Kerala violence victim Sadanandan chosen for RS

India Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the life of C Sadanandan Master as “the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice.”

- Ashraf Padanna

Modi took to X on Sunday to congratulate the retired schoolteacher for being nominated to the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of parliament, by President Droupadi Murmu.

“Violence and intimidation couldn't deter his spirit towards national development,” the Prime Minister said.

“His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment.”

On January 25, 1994, Master became the victim of a brutal and life-altering attack near his home in Kannur by a Communist Party of India (Marxist) gang at the age of 30. The assault in response to his ideological shift away from their party line in the region known for political killings resulted in the amputation of both his legs.

He was returning home after arriving in his village by bus after discussing his sister's wedding plans with relatives when the attackers ambushed him with crude weapons.

The CPI(M) activists detonated a bomb to scare away onlookers before severing both of his legs.

His attackers left him bleeding profusely on the roadside for 30 minutes and left the scene before his friends were able to take him to the hospital.