Cochin Corporation Mayor, Anilkumar, recalls the time he spent with Sitaram Yechury during the late CPI(M) leader's visits to Kerala. Anilkumar has translated over 100 speeches of the late CPI(M) general secretary into Malayalam.
Published Sep 14, 2024 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 14, 2024 | 9:30 AM
Cochin Corporation Mayor Advocate M Anilkumar with Sitaram Yechury
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who died on Thursday, 12 September after a prolonged illness, had a unique bond with Kochi. The city’s cultural landmarks – the iconic Chinese fishing nets and the Kochi-Muziris Biennale – enthused Yechury. It was no mere political connection, but personal affection for a city that blends tradition and modernity.
Yechury got an emotional farewell from Kochi, underscoring the special place he held in the hearts of its residents. Cochin Corporation Mayor Advocate M Anilkumar recalled experiences he shared with Yechury with heartfelt nostalgia.
Speaking to South First, Anilkumar said, “In 2006, during my tenure as the DYFI Block Secretary of Ernakulam District, we organised two massive street processions that culminated in a large conference at Kochi Marine Drive. At that time, I was tasked with translating speeches for various indoor meetings, which gave me some confidence. Even so, I was nervous about translating before the large crowd at Marine Drive.”
CPI(M) Sitaram Yechury with Cochin Corporation Mayor Advocate M Anilkumar
“When I met Sitaram Yechury, he noticed my nervousness and reassured me, saying, ‘You know English, right? I will speak slowly at first to help you get comfortable, and then I’ll pick up the pace. Throughout his speech, Yechury kept an eye on me, showing genuine concern.”
“Things went smoothly until it took a dramatic turn. A storm began brewing, and Yechury used the storm as a metaphor, hinting at VS Achuthanandan, former chief minister of the state and veteran CPI(M) leader, eliciting thunderous applause. As it began to rain, Yechury’s assistant brought an umbrella to the stage. Before leaving, Yechury approached me and complimented my translation. For me, it was a profound lesson in leadership and the importance of treating people with care and respect,” recalled the Mayor.
Anilkumar spoke about learning to translate from Chandran Pillai. It was Pillai’s advise to capture the essence of what was being conveyed that the mayor says helped in while translating over 100 of Yechury’s speeches.
Sharing yet another anecdote, the advocate-cum-mayor said, “Sitaram Yechury had an incredible knack for reading the public’s pulse. I have a memorable example of this. When P Rajeev was contesting in the Ernakulam constituency, I translated Yechury’s speeches at Ernakulam and Thrippunithura. The very next day, he invited me to Idukki for another program, where I translated for him again at a meeting in the high ranges of Idukki. Afterward, he told me that this was my best translation ever. I was modest, thinking he was just being kind. But he insisted that it was better than the previous day’s translations. He mentioned that he could gauge the audience’s reactions even though he didn’t understand Malayalam.”
“During our conversation, I shared a famous Malayalam poem with him that goes, ‘Natya pradhanam Nagaram daridram, nattinpuran nanmakalal samridham,’ which means urban areas often focus on drama and conflict, while villages are rich in kindness and warmth. To my surprise, Yechury responded with a similar line from a Telugu poem with the same meaning. I was astonished. He even made an effort to teach me Telugu, but I struggled to grasp it,” shared the mayor with fondness.
Anilkumar recalled that after a meeting in Kalady, at around 11.30 pm Yechury suddenly said he needed a smoke. It was late, and the shops were all closed. “He had no matchbox, although he was stocked with cigarettes.”
Sharing that story with the South First, the Mayor said “I managed to find a small shop that was about to close. I approached the shopkeeper and asked for a matchbox. The shopkeeper gave it to me with a displeased expression. When he saw the car, he inquired if we had just returned from a meeting. As soon as Yechury stepped out of the car, the shopkeeper’s surprise turned to delight. He quickly reopened the shop and even offered us soda!”
Talking about how Sitaram treated common people, Anilkumar narrated, “There we were, at midnight, drinking soda by the roadside. Lighting his cigarette, he had a long conversation with the shopkeeper. There was excitement and genuine connection. After we got back into the car, I asked Yechury how he could enjoy soda at such a late hour. He replied, ‘Our strength is these common people. Their innocence and trust in the party are the foundation of our work. Never let them down.’”
“Once, while traveling on the RoRo (roll on-roll off ferry services under the Sagarmala project that provide transport by sea) in Kochi, Yechury signaled that he would like a smoke. I told him that public smoking was prohibited inside the vessel. He stepped outside, and soon began engaging with the crowd. The people were excited to see Yechury, and he went into the driver’s cabin to chat with the crew. He then peacefully mingled with the public, taking selfies with them,” concluded Anilkumar.
The iconic Chinese fishing nets in Kochi.
According to the Mayor, Sitaram Yechury was deeply intrigued by the traditional Chinese fishing nets, an iconic symbol of Kochi. Yechury was surprised to encounter these unique devices, noting that he had never seen anything like these nets in his travels in China.
He learned that Chinese Communist leaders were unfamiliar with these fishing nets, despite their prominence in Kochi. Yechury expressed a strong interest in creating a plan to preserve these nets with support from China and promised to bring the issue to the attention of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.
Sitaram Yechury at the Kochi-Muziris Biennale held in 2019 (Image: Sitaram Yechury’s X account)
The Kochi Biennale, established in 2012, is one of India’s most prominent contemporary art festivals. It brings together artists from across the world and showcases a diverse range of art forms. Yechury visited the Kochi Biennale a few years back, showing considerable enthusiasm.
