Vellathooval Stephen, a prominent figure in Kerala’s Naxalite movement, passed away on Saturday at his residence in Vadattupara, near Kothamangalam. He was 82 years old and had been undergoing treatment for cancer for an extended period. Stephen was a key operative alongside leaders like Kunnikkal Narayanan and K. Ajitha during the landmark Thalassery police station attack in 1968. Following his arrest in 1971 after years in hiding, he served 15 years in prison while facing 18 criminal cases. During his incarceration, he famously renounced Charu Majumdar’s ideology of armed elimination and later transitioned into a life of evangelism.
The passing of Vellathooval Stephen marks the end of an era for both Kerala’s political and literary circles. Beyond his involvement in the Naxalite movement, Stephen established himself as a prolific writer, documenting his ideological evolution and historical insights. His major literary contributions include History and Marxian Philosophy, Inspiration, Atataiyak, Arthabimbam, Meghapaaliyile kaalpadukal Kanal Vazhikal kadannoru Daiva Sakshyam, (Footprints in the Clouds, and A Testimony of God Across the Coal Paths. ) His autobiography, ‘Vellathooval Stephente Atmakatha,’ gained significant acclaim among readers for its candid depiction of his revolutionary past and his eventual shift toward a spiritual life. These works remain essential for those studying the radical political shifts and personal transformations within Kerala’s social fabric. (thestatesman)
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