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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{EngvarB|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = K. R. Gouri Amma
| image = K. R. Gouri Amma.jpg
| alt = Gouri Amma
| caption = K. R. Gouri Amma
| office1 = Member of [[Travancore-Cochin]] Legislative Assembly
| term_start1 = 1951
| term_end1 = 1954
| constituency1 = [[Cherthala]]
| office2 = Member of Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly
| 1blankname2 = [[Rajpramukh]]
| 1namedata2 = [[Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma]]
| term_start2 = 1954
| term_end2 = 1957
| constituency2 = Cherthala
| office3 = 1st [[First E. M. S. Namboodiripad ministry|Revenue Minister of Kerala]]
| governor3 = [[Burgula Ramakrishna Rao]]
| term_start3 = 5 April 1957
| term_end3 = 31 July 1959
| predecessor3 = None
| successor3 = [[K. Chandrasekharan]]
| constituency3 = Cherthala
| office4 = [[Second E. M. S. Namboodiripad ministry|Minister for Revenue, Sales Tax, Civil Supplies, Dewaswom, Social Welfare and Law]]
| governor4 = [[V. Viswanathan]]
| term_start4 = 6 March 1967
| term_end4 = 1 November 1969
| predecessor4 = K. Chandrasekharan
| successor4 = [[K. T. Jacob]]
| constituency4 = Cherthala
| office5 = [[First E. K. Nayanar ministry|Minister for Agriculture, Social Welfare, Industries, Vigilance and Administration of Justice]]
| governor5 = [[Jothi Venkatachalam]]
| term_start5 = 25 January 1980
| term_end5 = 20 October 1981
| predecessor5 =
| successor5 =
| constituency5 = [[Aroor]]
| office6 = [[Second E. K. Nayanar ministry|Minister for Industries and Social Welfare, Vigilance and Administration of Justice]]
| governor6 = [[P. Ramachandran]]
| term_start6 = 26 March 1987
| term_end6 = 17 June 1991
| predecessor6 = [[P. K. Kunhalikutty]]
| successor6 = [[E. Ahamed]]
| constituency6 = [[Aroor]]
| office7 = [[Third A. K. Antony ministry|Minister of Agriculture, Soil Conservation, Soil Survey, Warehousing Corporation, Diary Development, Milk Co-operatives, Agricultural University, Animal Husbandry and Coir]]
| governor7 = [[Sukhdev Singh Kang]]
| term_start7 = 17 May 2001
| term_end7 = 29 August 2004
| predecessor7 = [[V. K. Rajan]] and [[Krishnan Kaniyamparambil]]
| successor7 =
| constituency7 = Aroor
| office8 = [[First Oommen Chandy ministry|Minister of Agriculture, Soil Conservation, Soil Survey, Warehousing Corporation, Diary Development, Milk Co-operatives, Agricultural University, Animal Husbandry and Coir]]
| governor8 = [[R. L. Bhatia]]
| term_start8 = 31 August 2004
| term_end8 = 12 May 2006
| predecessor8 =
| successor8 = [[Mullakkara Retnakaran]]
| constituency8 = Aroor
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1919|7|14}}<ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128060410/http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m199.htm|title=K. R. Gouri Amma|date=|archive-url=|archive-date=|website=Kerala Legislative Assembly|publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=11 May 2021 |title=J S S Leader K. R. Gouri Amma, 102, No More |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/jss-leader-k-r-gouri-amma-102-no-more-1.5657300 |website=Mathrubhumi}}</ref>
| nickname = Kunjamma
| birth_name = Kalathilparambil Raman Gouri
| birth_place = [[Alappuzha district|Pattanakkad]], [[Travancore State]], [[British Raj|British India]]<br/>(now [[Kerala]], [[India]])
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2021|05|11|1919|07|14|df=yes}}<ref name="death">{{cite web|last=Radhakrishnan|first=S. Anil|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/veteran-communist-leader-k-r-gouri-amma-no-more/article34531990.ece|title=Veteran Communist Leader K. R. Gouri Amma No More|newspaper=|date=11 May 2021|access-date=|language=|issn=|website=The Hindu}}</ref>
| death_place = [[Thiruvananthapuram]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| spouse = [[T. V. Thomas]] (1957–1977)
| parents = Aarumuriparambil Parvathiamma (mother)
Kalathilparambil Ayyappan Raman (father)
| children =
| relatives = [[Susheela Gopalan]]
| website = [http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/members/m199.htm Government of Kerala]
| alma_mater = Higher Secondary School Kandamangalam, Tirumala Devaswom Higher Secondary School, [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]], [[St. Teresa's College]] [[Ernakulam]] and [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram]]
| party = [[Communist Party of India]],<br />[[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and<br />[[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy]]
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
| death_cause = [[Septicemia]]
| resting_place = [[Punnapra Vayalar Martyrdom Memorial]]
| signature = Signature of K R Gowri Amma.png
| image_size =
}}
'''K. R. Gouri Amma''' (14 July 1919 – 11 May 2021<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 July 2020 |title=Veteran of Many Political Atruggles, Gouri Amma Turns 101 on Tuesday |work=The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/jul/07/veteran-of-many-political-struggles-gouri-amma-turns-101-on-tuesday-2166364.html}}</ref>), born '''K. R. Gouri,''' was an Indian politician from [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]] in central [[Kerala]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Krishnakumar |first=R. |date=4 July 2021 |title=K. R. Gouri Amma: Death of a Red Star |work=Frontline |publisher=The Hindu |url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/other/obituary/death-of-a-red-star/article34563244.ece}}</ref> She was one of the most prominent leaders of the [[Left politics|Left movement]] in India.<ref name=":0" />

Born in an Ezhava family near [[Cherthala]], K. R. Gouri studied at [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam|Maharaja's College]] and [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum Law College]].<ref name=":0" /> Refusing an offer from the [[Travancore|Government of Travancore]] to be appointed as a magistrate, she joined the [[Communist Party of India|Communist Party]] in 1948.<ref name=":0" /> She was elected to Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly in 1952 and 1954.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Premkumar |first=Siddharth |date=9 July 2020 |title=Gowri Amma: The Best C M Kerala Never Had |work=Outlook Magazine |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-gowri-amma-the-best-cm-kerala-never-had/356337}}</ref> She served as the Land Revenue or Social Welfare minister in the [[First Namboodiripad ministry|1957]], [[Second Namboodiripad ministry|1967]] ([[E. M. S. Namboodiripad|Namboodiripad]]), [[First Nayanar ministry|1980]] and [[Second Nayanar ministry|1987]] ([[E. K. Nayanar|Nayanar]]) Kerala ministries.<ref name=":0" /> As the Revenue Minister in the first ministry, she famously piloted the Kerala Agrarian Relations Bill.<ref name=":0" /><ref name="frontline" />

K. R. Gouri was expelled from [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India Marxist]] in 1994, and subsequently became a minister in the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-led Kerala Cabinet from 2001 to 2006.<ref name="frontline">{{Cite news |last=Krishnakumar |first=R. |date=2008 |title=The Pioneers: K.R. Gouri Amma |work=Frontline Magazine |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110602190250/http://flonnet.com/fl2511/stories/20080606251102700.htm}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

== Early life ==

=== Early career ===
K. R. Gouri was born on 14 July 1919 to K. A. Raman and Parvathi Amma in a wealthy Ezhava family in [[Alappuzha district|Alappuzha]], [[Travancore]].<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" /> She studied at [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam|Maharaja's College]], Ernakulam and St. Teresa’s College, Ernakulam (Graduation in History). She obtained her law degree (B. L.) from [[Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram|Trivandrum Law College]] and enrolled as an advocate at [[Cherthala]].<ref name=":0" />

She was the first woman from the Ezhava community to get a degree in law.<ref name=":0" /> She famously refused an offer from [[C. P. Ramaswami Aiyar]], the Diwan of Travancore, to be appointed as a government magistrate.<ref name=":0" />

She married her colleague [[T. V. Thomas]] in 1957.<ref name="auto" />

=== In Travancore politics ===
K. R. Gouri started her public life as a student activist urging the Travancore government to join the state of India and of the [[Quit India Movement]].<ref name="frontline" /> She joined the Communist Party in 1948 (by this period, she had started working for the Party among coir workers in Alappuzha).<ref name=":0" /> She unsuccessfully ran for office from Cherthala Constituency in the 1948 Travancore elections.<ref name=":0" /> Subsequently she underwent imprisonment and endured severe police torture.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{cite web |title=K. R. Gouri Amma |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/min17.htm |access-date= |website=Kerala Legislative Assembly |publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref>

She was elected to the Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly in [[1952 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election|1952]] and [[1954 Travancore-Cochin Legislative Assembly election|1954]] (she was in prison throughout the election period).<ref name="auto" /><ref name=":0" />

== In Kerala politics ==

=== In the first Kerala ministry ===
The state of [[Kerala]] was constituted on 1 November 1956 (States Reorganization Act). The [[Communist Party of India]] defeated the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] in first elections held to the [[Kerala Legislative Assembly]], and formed government ([[1957 Kerala Legislative Assembly election|1957]], headed by [[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]). K. R. Gouri, member from Sherthalai''',''' was chosen as the Revenue Minister.<ref name="auto" /> [[File:Kerala Council of Ministers 1957 EMS.jpg|thumb|centre|500px|Council of Ministers (1957–'59)]]

===Land Reforms Bill in Kerala===
The [[Land Reforms in Kerala]] is one the greatest achievements of Gowri Amma. It was she who piloted the revolutionary Land Reforms Bill for the Communist Government. One of the first things the Communist Ministry did was to promulgate an Ordinance banning evictions of all tenants and kudikidappukar throughout the state. In due course a comprehensive Agrarian Relations Bill was drafted and piloted by the Minister for Revenue, K.R. Gouri Amma. The Bill sought to confer ownership rights on land to tenants including sharecroppers and fix a ceiling for the land a land owner could possess. It also had provisions for distributing the surplus land taken from the landlords to the landless poor. The vested interests rallied around them all kinds of reactionary, religious and communal forces and launched the so-called '[[Liberation Struggle]]'. The Government was successful in passing the Agrarian Relations Bill in the Assembly before it was dissolved, but the Bill failed to get the President's assent.

The 1960–'64 United Front Government (anti-Communist) prepared a new Land Reform Bill giving several concessions to the landlords and taking away many of the benefits conferred upon the peasants in the Agrarian Relations Bill. The people of Kerala and K.R. Gowri Amma had to wait for another ten years before a Land Reform Bill abolishing landlordism and giving land to the tillers was passed and fully implemented.

=== Split in the party ===
In 1964, ideological differences over a split between the Soviets and the Chinese communists and over the response to the [[Sino-Indian War|1962 India-China war]] prompted a large faction of party members to break with the [[Communist Party of India]] and form the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India Marxist]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Routray |first=Bibhu Prasad |title=Communist Party of India |url=https://www.britannica.com/topic/Communist-Party-of-India |website=Encyclopædia Britannica}}</ref> After the [[1964 split in the Communist Party of India|split of 1964]], K. R. Gouri sided with the newly formed [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India Marxist]].<ref name="frontline" /><ref name=":0" />

=== In the second Namboodiripad ministry ===
[[File:Kerala_Council_of_Ministers_1967_EMS.jpg|left|thumb|310x310px|Kerala Council of Ministers (1967)]]
In 1967 assembly elections resulted in the formation of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India Marxist]]-led United Front government in Kerala ([[E. M. S. Namboodiripad|Namboodiripad]] ministry). K. R. Gouri, a member from [[Aroor]], was chosen as Minister for Revenue, Social Welfare and Law. She served from from March 1967 to November 1969.<ref name="auto" />

She moved a number of progressive and radical amendments to the Land Reforms Bill passed by the previous Government. When it was implemented, landlordism was abolished in Kerala. 3.5 million tenants and about 500,000 Kudikidappukar were made owners of their land. More than one [[lakh]] acres of land was declared as surplus land and was distributed among the agro-labourers in rural areas.

===First Nayanar ministry===
[[File:Kerala_Council_of_Ministers_1987_EK_Nayanar.jpg|left|thumb|310x310px|Kerala Council of Ministers (1987)]]From 25 January 1980 till 20 October 1981 K. R. Gouri served Minister for Agriculture, Social Welfare, Industries, Vigilance and Justice Administration in the [[first E. K. Nayanar ministry]].<ref>{{cite web |title=E. K. Nayanar Ministry |url=http://www.niyamasabha.org/codes/ginfo_6_6.htm |access-date= |website=Kerala Legislative Assembly |publisher=Government of Kerala}}</ref><ref name="auto" />

===Second Nayanar ministry===
The Left Democratic Front projected K. R. Gauri as the Chief Minister designate in the 1987 election assembly campaign.<ref name=":0" /> But once the Left emerged victorious, the party chose veteran leader [[E. K. Nayanar]] instead.<ref name=":0" />

In the [[Second E. K. Nayanar ministry]] (1987–1991), K. R. Gouri served as Minister for Industries and Social Welfare, Vigilance and Administration of Justice.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurian |first=Vinson |date=11 May 2021 |title=Gouri Amma: An Icon and Inspiration for Women in Kerala |work=The Hindu Businessline |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/keralas-iron-lady-k-r-gowri-amma-no-more/article34533421.ece}}</ref><ref name="auto" />

== With the Congress Party ==
K. R. Gouri was expelled from [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Communist Party of India Marxist]] in 1994.<ref name="frontline" /><ref name=":0" /> She founded [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy|Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithi (the J. S. S.)]] in 1994, which later became a member of the [[Indian National Congress|Congress]]-led anti-Marxist alliance [[United Democratic Front (India)|United Democratic Front]].<ref>{{cite news |date=24 March 2006 |title=86-year-old Kerala Minister Ready for Battle |newspaper=The Times of India |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060910030250/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/1463071.cms |access-date=}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

===Minister in the Congress ministries===
K. R. Gouri served as the Minister of Agriculture in the [[third A. K. Antony ministry]] (May 2001 – August 2004).<ref name="auto" /> She also a served as the Minister of Agriculture, Soil Conservation, Soil Survey, Warehousing Corporation, Diary Development, Milk Co-operatives, Agricultural University, Animal Husbandry and Coir in the [[first Oommen Chandy ministry|first Chandy ministry]] (August 2004 – May 2006).<ref>{{cite web |title=K. R. Gowri Amma |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100204231040/http://www.mahilalu.com/gowri_amma_success_story.php |url-status= |archive-url= |archive-date= |access-date= |website=Mahilalu |publisher=}}</ref>

===Later years===
K. R. Gouri died on 11 May 2021.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news |date=11 May 2021 |title=Thottaduthethi Vazhuthiya Mukhyamanthripadam; Thallipparanju, Purathakki Party |work=Malayala Manorama |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2021/05/11/kr-gowri-amma-conflict-with-cpm.html}}</ref><ref name="death" /> She was cremated at the Valiya Chudukad in Alappuzha.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Joseph |first=Neethu |date=11 May 2021 |title=K R Gouri Amma Gets the Most Revered Adieu for a Communist |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/kr-gouri-amma-gets-most-revered-adieu-communist-148656?amp |website=The News Minute}}</ref>

== Positions held ==
K.R. Gouri Amma has been associated with numerous social and political movements:
* President of Kerala Karshaka Sangam from 1960 to 1984.<ref name="centenary">{{cite web |last=Balan |first=Saritha S. |date=21 June 2019 |title=The Story of Gouri Amma: One of Kerala's Tallest Woman Politicians turns 100 |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/story-gowri-amma-one-keralas-tallest-woman-politicians-turns-100-104044 |access-date= |website=The News Minute |newspaper=}}</ref>
* President of Kerala Mahila Sangam from 1967 to 1976.<ref name="centenary" />
* Secretary of Kerala Mahila Sangam from 1976 to 1987.
* Secretariat Member of the CPI State Committee.
* Established the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS) in 1994.
* General Secretary of the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy.
== Awards ==
=== Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award ===
She has published an autobiography titled ''Atmakatha'',<ref>{{Cite news |date=4 December 2019 |title=Pusthakaparichayam: K. R. Gouri Amma - Athmakatha |work=Mathrubhumi |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191205070901/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-details/aathmakatha-k-r-gowriyamma-k-r-gouri-s-autobiography-1.4334637}}</ref> which won the [[2011 Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards|2011 Kerala Sahitya Academy Award]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2 August 2012 |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Awards Announced |work=The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2012/aug/02/kerala-sahitya-akademi-awards-announced-393145.html}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==

* ''[[Lal Salam (1990 film)|Lal Salam]]'' is a 1990 Indian [[Malayalam film|Malayalam]]-language [[political film|political]]-[[drama film]] directed by [[Venu Nagavalli]] and produced under the banner [[K. R. Gangadharan|K. R. G. Release]]. It stars [[Mohanlal]], [[Murali (Malayalam actor)|Murali]], [[Geetha (actress)|Geetha]], and [[Urvashi (actress)|Urvashi]] in the lead roles. This movie was a major blockbuster in India, running in seven centres for more than 150 days. The story revolves around two phases of the lives of three comrades - before and after the imprisonment of Sakhavu Stephen Nettooran (Mohanlal - inspired from Varghese Vaidyan), Sakhavu D.K. Antony (Murali - inspired from T. V. Thomas) and Sakhavu Sethulakshmi (Geetha - inspired From Smt. K. R. Gowri Amma) - members of the Communist Party of India (CPI). In 2020, ''[[The Wire (India)|The Wire]]'' published a review of the acclaimed film noting that it had received cult status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Kochukudy |first=Anand |date=23 December 2020 |title=Rewinding to the Times When Malayalam Cult Film 'Lal Salam' Swayed the Masses |url=https://thewire.in/film/malayalam-lal-salam-thomas-gowri |website=The Wire}}</ref>

* [[Chief Minister K. R. Gowthami]] was a 1994 film based on the life of K.R Gouri Amma. This movie was made in 1994 after K.R Gouri was ousted from [[CPIM]]. The film stars [[Geetha (actress)|Geetha]], [[Vijayaraghavan (actor)|Vijayaraghavan]], [[Devan (actor)|Devan]] and [[Sukumari]] in the lead roles.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category|K. R. Gowri Amma}}
{{Left Democratic Front (Kerala)||state=collapsed}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gouri Amma, K. R.}}
[[Category:1919 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women politicians]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian politicians]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Kerala]]
[[Category:Indian centenarians]]
[[Category:Women centenarians]]
[[Category:Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy politicians]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1960–1964]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1970–1977]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1982–1987]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1991–1996]]
[[Category:Kerala MLAs 1996–2001]]
[[Category:Kerala politicians]]
[[Category:Maharaja's College, Ernakulam alumni]]
[[Category:St. Teresa's College alumni]]
[[Category:Government Law College, Thiruvananthapuram alumni]]
[[Category:Malayali politicians]]
[[Category:People of the Kingdom of Cochin]]
[[Category:Politicians from Alappuzha]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:Travancore–Cochin MLAs 1952–1954]]
[[Category:Travancore–Cochin MLAs 1954–1956]]
[[Category:Women members of the Kerala Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Women members of the Travancore–Cochin Legislative Assembly]]
[[Category:Women of the Kingdom of Cochin]]

K. R. Gouri Amma - Revision history

UpdateBot at 20:56, 27 June 2022