Even in death, Kerala Congress working president and four-time MLA PT Thomas gave a strong message. His Last Wish: Not Wreaths or Funerals in Church or Even Religious Service, But Play Evergreen Film Songs Chandrakalabham Chaturthi Urangam Thiram During a service where the public can pay tribute.
Known for taking a stand, even if it means flapping some feathers, the quintessential firebrand leader fondly called ‘PT’ died of pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at CMC Vellore. He was 71 years old. He is survived by wife Uma and sons Vivek and Vishnu.
The strong secular and socio-political values of the Congress veteran set him apart. Belonging to a Catholic family, he married Uma, a Hindu Brahmin who had not converted to Christianity, against the wishes of many. He also did not insist that his sons be baptized at birth, leaving them to be preferred as adults.
Thomas was the sitting MLA from Thrikkakara in Ernakulam, from where he won in 2016 and 2021. He was also elected MLA from Thodupuzha twice in 1991-96 and 2001-2006.
Thomas expressed his death wish to his dear friend and social activist Dijo Kappen. Realizing the gravity of his medical condition, he told Kappan that he wanted to perform the last rites at the Ravipuram crematorium in Kochi. According to his wish, his eyes were also donated on Wednesday.
In a note to his family dated November 22, he asked for a part of his ashes to be placed in his mother’s grave at the cemetery at Upputhodu St. Joseph’s Church in Idukki district.
Song written by poet Vayalar Ramavarma Chandrakalabham Chaturthi Urangam Thiram Chosen by Thomas is about the beauty of nature. The poet talks about an earth full of greenery and moonlight and caring hearts, posing an important question: will a person be given a chance to live again on this picturesque coast? The song reminds of the importance of life on earth and the preservation of the beautiful planet.
It was only then that the Congress leaders should choose the song for their last moments.
His support for the Gadgil Committee report recommending protection of the Western Ghats irked even the influential Catholic Church. Ironically, in 2014, a church-backed collective called the ‘Committee for the Protection of the Upper Classes’ organized a fake funeral service in his name as a protest against his support for the Gadgil Report.
His vehement support of the report came at a heavy cost. His position was a source of trouble for the Idukki diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, and the Idukki bishops openly opposed his candidacy. For his uncompromising stand, the Congress denied him the Idukki seat in 2014, which he had won in 2009 by 74,796 votes. The decision to release him was taken at a four-hour meeting between Congress leaders and the AICC Screening Committee in New Delhi.
Barring Thomas and a tainted leader from Kollam, N Peethambara Kurup, all 11 sitting Congress MPs from Kerala were re-issued tickets. The result was that the Congress lost to the LDF candidate supported by the Church.
Born in 1950 in Idukki to an agrarian Catholic family who moved from Kottayam’s Meenachil taluk, Thomas took his first steps in politics when he was still in school. He participated in the movement for the formation of Idukki district as a member of the Kerala Students’ Union. He became a college counselor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, and rose to prominence as a firebrand leader at Maharaja’s College and later at Government Law College, Ernakulam.
Thomas, who approached the legislative business with all seriousness, was a mentor to many in Congress. He often used the assembly rulebook to keep the Treasury bench on the backfoot. His consistently harsh one-liners have often targeted Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and troubled the ruling front.
“He was a good man, stood firm on his principles, for his love for nature and for democracy. He was Kerala’s foremost politician, who vehemently opposed the report of the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel,” Madhav Gadgil said in his condolence message. Was not affected by the propaganda campaign launched by selfish interests.
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