BJP leader C Sadanandan Master, who lost both legs in political violence in Kannur and is often referred to as a “living martyr”, was among the four people nominated by President Droupadi Murmu to the Rajya Sabha on Sunday.
A retired school teacher with roots in the RSS, Sadanandan has served as its district-level karyavah and boudhik pramukh, and is currently the vice-president of the BJP’s Kerala unit.
In an interview with The Indian Express, Sadanandan speaks about his journey, the RSS’s role in Kannur and his life after the attack on him, among other issues.
Excerpts:
* In recent years, the BJP has handpicked leaders from outside the Sangh for Rajya Sabha seats, but made an exception for you.
My nomination to the Rajya Sabha is a recognition for RSS workers. This decision will definitely energise those who work for the Sangh as well as the BJP. We have scores of workers who sacrificed their lives for the party. Many others are bed-ridden or are facing hardships due to attacks from rivals. My nomination shows the party’s affection and care for such people.
* How do you see the ‘living martyr’ title given to you?
I do not want to mark my politics that way. We never wanted to perpetuate violence and political intolerance in Kannur. It happened unexpectedly as a fallout of certain circumstances. The CPI(M)’s fascism and intolerance led to the attack on me. However, my party and I are not keen on debating this. The past is the past. We want peace and I do not want to say anything that disrupts the peace in the region.
* Kannur has been peaceful for almost a decade now. What is the Sangh’s role in this?
Only our efforts to bring peace in Kannur have paid dividends. Soon after (Chief Minister) Pinarayi Vijayan took over in 2016, RSS and BJP workers were murdered in Kannur. A young BJP worker, whose father was killed by CPI(M) workers in the past, was murdered in the CM’s hometown of Pinarayi.
It was at that time that the national leadership of the RSS decided to democratically resist the CPI(M)’s violence instead of adopting a tit-for-tat approach. We ran a national-level campaign to win the people’s support against the Left’s violent politics.
The CPI(M) felt social pressure and later took a decision against political violence in their state conference. The peace is a result of our campaign.
* But the CPI(M) alleges that your Rajya Sabha nomination is a recognition of violent politics…
It’s no wonder they have reacted like that. It is their style. The CPI(M) has a history of honouring convicted people. They resort to violent politics and try to cover up their involvement in atrocities.
* The BJP is yet to make its presence felt in Kannur…
During the violent period, we lost several RSS and BJP leaders while many more like me are disabled. The loss caused a major setback to the Sangh and hampered our growth. If those leaders were alive, the political picture of Kannur would have been different. The CPI(M) intended to organisationally weaken the Sangh through political violence.
However, over the years, we have improved. Our presence in local bodies has increased. Our vote share in last year’s Lok Sabha polls doubled as compared to 2019.
We have established RSS shakhas and BJP units even in CPI(M)-controlled villages in Kannur. The Sangh is very active with regard to welfare and relief activities too. My nomination will also contribute to further strengthening the Sangh. We will work hard. Success is not far.
* Did you ever think of quitting politics after you lost both your legs in the 1994 attack?
Never. Once a swayamsevak, always a swayamsevak. Whatever the challenge, a swayamsevak does not take a break from his work. I was engaged in organisational work even from the hospital bed. After retiring as a teacher in 2020, the RSS wanted me to work with the BJP. Subsequently, I was made the party’s state vice-president.
* Did you expect the nomination to the Rajya Sabha?
Not at all. Two days before the announcement, (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi called me to tell me that I would be given a mission. He did not specify what it was. On Sunday, the state president (Rajeev Chandrashekhar) informed me about the nomination. I will go ahead and expand the BJP’s base among people and strengthen the party politically to help achieve Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Keralam’. The Sangh has assigned this task to me.