An unexpected rendezvous with GROW Vasu

                     The man sat in his allotted seat in the train with a grace, impervious to the stares thrown by the people around him. He appeared lean, but when he spoke he radiated an aura that captivated the listeners. It was unbelievable that a man like Ayinoor Vasu, who had to cart the memories of aggressive experiences, could project such calm and elegance. He is also known as GROW Vasu since he was the leader of Gwalior Rayons Workers’ Organisation or GROW.

                    After much prodding, he started to talk. Even in his eighties, his voice was strong when he spoke passionately about the adivasis. He was proud of the developmental strides made by the once oppressed race. ‘The conditions of thousands of adivasi families improved as a result of the rebellion by Varghese and his colleagues. The slavery was stopped for once and for all. Their children are now doctors and engineers.’ His voice ringed with satisfaction.

                     He had to endure about seven and a half years in jail, five years due to an extended remand and the rest around the emergency period, when he was caught in the jail premises itself following the release after five years. He remembers the time he spent alone in the Wayanad forests, when he lived only on fruits and natural spring water for about five days. He says that the only thing worried him was the thorns, since mostly the movement was during nights as the forest was surrounded by police and CRPF. Using binoculars and a compass, he found a way out of the jungle to a tea estate. He narrates the events after being caught by the police and then being beaten brutally. ‘I barely escaped death’, he says simply.

                    The present rural scenario of India disheartens him. ‘There are about 8 states India whose people are well below the poverty line. The condition in West Bengal is the same. They are people who are earning only twenty to thirty rupees. People under BPL are deprived of land and even what they have. No wonder there are rebellions from Maoists. They are in the same state as we were about 20 to 30 years ago.’ He says that it is the duty of the government and the society to uplift such downtrodden people. He also quotes that “Every nation has the government it deserves”, by Joseph de Maistre, the French diplomat and philosopher.

                   He recounts incidents with excellent memory, complete with dates and year, astonishing for a man of such age. His formal education was only up to fifth standard but he had read extensively from his native library which accounts for the excellent vocabulary and knowledge he imparts. He lives his life by his own principles. He is an atheist, but a humanitarian who firmly believes in moral values of love, kindness and compassion.

                 Looking back at his life, he feels complete satisfaction to reach at this stage of life after wading through such terrible paths in his lifetime. He is not married and lives atop his small shop which sells footwear and umbrella. Even though his life is impregnated with events defining the history of Kerala, he says he has no time for an autobiography as he is so engrossed in local humanitarian activities.

                   He carries small paper clippings of events related to Rajan case. He is still working to fulfil his promise towards Eechara warrior, who wants his son’s funeral rites to be done using a part of earth from where his son was buried.