprising
The dispute follows the placement of photographs in a special edition of the CPI(M) publication Chintha marking the uprising's 80th anniversary.
A dispute has emerged between Kerala's Left allies, the CPI and CPI(M), regarding the historical portrayal of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising. According to The Hindu, the controversy involves a special edition of Chintha, the ideological publication of the CPI(M), released to mark the 80th anniversary of the revolt.
CPI district secretary T.J. Angelos criticised Chintha editor Dr T.M. Thomas Isaac at an AITUC Foundation Day event in Alappuzha.
Angelos alleged that the publication portrayed T.V. Thomas as a 'guest artist' in the uprising, despite Thomas being the president of the All Travancore Trade Union Council (ATTUC).
Angelos stated that Thomas was at the forefront of public campaigning during the revolt and the subsequent police firing. He noted that the ATTUC decided to launch the workers' strike on October 22, 1946, which preceded the uprising, and cited Thomas's confrontation with Diwan Sir C.P. Ramaswami Iyer as evidence of his central role.
Dr Isaac dismissed the allegations as baseless, maintaining that the publication adequately acknowledged Thomas's role. He said the article stated the strike was called by the ATTUC and included a photograph of the Bhakti Vilasam tripartite meeting with a caption highlighting Thomas's presence.
Regarding the sequence of photographs, Dr Isaac said they were arranged alphabetically, except for P. Krishna Pillai. He clarified that the placement of T.V.
Thomas after C.K. Kumarappanicker was not intended to rank leaders by their contribution to the uprising.