Naxal Varghese: Saviour of Adivasis

By Express News Service
KALPETTA: “Adivasis would be separated en masse in the ground adjacent to the Valliyoorkavu temple in Mananthavady during the annual festival. They would be sold to feudal Adiga and Chetti landlords for a year. The Adivasis under the bonded labour had to sweat it hard in the plantations or fields from dawn to dusk for a remuneration of one ‘ser’ (a measure of quantity) of paddy grains. Varghese fought for the rights of such terribly oppressed lot during 1960s,” recalled Varghese’s youthful brother A Thomas, who’s 75 now.

“Adivasi women had to surrender to the wishes of the landlord on the first night of their marriage. Anyone who protests would be killed and the body parts buried in the slushy ridges of  paddy fields. There was no one to question. Adivasis weren’t aware of any of their rights,” mentioned Thomas. 

According to him, Varghese developed an empathy with the struggling of Adivasis whereas he was learning in highschool itself. “While in school, he was put up at a relative’s ayurvedic shop in Thazheyangady. He used to come home once a week.” After SSLC, Varghese went to Kannur and have become the workplace secretary of the then undivided Communist get together there. “He labored together with then distinguished leaders A Okay Gopalan, Okay P R Gopalan and Kanthalot Karunan, although in a decrease function.

He returned to Mananthavady six years later, because the get together assigned him to guide the marketing campaign of its candidate, Okay Okay Annan, within the 1967 election. Varghese spearheaded the marketing campaign and Annan received from North Wayanad seat, changing into the primary MLA from the ST group within the state,” reminisced Thomas.Adivasis referred to as Varghese their ‘Peruman’ (Saviour).