Advocate V. Rajendran a man of simplicity honoured by masses

He is not a Chief Minister or Ex-Chief Minister, he is not a minister or ex-minister, he is not a MLA or ex-MLA. He is not even a corporator or panchayat board member. But he proved himself as a man of masses attracting the attention of entire Kerala through the huge gathering that was witnessed at his funeral. His name is Advocate V Rajendran, who was practicing at Kerala High Court in Ernakulam.

Advocate Mr V. Rajendran was not a political leader but his funeral rites held on March 21 and 22 in Ernakulam, Perumbavoor, Pulluvazhy and Kanjoor was more than of any late leaders in Kerala that raised eyebrows of many. The 73-year old veteran lawyer breathed last on March 20, 2025.

Why thousands of people gathered during the last journey of Advocate V. Rajendran? How he reached masses with his advocate profession? The answer is his simplicity, generosity, intellectuality, soft spoken nature and atop all, helping tendency.

He had a heavy political background but he never used it for his personal gain.

 

Born as an elder son to former Chief Minister of Kerala – Sri. Padayatt Kesavapillai Vasudevan Nair and Smt. Lakshmi Kuttiamma of Pulluvazhy on July 09, 1952, V Rajendran has created his own identity through his profession in law.

While his father was a former Chief Minister, his maternal uncle was a communist stalwart Mr. P.Govindan Pillai.

Its better to throw a bit light on these two communist gentlemen to have better understanding on the background of V. Rajendran.

Both Mr. P.K.Vasudevan Nair (fondly called as PKV) and Mr. P.Govindan Pillai (widely known as PG) started their political career in their youth in the united communist party.

PKV is from Kidangoor and PG is from Pulluvazhy. Both of them were thick friends and classmates and their friendship developed as relationship when PKV married Smt. Lakshmi Kuttiyamma, sister of PG.

When the communist party split into CPI and CPI (M) in 1964, interestingly the friends followed their own ideologies that took them in different paths.

While PKV was with CPI, PG became one of the pillars of CPI (M). Both the stalwarts used to write for their ideologies sitting in different rooms in the same house, recalls Smt. Sarada Mohanbabu, daughter of PKV and the notable CPI party woman cadre.

Although they were in different parties, it never affected their friendship (PKV & PG’s). Putting it in other way, although they were relatives, they stuck to their own ideologies and lived for them, she said.

PKV was known as one of the ‘clean hand’ politicians in India. He served as 7^th Chief Minister of Kerala from 1978 to 1979. He resigned from CM post within a year owing to difference with other parties in the United Front. He served in the Kerala Legislative Assembly from 1977 to 1982. He was the member of Loksabha from 1957 to 1971 and again from 2004 until his death in 2005.

Whether in or out of power, the BSc (Physics) graduate PKV had always led a simple life and had been accessible to all sections of people. An ardent communist, the epitome of simplicity and a crusader for people’s causes in his long political career spanning six decades that saw him elected to the post of Chief Minister and leader of CPI’s Parliamentary Group in the Lok Sabha. He had left a vivid impression in the minds of the people.

While so, Rajendran’s maternal uncle PG was a veteran CPI (M) leader and ideologue from Kerala and former Chief Editor of Deshabhimani. More than a partyman, PG was regarded as a Marxist communist scholar and one of a few communist intellectuals lived in 2000s in the world. Communism world gave much importance to his write ups and they were treated as dictionary of CPI (M) by the youth cadres in the party.

An avid book reader and writer PG had his own library filled with thousands of books covering the entire world on all subjects including politics, history, science, economics and many more. His home library was famous among the communists across the country.

Pillai was graduated with BA Hons. from St.Xaviers’, Mumbai. He was elected as a member of Thiru-Kochi Assembly in 1951 and later as a member of the Kerala Assembly 1967–70. He was the Kerala Press Academy Chairman 1981–82.

Pillai also served as the Chairman of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation and as the founding Director of the Centre for Development of Imaging Technology (C-DIT).

PG was regularly appearing on televisions narrating national and international events that attracted many communist youths.

Like this, Advocate Mr V. Rajendran had strong political background, but he never used it for his own needs, many people in Pulluvazhy said.

Rajendran spent his childhood in Perumbavoor, completing his schooling till 10^th standard in Jeyakeralam High School and continued his pre degree at Christ College in Irinjalakuda. He did his B.A (Economics) at Union Christian College in Aluva and LLB at Law Academy in Trivandrum to become an advocate.

If at all he adopted something from his father, it was only his simplicity, generosity and soft spoken nature and never used his father’s political power for his personal needs, many elder people with whom this Journalist interacted in Pulluvazhy told.

He was a CPI partyman but he was respected by other party cadres too because of his gentle nature. Many people in the area told that the CPI party people was very keen in making him to contest from Perumbavoor Legislative constituency. But Rajendran avoided it and instead, he carved out a niche in law profession.

Legal Profession

He practiced as an advocate in Perumbavoor courts for more than 25 years before moving to Kerala High Court in Ernakulam. He also served as a President of Perumbavoor Bar Council. He was a member of Indian Associations state committee and former president of High Court Union and two-time member of Kerala Bar Council.

When he took his last breath at the age of 73, he was completing 50 years in legal profession and the legal fraternities were planning to celebrate his golden jubilee in the profession. But fate had other plans as his sudden demise shook the entire legal professionals across Kerala. However, he left behind a legacy that will continue to inspire generations of lawyers, many lawyers in Kerala Bar Council said.

He was not just a lawyer but he was an institution himself. A man of great knowledge in law and wisdom, hence deeply respected in the legal fraternity in Kerala. He was respected not just for his expertise but also for his humility and kindness.

A well-known lawyer Mr. Babu from Chalakudy, who was once a Junior to V Rajendran recalls his Senior-Junior relationship with him. Babu now has his own establishment and Juniors under him. Advocate Babu says “ Although I am established now, even today I continue to see Rajendran sir as my senior. Not only me. He had mentored and trained several lawyers in Aluva, Paravoor, Perumbavoor and Ernakulam areas over his career.”

He also said, “Rajendran sir never utilized his political background for his profession. He was a man of ethics and he had built his legal career purely on merit.”

Advocate Mr. V. Rajendran cracking joke amidst laugh while dining with his grand daughter Siva Shivani, daughter Renu and sister Smt. Sarada Mohanbabu

On a lighter note, several lawyers who worked with him told The OnLook that Mr V.Rajendran had a high sense of humour and his dressing sense was excellent. He had his own dress code designed by him. He used to wear a safari type of cotton shirts with two pockets on both the side of shirt. Why two pockets? He justifies it as two pockets are helpful for easy access to pens, phone and other small belongings of him.

In her sharing on Facebook, a lady lawyer Smt. Lisha Reji from Perumbavoor said she had seen Rajendran sir for the first time in 1999 in Perumbavoor Court, narrating how he captivated the entire court with intellectual argument that stunned the entire legal professionals and even the court staffs. She also said his arguments in the Court always attracted the attention of all legal professionals, mainly the upcoming lawyers.

Rajendran sir can be seen always with smiling face even during arguments in the court. Smiling face and simplicity were his trade mark, Advocate Lisha Reji adds.

Many of his Juniors went on to become successful advocates in many courts in and around India carrying forward his teachings, many lawyers said.

People’s Lawyer

It may be noted that he was a lawyer for the people, often taking up cases for the underprivileged, ensuring that justice was not just for those who could afford it but for everyone in need.

Many lawyers with whom this journalist interacted at the High Court said that when Left Democratic Front (LDF) formed a coalition government in Kerala, it was widely expected that Mr. V. Rajendran would become as an Additional Advocate General. But it did not happen because of a few political reasons. However it was seen as not a loss for Mr.V. Rajendran, but it was a loss for honest legal fraternities and general public.

His warmth and friendly nature gave comfort to even a new entrant in the court to move easily with him. The depth of respect that he earned in legal profession reflected when thousands of lawyers, Judges and Judicial officers paid respect when the glass casket containing his mortal remains was kept for homage at the Kerala High Court Bar Council chamber and Perumbavoor Court.

A massive turnout of public crowd witnessed when his mortal remains kept at his house in Sunny Palace, Ernakulam first in the morning of March 21. Later he was shifted to High Court Chamber, where a large number of legal professionals came to honour him.

Later he was taken to Perumbavoor court, where he had started his career. There too a large number of legal professionals and public gathered to bid him farewell, a testament to the deep impact he had left on the legal community.

Then in the evening his journey continued to his birth place Pulluvazhy house, where thousands of people gathered. Cutting across party lines, several sitting and ex-ministers, MLAs and several party cadres visited. As the crowd kept increasing the Perumbavoor police has provided police bandhobust around his Pulluvazhy house.

Finally, he was taken to his wife’s Kanjoor house where he was bid farewell amidst the tears of thousands of people. As if nature itself was mourning his loss, a gentle rainfall accompanied his final moments, symbolizing the tears of those who loved and respected him.

The roads were lined with banners kept by CPI party people and several other associations in Ernakulam, Perumbavoor, Kanjoor, Rayamangalam, Pulluvazhy and other areas, mourning his demise.

Cadres from CPI and its different outfits like AITUC and AIYF have gathered in thousands and paid their last respect to their comrade with the Red Salute.

Sources said the High Court Bar Council in Ernakulan has also arranged a separate condolence meeting on March 27, 2025 at High Court premises.

Family :

V.Rajendran was not only a brilliant legal mind, but also a devoted family man loved by all his relatives and friends.

On September 10, 1976, he married D. Rajeswari, daughter of C.Diwakara Menon, a Deputy Collector from Kanjoor. A BSc BEd graduate Smt. Rajeswari had served as a Biology teacher in Jayakeralam school for more than 30 years while also supporting her husband in all aspects. The made for each other couple gave birth to two girl children – Rasmi and Renu.

With tears rolling over her cheeks, Smt. Rajeswari recalls how her husband encouraged her to complete her career of long innings in teaching profession. She says her husband was a complete family man, having abundant affection on each and every one of the family.

His elder daughter Smt. Rasmi has done Engineering and LLB, now practicing as an advocate in Hosur (Tamil Nadu) following her father’s footsteps, continuing his legacy in the profession.

She is married to Mr. J. Manjunath, a businessman from Hosur. His grand daughter Siva Shivani Manjunath is also doing LLB to continue the legacy left by her grand father Mr. V. Rajendran.

His second daughter Renu is a software engineer married to an Engineer Mr. R. Inderjith from Moolamattam.

Mr Rajendran had strong bond with both of his in-laws and treated them as his own brothers and friends.

His first in-law Mr M. Jayaramiah (father-in-law of Rasmi) was a famous sportsman turned government servant turned businessman of JMC Groups from Hosur (Tamil Nadu).

Whereas his second in-law Mr. M Radhakrishnan Nair was a Deputy Superintendent of Police from Moolamattam in Kerala.

 

Mr. Rajendran has two sisters and two brothers.

His sister Saradha, married to Mr. Mohan Babu from Kidangoor, is a keen CPI party cadre from her youthhood and now serving as District Panchayat Member in Kaladi division. She is also a noted woman social worker in Perumbavoor region. His another sister Nirmala is married to Doctor P.K.Gangadharan Nair from Kannanur. He also has two brothers Mr. Jeyakrisnan and Mr. Kesavan Kutty, married with Sujatha and Parvathy respectively.

His close knit of family includes a veteran Journalist M.G.Radhakrishnan (son of PG) and his sister Parvathy Devi  (PG’s daughter), a social activist and member of Public Service Commission and Minister Mr. V.Sivankutty (PG’s son-in-law).

The OnLook Observation:-

V.Rajendran, despite being a son of Chief Minister, carved his own path through sheer hard work, dedication and exceptional knowledge of law and became man of masses. His journey is a testament to the fact that true success comes from one’s own effort.

Its worth to recall a column by veteran journalist T.J.S. George written two decades ago when PKV contested from Trivandrum Loksabha constituency. The column was analyzing the elections. He completed his column saying, “Pulluvazhy is nalla vazhy for voters” (indicating PKV was a right choice for the voters.). His write up is still suitable even in the current political situation as the people in Pulluvazhy says the clans of PKV never utilized his power through out their life but contributed more to the party as party cadres. The people will be happy to see someone from Pulluvazhy family glitter in the political arena as the public would get uncompromised service as they got from PKV.

Lal Salaam!

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