PROF. P.J KURIEN
(Paduthode’s pride and joy)
The
unanimous election of P.J. Kurien as Deputy Chairman of the Upper House of
Parliament has brought pride and joy to the small hamlet of Paduthode on the
banks of the Manimala river near Thiruvalla. Prof. Kurien, whom the villagers
affectionately call Pappachan, has been an active political presence in the
region, known for its cultural and educational moorings for the past five
decades. His unanimous election, the villagers feel, is a testimony to his
trustworthiness and acceptance by all.Though none of the Kurien family was
present at Pallathu house, felicitations have been pouring in as fax and e-mail
messages ever since his election on Wednesday forenoon. Celebrating the
historic election, Prof. Kurien’s supporters, led by Eapen Kurien, Pulikeezhu block
panchayat president and his personal assistant, distributed rice kheer in
Paduthode in the afternoon.
The
71-year-old academic-turned-politician began his political career as a Congress
block committee president in 1970. He represented the State in the Lok Sabha
for six consecutive terms, beginning from the seventh Lok Sabha to the 12th Lok
Sabha. He has been a member of the Rajya Sabha since July 2005.The former
Physics professor at Kozhencherry St. Thomas College served as Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, in 1995-96 A
close associate of the late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Prof. Kurien also
served as Union Minister of State for Industry (1991-93), Commerce (1992-93),
and Non-Conventional Energy Sources (1995-96).
Prof.
Kurien’s political status attains significance against the backdrop of his
close association with the leadership of the Nair Service Society, Sree
Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam, churches, Muslim Jamaats, and various other
socio-religious associations in the State.Prof. Kurien is now vice-chairman of
the Tokyo-based Asian Forum of Parliamentarians for Population and Development.He
has been closely associated with the organisers of the centuries-old Hindu and
Christian religious conventions on the Pampa riverbed at Maramon and
Cherukolpuzha and the Aranmula snakeboat regatta.As far as the Congress is
concerned, Prof. Kurien has been a trustworthy leader who enjoys immense social
acceptance in the State and among the people, especially that of Central
Travancore.
Prof. John Kurakar
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