Bio to capture the turbulent life of a veteran Communist
The Hindu
Set to be released next month, the book narrates in detail M.M. Lawrence’s eventful life, including the Edappally police station attack whose 72nd anniversary is observed on Monday
Marxist veteran and trade unionist M.M. Lawrence led a tumultuous life warranting a biography.
Now, it is almost ready and was originally scheduled for release during the forthcoming CPI(M) State meet set to be held in the city from March 1. Though it was a fitting platform, the family of the nonagenarian has confirmed that it is unlikely, as some finishing touches are left. While the title of the work and the publisher are also nearly confirmed, Lawrence’s son Sajeevan M.L. chose to withhold it till a final decision was taken.
The book will be published next month. Incidentally, it is being readied for publication as the 72nd anniversary of the violent Edappally police station attack, in which Mr. Lawrence was an accused, is set to be observed on Monday.
“It was dictated by father over two years before he got bedridden owing to age-related complications a few months ago. It is a bare-all work touching upon his eventful life right from childhood. The controversy surrounding the turbulent State committee meet of the CPI(M) in Palakkad in 1998 in which he was defeated along with other prominent figures like K.N. Raveendranath, P. Kannan, and Appukuttan Vallikkunnu in the election is being narrated in detail. The Edappally police station attack also figures in the book prominently,” said Mr. Sajeevan, a lawyer by profession.
Mr. Lawrence was later reinstated in the party. Before his ouster from the organisation, he had served as convener of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and elected as Member of Parliament from Idukki. He was also active with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) all along.
The 93-year-old veteran Communist is at his daughter Sujatha’s residence at Chakkaraparambu here. He was also struck by COVID-19 recently.
Meanwhile, writer N.S. Madhavan will inaugurate a function to mark the anniversary of the Edappally police station attack at the children’s traffic park at Vyttila on Monday. Mr. Lawrence, who is the lone surviving accused in the case, will attend the function if he is fit enough.