Kannur’s Azhikodan Smaraka Mandiram Dedicated to the Public

Kannur: The Azhikodan Smaraka Mandiram, home to the CPI M Kannur District Committee, was dedicated to the public on Sunday, unveiling a new building equipped with modern facilities to support the district unit’s activities. Chief Minister and Politburo member Pinarayi Vijayan inaugurated the building.

The memorial, which stood resilient through periods of political attacks and turbulence, has long been a symbol of strength and perseverance for the local party cadre. The inauguration drew an estimated one lakh people, including early party leaders and their families, those persecuted during the Emergency, relatives of martyrs, and individuals who endured oppression under political adversaries and law enforcement.

The event, held at the Collectorate grounds, was presided over by State Secretary M V Govindan. Central Committee members P K Sreemathi, E P Jayarajan, and K K Shailaja; State Secretariat member M V Jayarajan; State Committee members P Jayarajan, P Shashi, T V Rajesh, V Shivadasan, Valsan Panoli, N Chandran, V K Sanoj; Kasaragod District Secretary M Rajagopalan; and Wayanad District Secretary K Rafiq were present. Writer T Padmanabhan, Kannur Diocese Bishop Dr. Alex Vadakkumthala, A K G’s daughter Laila, and Vinodini, wife of former State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, also attended.

The building was designed by architect K S Sujithkumar, constructed by Vellapally Construction MD Alex Mathew, and supervised by C Suresh, with C Srinivasan, district committee office secretary, overseeing the project. Chief Minister Vijayan presented gifts to the team, including Unni Kanai, who created the statue of Azhikodan and a stencilled portrait of A K G.

As part of the ceremony, the Chief Minister released Ardharathriyile Arrest, a book by E M Ashraf about martyr N Abdullah during the Emergency, and handed a copy to K P Sahaveden. District Secretary K K Ragesh delivered the welcome address, while State Committee member M Prakasan gave the vote of thanks.