Siddharth Darnal at 18:11, 1 March 2026

2026-03-01T18:11:53Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian politician (1904–1977)}}
{{Given name hatnote|Gopalan|Ayillyath Kuttiari|lang=Malayali}}
{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = A. K. Gopalan
| birth_name = Ayillyath Kuttiari Gopalan Nambiar|
| image = AK Gopalan, Jagjit S. Layalpuri, Baba Bhag Singh Canadian, Punjab Kisan Sabha CPI(M) Leaders, Sarihn village, District Jalandhar, 4 September 1966.jpg
| caption = Gopalan giving a speech in [[Jalandhar]], [[Punjab]] in 1966
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1904|10|01}}
| birth_place = [[Kannur]], [[Malabar district]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1977|03|22|1904|10|01}}
| death_place = [[Trivandrum]], [[Kerala]], India
| residence =
| constituency =
| constituency_MP1 = [[Kannur (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kannur]]
| Religion =
| majority1 =
| parliament1 = Indian
| term_start1 = {{Start date|1952||}}
| term_end1 = {{End date|1957||}}
| predecessor1 = ''Position Created''
| successor1 = [[C. K. Chandrappan]]
| constituency_MP2 = [[Kasaragod (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kasaragod]]
| parliament2 = Indian
| term_start2 = {{Start date |1957||}}
| term_end2 = {{End date|1971||}}
| predecessor2 = [[U. Srinivas Mallya]]<br />''[[South Kanara (North) (Lok Sabha constituency)|South Kanara (North)]]''
| successor2 = [[Ramachandran Kadannappalli]]
| party = * [[Communist Party of India]]
* [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| spouse = {{Marriage|[[Susheela Gopalan]]|1952}}
| children =
| parents = {{Unbulleted list|Velluva Kannoth Rairu Nambiar|Ayillyath Kuttiyeri Madhavi Amma}}
| date = |
| year = |
| source =
| known_for = Co-founder of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
}}

'''Ayillyath Kuttiari Gopalan Nambiar''' (1 October 1904 – 22 March 1977), popularly known as '''A. K. Gopalan''' or '''AKG''', was an Indian communist politician.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Desk |first=24 Web |date=2023-03-22 |title=സമര ചരിത്രങ്ങളിലെ ജ്വലിക്കുന്ന ഓർമ; എ.കെ.ജി ഓര്‍മയായിട്ട് 46 വര്‍ഷം |trans-title=A K Gopalan (AKG) Beacon for the fighting generations |url=https://www.twentyfournews.com/2023/03/22/a-k-gopalan-akg-beacon-for-the-fighting-generations.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=[[24 News]] |language=en-US}}</ref> He was one of 16 [[Communist Party of India]] members elected to the first [[Lok Sabha]] in 1952. Later he became one of the founding members of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]].

== Early life and education ==
Ayillyath Kuttiari Gopalan Nambiar was born on 1 October 1904 in [[Peralasseri]], [[Kannur District]] of Northern [[Kerala]] and educated in [[Tellichery]]. He was educated at [[Basel Evangelical Mission Parsi High School, Thalassery]]<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Sudhakaran|first1=P.|title=The wonder that was Basel Mission School|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/The-wonder-that-was-Basel-Mission-School/articleshow/32291725.cms|work=The Times of India|language=en|access-date=2 June 2020|archive-date=31 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210831065542/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/The-wonder-that-was-Basel-Mission-School/articleshow/32291725.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> and at [[Government Brennen College, Thalassery]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Members Bioprofile |url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/725.htm |website=loksabhaph.nic.in |access-date=2 June 2020 |archive-date=25 July 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725010356/http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/725.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> By the time he became a teacher, India's independence movement was becoming energised by [[Mahatma Gandhi]]. Gopalan took part in the [[Khilafat Movement]] which prompted a marked change in his outlook, transforming him into a dedicated full-time social and political worker. He was also involved in Malabar revolution. During this time, he removed the suffix to his name (Nambiar) that suggested caste status.

== Indian National Congress ==
In 1927 he joined the [[Indian National Congress]] and began playing an active role in the Khadi Movement and the upliftment of [[Harijan]]s. He was arrested for participating in the salt [[satyagraha]] in 1930.

=== Kandoth assault ===
{{Main|Kandoth assault}}

[[File:CPI (M) Leaders. Noormahal. 27 Oct 1966.jpg|thumb|left|A.K. Gopalan (left)]]
While in prison he got acquainted with communism and became a member of the [[Congress Socialist Party]] and later the [[Communist Party of India]] when it finally took shape in Kerala in 1939. He led the hunger march from [[Malabar region]] to [[Madras]] in 1936 and the Malabar Jatha in support of the movement for responsible government in [[Travancore]]. The strongest caste system was in the North [[Kerala]]. The lower caste people were not allowed to walk on a public road in [[Payyannur]]. At this time A.K. Gopalan and the Keralites led the procession through the public road in front of the Kandoth [[Thiyya]] caste [[Temple]] (Palliyara) near Payyanur, [[Kannur]]. The lower castes were not allowed by the then Thiyyar chiefs to walk on a public road in Kandoth temple. "This is a time when Harijans are being denied the freedom to travel on public roads." The reason was that the nearby temple would be defiled. To promote the [[Guruvayoor Satyagraha]].<ref name="msm" /> The group consisting of [[K. Kelappan|Kelappan]] and Gopalan marched along this route with the Harijans. As the procession approached the road, a crowd of about 200 people, including young men and women, A.K. Gopalan, Keraliyan and the Harijans were very badly beaten up by the Thiyya leaders. Gopal and others were later admitted to the hospital. The attack lasted for half an hour. This was the first crackdown on Gopalan's political career.<ref name="msm">{{Cite book|last=A.M Abraham Ayirukuzhiel|year=1987|title=Swami Anand Thirth: Untouchability, Gandhian Solution on Trial|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xvotAAAAMAAJ&q=Badly|publisher=CISRS Banglore|page=32|access-date=5 January 2022|archive-date=10 July 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070055/https://books.google.com/books?id=xvotAAAAMAAJ&q=Badly|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>#cpk71|പി.കൃഷ്ണപിള്ളയുടെ ജീവചരിത്രം -ഡോക്ടർ.ചന്തവിള മുരളിmorning.. 69</ref> Women came carrying heavy wooden sticks and beat them. All the people present in Ghosha were beaten by these chiefs. But A.K.G Standing where Gopalan and Keralian were, he faced the barrage. Others fled. A.K.G told the accompanying women to run to safety. The attack lasted for half an hour. The "Kandoth short stick" was infamous in the press of the day.<ref name="msm" /> Many people were injured. A.K. Gopalan and Keralian fell unconscious. They were taken by car to the hospital, where they lay unconscious for several hours. Even the Keralite's death statement was taken. Took home in the morning This attack K. This was Gopalan's first physical attack in his political career. But the "[[Kandoth assault]]" was an event that found a prominent place in news coverage.<ref name="msm" />

== Further arrest ==
[[File:Akg-btr.gif|thumb|upright|left|AKG with [[B.T. Ranadive]]]]
The outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in 1939 prompted an upsurge in activism against British domination, and Gopalan was again arrested. But in 1942 he escaped from prison and remained at large till the end of the war in 1945. He was arrested again shortly after the end of the war and was still behind bars when India became independent on 15 August 1947. He was released a few weeks later. Thereafter he was a member of [[Lok Sabha]] for 5 consecutive terms till his death on 22 March 1977 and became one of the leaders of opposition parties in the parliament of India.

During the [[Sino-Indian war]] in 1962, AKG along with other Indian communists like [[E.M.S. Namboodiripad|E.M.S.]] took an impartial view and requested both nations to discuss and settle the matter peacefully. The official leadership of the party at that time denounced this and supported the India Government. Many leaders of the left group were arrested with the support of the leadership of the party. When the party leadership blocked the publication of an article written by then General Secretary EMS condemning government for attacking the left leaders in the party using the cover of the war, he himself quit the post and supported the left group. AKG was part of the left group and faced disciplinary action by the party leadership dominated by the right. During this time a newspaper published a letter allegedly written by rightist leaders S.A Dange to the British during the freedom struggle. In this letter he promised to keep away from the freedom struggle if granted bail. This was used by the left group to beat the right. When the demand of the left to set up a party-level inquiry about the alleged letter of S.A Dange was rejected in the National Council of CPI, the left group walked away and formed a new Party.

AKG joined the new break away faction, which later came to be known as [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]. He also wrote extensively. His autobiography ''Ente Jeevitha Kadha'' has been translated into many languages. His other works include ''For Land'', ''Around the World'', ''Work in Parliament'', and ''Collected Speeches'', all in Malayalam.

=== A. K. Gopalan v. State of Madras ===
{{Main|A. K. Gopalan v. State of Madras}}
In 1950, A. K. Gopalan was served with a detention order under ''Preventive Detention Act 1950.'' He appealed to [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] under Article 32 of [[Indian Constitution]] claiming his fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression and to travel freely in [[India]] have been violated.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Austin |first=Granville |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r42bAAAAMAAJ |title=Working a Democratic Constitution: The Indian Experience |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=1999 |isbn=0195648889 |pages=58–59 |language=en |access-date=13 March 2023 |archive-date=3 June 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240603023701/https://books.google.com/books?id=r42bAAAAMAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> The six-judge bench of [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] with a majority of four upheld his detention.<ref name="indianexpress1950">{{cite news |date=20 May 1950 |title=A.K. Gopalan's Petition Dismissed |language=English |page=1 |work=The Indian Express |publisher=Indian Express Limited (IEL) |issue=Madras |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p7w-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=O0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1782%2C5547992 |access-date=15 May 2021 |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070055/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=p7w-AAAAIBAJ&sjid=O0wMAAAAIBAJ&pg=1782%2C5547992 |url-status=live }}</ref> But the bench struck down Section 14 of this act, which provided that the grounds for detention should not be given to detenus.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=19 May 1950 |title=A.K. Gopalan vs The State Of Madras |url=https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1857950/ |website=indiankanoon.org |access-date=12 March 2023 |archive-date=12 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230312075542/https://indiankanoon.org/doc/1857950/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Political career ==
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Election
!Constituency
!Result
!Majority
|-
|1952
|[[Kannur Lok Sabha constituency|Kannur]]
|{{yes2|Won}}
|87,029
|-
|1957
| rowspan="3" |[[Kasaragod (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kasargod]]
|{{yes2|Won}}
|5,145
|-
|1962
|{{yes2|Won}}
|83,363
|-
|1967
|{{yes2|Won}}
|118,510
|-
|1971
|[[Palakkad Lok Sabha constituency|Palakkad]]
|{{yes2|Won}}
|52,266
|}

== Marriage ==
AKG was earlier married and later left his wife.<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/love-in-time-of-struggles/article27992675.ece | title=Love in time of struggles | work=The Hindu | date=20 December 2001 | accessdate=24 May 2021 | archive-date=10 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070457/https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/love-in-time-of-struggles/article27992675.ece | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/vt-balram-attacks-communist-icon-akg-falling-love-12-yr-old-stirs-row-74276 | title=VT Balram attacks communist icon AKG for 'falling in love with 12-yr-old', stirs row | publisher=The NewsMinute | work=Gopika Ajayan | date=6 January 2018 | accessdate=24 May 2021 | archive-date=10 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070100/https://platform.twitter.com/widgets/widget_iframe.2f70fb173b9000da126c79afe2098f02.html?origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenewsminute.com | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.theweek.in/news/india/thanks-congress-mla-balram-akg-paedophile-sushila-gopalan-communist-icon-book-chintha-publishers-goes-into-reprint.html | title=Thanks to a Congress MLA, a communist icon's book goes into reprint | publisher=The Week | work=Cithara Paul | date=20 January 2018 | accessdate=24 May 2021 | archive-date=10 July 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070458/https://www.theweek.in/news/india/thanks-congress-mla-balram-akg-paedophile-sushila-gopalan-communist-icon-book-chintha-publishers-goes-into-reprint.html | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Congress flays Balram for comments on AKG |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2018/01/07/congress-flays-balram-for-comments-on-akg.html |access-date=2024-07-10 |website=[[OnManorama]] |quote=Asserting that AKG is respected by every Keralite, Hassan said he has warned the MLA from Thrithala regarding such statements. |archive-date=10 July 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710070056/https://www.onmanorama.com/news/kerala/2018/01/07/congress-flays-balram-for-comments-on-akg.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Later AKG was married to [[Susheela Gopalan]], who was a prominent Marxist and trade union activist, from the Cheerappanchira family. His daughter, Laila, is married to [[P. Karunakaran]], a former [[Member of Parliament]] for the [[Kasaragod (Lok Sabha constituency)|Kasargod constituency]].

== Indian Coffee House ==
[[File:AKGStatueKannur.jpg|thumb|Statue of Gopalan in [[Kannur]]]]
AKG played an important role in the formation of [[Indian Coffee House]], a [[worker cooperative]] initiative by organising the thrown out employees of Coffee Houses of [[Coffee Board]] to establish ICHs in late 1950s.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Plys |first=Kristin |date=2026-02-16 |title=The Indian Coffee House Workers Movement, 1936–1977: From Colonial Firm to Workers Cooperative |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/international-labor-and-working-class-history/article/indian-coffee-house-workers-movement-19361977-from-colonial-firm-to-workers-cooperative/8459886916BD9AA836EB0C36675E8A63 |journal=International Labor and Working-Class History |language=en |pages=1–19 |doi=10.1017/S0147547926100222 |issn=0147-5479}}</ref>

[[File:Akgopalan.JPG|thumb|AKG memorial in [[Thiruvananthapuram]]]]
[[File:എകെ ഗോപാലന്റെ ശവകുടീരം.JPG|thumb|AKG smrithi mandapam Payyambalam Beach]]

== In popular culture ==
[[Shaji N. Karun]], a prominent film director of [[Kerala]], made a biopic on AKG titled ''AKG – Athijeevanathinte Kanalvazhikal''. The film used a part-documentary, part-fiction format. It was released in theatres across Kerala in August 2008.<ref>{{Cite news| url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/08/stories/2007080854871000.htm | archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125180245/http://www.hindu.com/2007/08/08/stories/2007080854871000.htm | url-status=dead | archive-date=25 January 2013 | location=Chennai, India | work=[[The Hindu]] | title=Film on AKG set for release tomorrow | date=8 August 2007}}</ref> Baiju played Gopalan in the 2014 feature film ''[[Vasanthathinte Kanal Vazhikalil]]''.<ref name="H">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/vasanthathinte-kanal-vazhikalil-film-on-p-krishna-pillai/article6590825.ece|title=Ode to a brave patriot|first=Saraswathy|last=Nagarajan|date=13 November 2014|work=The Hindu|access-date=17 April 2020|archive-date=25 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200725010631/https://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/vasanthathinte-kanal-vazhikalil-film-on-p-krishna-pillai/article6590825.ece|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Autobiography – My Life Story ===
His autobiography is Ente Jeevitha Katha (written in Malayalam) {{Cite book|url=https://nastiknation.org/product/ente-jivitha-katha-akg|title=Ente Jeevitha Katha-|archive-date=21 May 2024|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240521014608/https://nastiknation.org/product/ente-jivitha-katha-akg/|url-status=dead}}

== See also ==
* [[E. K. Nayanar]]
* [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
* [[Azhikodan Raghavan]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://pd.cpim.org/2004/1003/10032004_akg-manini.htm|title=A K Gopalan: From Satygrahi To Revolutionary|author=Manini Chatterjee, People's Democracy|access-date=31 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070912000157/http://pd.cpim.org/2004/1003/10032004_akg-manini.htm|archive-date=12 September 2007|url-status=dead}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://pd.cpim.org/2004/1010/10102004_akg%20btr.htm|title=IN MEMORY OF A K GOPALAN|author=[[B.T. Ranadive]], People's Democracy|access-date=31 October 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927231012/http://pd.cpim.org/2004/1010/10102004_akg%20btr.htm|archive-date=27 September 2007|url-status=dead}}
*{{Cite web|url=http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/akg.htm |title=Remembrance: A. K. Gopalan |author=Ganashakti Newsmagazine |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927041208/http://www.ganashakti.com/archive/akg.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}
* {{Cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/02/stories/2004050207010500.htm|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130125095713/http://www.hindu.com/2004/05/02/stories/2004050207010500.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 January 2013|title=Fresh faces make prediction impossible|author=K.P. Pushparaj, The Hindu | location=Chennai, India|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=2 May 2004}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gopalan, A. K.}}
[[Category:1904 births]]
[[Category:1977 deaths]]
[[Category:India MPs 1952–1957]]
[[Category:India MPs 1957–1962]]
[[Category:India MPs 1962–1967]]
[[Category:India MPs 1967–1970]]
[[Category:India MPs 1971–1977]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian atheists]]
[[Category:Indian communists]]
[[Category:Indian independence activists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian National Congress politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Kerala]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:Politicians from Kannur]]
[[Category:Trade unionists from Kerala]]
[[Category:Prisoners and detainees of British India]]

A. K. Gopalan - Revision history

Siddharth Darnal at 18:11, 1 March 2026