THOPPIL BHASI

THOPPIL BHASI

Born Thoppil Bhaskara Pillai,on April 8, 1924 at Vallikunnam in Alleppey district, Kerala, Bhasi was the eldest son of  Thoppil Parameshwaran Pillai and Nanukkutti Amma. His elementary education was at the SNDP Sanskrit School, and later on at the Sanskrit School, Changankulangara, from where he graduated in the Sanskrit Shastri course. Knowing fully well  his desire to learn indigenous medicine, his father had him enrolled at the Ayurveda College, Thiruvananthapuram  It was here that he spearheaded the Students’ Agitation that led to installing many of the facilities and rights enjoyed by the current generation of students at tthe College of Ayurveda. He also graduated securing the Top Rank in the Vaidya Kalanidhi Examination.

His deep and endearing friendship with Kambisseri Karunakaran that extended through all spheres of their lives, also saw them at the forefront of some of the most significant political agitations in central Kerala. Once a staunch supporter and activist of the Indian Congress party, Thoppil Bhasi soon distanced himself from the same on matters of principles and found his direction in the neo movement of Communism via the Communist Party of India. Branded a Subversive and a Wanted Man by the government, he was on the run and went underground during the period of 1948-52, as a top priority suspect in the infamous  shooranad incident, with a Rs 1000 bounty on his head. He was later acquitted, and went on to contest the first Panchayat elections in Kerala. He won, becoming the first president of the Vallikunnom panchayat. He was elected twice to the state assembly contesting the Sate elections, from Bharanikkavu in 1954 andPathanamthitta in 1957.

Prof. John Kurakar