Eulogy for a freedom fighter, a labour leader and a devotee, and also my grand father

My grandfather Shri. Adhiraju P.S. Sambasiva Iyer attained the feet of Lord Shiva on 23-3-2009 at Ariyalur. He was 91. He was a bachelor and my father, his elder brother's son was taken by him in adoption, as his son.

Born as the last son to Shri. Adhiraju Subbaraya Iyer and Subbulakshmi at Karur. His father was an eminent and wealthy lawyer and he shunned the comfortable life at home for freedom struggle through armed means. He had a cash reward of Rs. 10,000 on his head even during 1940's. His fight against the British through armed struggle and his burning down of English owned factories and assets made him a terror for the then administration. Even at a time when he had a prize on his head he was bold enough to elude the surveillance and visit his mother and eat curd rice from her hand and vanish into the forests. Later he was jailed along with Rajaji, which record at the Salem jail was the only one to show that he was incarcerated by the British.

After Independence he was a labour leader who worked tirelessly for the welfare of the labourers at Karur and Ariyalur and continued to fight for their cause till he was about 88 years after which he himself withdrew from public activities due to his slow movement and dependency on help. Though he had problems with his eye sight, his faculties were sharp and he maintained good health. He used to take a handful of peanuts and coffee every evening and had done the same even on his last day at about 5.00 pm. He lived frugally at the basement of his brother's house at Ariyalur and was taken care of by Late Mr. Natarajan and Mrs. Kamakshi till present. He also brought up two boys, Pandian and Selvam, from the underprivileged sections of the society, and got them educated, settled and married. The said Pandian was near him at the time of death.

As everyone of our family elders he too was an ardent devotee of Lord Shiva and was not one bit afraid of death. He used to crack jokes about his impending death and had predicted its arrival before the end of this month. He died peacefully in a minute uttering the words "appa appa", during the final minute which reflects his firm faith on Lord Shiva.

It is said that he was not promoted in the communist party due to his devotion and faith, which were used by his detractors to sideline him in the party hierarchy. He did not mind it at all and remained a loyal member of the party. Several years back when this was brought to my knowledge by his friends and associates I asked him to join BJP for which he said that though he wanted me to work for the cause of Hindutva, he would stand by his party, whether his party stood by him or not. I have had several long introspective sessions with him and am convinced that my ideology is as strong as his. His unwavering mind, clear thoughts and simplicity are his life's message and all those who had been near him and shared time with him are indeed, blessed.

Even God wanted to validate it and recalled him on 23rd March, the same day Bhagat Singh, Sukh Dev and Rajguru were hanged, the same men who were his inspiration.

Of course, except for a garland by the local Tahsildar, none else from the Government were free enough to honour a departed soul. The lazy district collector, who lives nearby did not find time to even honour a freedom fighter and a man who toiled his entire life for the public, free of cost, unlike him who is well nourished out of the people's monies.

The wall posters put up by the communist party and the autorickshaw annoucement made by the party workers throughout Ariyalur were the only media news on his demise. The newspapers and other media did not find a place to print / mention, since may be they did not find the death of the only freedom fighter of that area not newsworthy or interesting. But anyway we are neither bothered by nor care for these corrupt institutions anymore.

A large number of public, the sitting MLA, ex-MLA of Ariyalur and the Communst Party of India visited to pay their last respects.

It is such men who got us independence, which unfortunately has been highjacked by multi spectrum corrupt politicians and their chosen stooges.