Of. Radhakrishnan is an Indian politician and member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was appointed as the Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Backward Classes, Devaswom and Parliamentary Affairs in the Government of Kerala in 2021. He served as the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2011.
Contents
Wiki/Biography
Of. Radhakrishnan was born on Sunday, 24 May 1964 (age 59 years; as of 2023) in Pullikanam Vagamon, Kerala. His zodiac sign is Gemini. He did his schooling at Aided Upper Primary School, Thonoorkara and SMATGHSS, Chelakkara. Later, he joined Sri Vyas NSS College, Wadakkanchery. He did his BA in Economics from Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur from 1985 to 1988. He developed interest in politics during his early years. He was an active member of the Students Federation of India (SFI), a leftist student organization often known as the student wing of the CPI(M). He held various positions like Sree Kerala Varma College Unit Secretary, Thrissur District Secretariat Member, DYFI Chelakkara Block Committee Secretary, DYFI State Committee Member, National President, Dalit Soshan Mukti Manch (DSMM), State President, Farm Workers Union (CTU) . State President, Kerala Institute of Kaliman Patra Nirman Thozhilali Union (KPNTU) and President, Steel and Industrial Forging Limited (SIFL) Union. An activist during his college days, Radhakrishnan led the students’ movement against the government’s education policy in 1982–87, for which he was brutally attacked by the police. He was actively involved in the issues of agricultural workers and organized protests with them. Additionally, his association with the Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad and the Total Literacy Movement helped him build strong relationships with the people.
Physical Appearance
Height (Approx): 5′ 9″
Hair Color: Black
Eye colour: black
family and caste
He belongs to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community (Dalit).
parents and siblings
His father’s name is MC Kochunni and mother’s name is Chinna.
Of. Radhakrishnan with his mother Chinna
wife and children
He is unmarried.
Religion
Of. Radhakrishnan follows Hindu religion.
Address
Their permanent address is Vadakkevalappil House, Thonnoorkara PO, Chelakkara, Thrissur-680610.
livelihood
In 1991, Radhakrishnan was elected to Thrissur District Council from Vallathol Municipal Division. In 1996, he won the Chelakkara Assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate TA Radhakrishnan by 2323 votes. He was inducted as the Minister for Welfare of Backward and Scheduled Communities and Youth Affairs in the then EK Nayanar government from 1996 to 2001.
Of. An old picture of Radhakrishnan and Mathai Chacko
In 2001, he won the Chelakkara assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate Kaithulasi by 1475 votes. He was the Chief Whip of the Opposition from 2001 to 2006. In 2006, he won the Chelakkara assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate PC Manikandan by 14,629 votes. He served as the Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 3 June 2006 to 13 May 2011. Subsequently, he became a member of the Central Committee of CPI(M). In 2011, he won the Chelakkara Assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate KB Sasikumar by 24,676 votes. In 2021, he won the Chelakkara assembly seat by defeating Congress candidate CC Sreekumar by 44,015 votes. He was given the portfolio of SC/ST Welfare and Temple Administration (Devaswom) in the second Pinarayi Vijayan ministry.
Of. An image of Radhakrishnan
controversies
Case registered for illegal assembly and rioting
According to his 2021 election affidavit, an FIR was lodged against him for being a member of an unlawful assembly, rioting, preventing a public servant from discharging his duty, etc. He was charged under sections 143, 147, 149, 283 of the IPC. 332, and 353 in Thiruvananthapuram Cantonment Police Station.
Name of a rape victim revealed
In November 2016, K. Radhakrishnan came under public scrutiny for revealing the name of a rape victim in the Vadakancherry sex scandal during a media interaction. He revealed the woman’s name while explaining the party’s decision to suspend Wadakkanchery Municipality councilor Jayanthin, who is facing sexual harassment allegations, from party membership. Police initiated preliminary investigation on the complaint filed by Youth Congress workers. The complainant said that when someone cautioned him against revealing the name of the victim, Radhakrishnan said that if Jayantin’s name could be revealed, then the name of the victim could also be revealed.
property and properties
movable property
- Deposits in banks: Rs 1,01,651
- Bonds, debentures and shares: Rs 10,000
Immovable property
- Non-agricultural land: Rs 7,50,000
- Residential Building: Rs 16,00,000
Note: The given estimate of movable and immovable property is as per the financial year 2020-21. It does not include assets owned by dependents.
net worth
His net worth in 2021 was Rs 19,73,759. This does not include the total assets of the dependents.
Facts/General Knowledge
- In an interview, while talking about what inspired him to become a communist, he said,
My family believed in communism. We lived in an era of inequality and exploitation. The Communist Party fought against social evils and naturally, we were inspired by that movement. Ideology changed the world order.
- In 2021, a Kachani native named Ajith was arrested for making threatening calls on the office telephone of K Radhakrishnan. The minister revealed the incident while inaugurating an e-office facility at the Directorate of Scheduled Castes Development. Reportedly, the threatening call was in connection with an investigation into the misuse of funds provided by the Center for SC welfare.
- In September 2023, Radhakrishnan made headlines when he shared that he faced caste discrimination during a lamp-lighting ceremony at the inauguration of the nadapanthal (temple verandah) of the Payyanur Nambiyatrakovval Shiva temple under the Devaswom board. Videos of the incident, which took place on January 26, 2023, went viral on the internet and a case was registered against both the priests. Radhakrishnan said the chief priest opposed handing over the lamp to him because he was a Dalit. He said the chief priest passed it to an assistant priest, who also objected to handing over the lamp and placed it on the floor. The minister said he felt insulted by the temple priests and officials. The incident sparked public outrage as many raised questions about how common devotees would be treated if such behavior was carried out against a minister. It was later revealed that the alleged incident of untouchability was a ‘misunderstanding’ of customs. The State Committee of All Kerala Thanthari Samajam revealed that the priests who perform ‘Deva Puja’ do not touch anyone, be it Brahmin or non-Brahmin, until the puja is completed. Samajam also questioned whether there was any ill intention behind bringing this incident to light and turning it into a controversy after eight months. It also claimed that ignoring the truth, many people are insulting the temple Melsanthi and his community on the basis of the minister’s statement. He accused Radhakrishnan of misinterpreting an innocent act and creating communal tension in the society.
- In August 2023, Mollywood actor Salim Kumar took a dig at the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led government amid the controversy over Speaker AN Shamseer’s science versus myth speech. Kumar jokingly suggested renaming the Devaswom minister as “Mythism” minister and referred to offerings made in temples as “mythic-money” on social media. The actor accompanied the statement with the photo of K Radhakrishnan (Devaswom Minister of Kerala) and said that “change should start from the administrative centres.” A political debate broke out in Kerala after Speaker Shamseer, while speaking to school children at an event in Ernakulam on July 21, criticized the idea of promoting myths instead of science. He referred to a statement by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who during one of his speeches had used Lord Ganesha as an example of ancient plastic surgery. BJP, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Nair Service Society (NSS) and others objected to the statement, with BJP filing a police complaint against him.
- His hobbies include reading books and sports and watching movies.
- He is a non-vegetarian.
K holding a fish. Radhakrishnan
Categories: Biography
Source: vcmp.edu.vn