- Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai
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Indian Coffee House shop at Thampanoor, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala
N. S. Parameswaran Pillai or Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai (1931-2010) is the founder of Indian Coffee Houses in Kerala with the late Communist Leader of Thrissur Advocate T. K. Krishnan.
As one of the famous co-operators of Kerala and the leader of the legendary ICH movement, he was popular as 'Coffee House Pillai' in related circles. He is also the author of the alternative history of Indian Coffee House, the world's largest worker cooperative.
Contents
Historian of I.C.H. movement
His book 'Coffee Housinte Katha' or 'The Story of Coffee House' is in Malayalam, the regional language of Kerala, the home state of A. K. Gopalan the legendary Communist Leader of India and the father of the ICH movement. He published this work under the pen name, Nadakkal Parameswaran Pillai. It was not a mere history or a personal account but a passionate literary work.
The famous writer of Malayalam M. T. Vasudevan Nair who introduced the book to the readers has praised it as both enjoyable and relevant. It also became a best seller in Malayalam in the year of 2006 and won Abudhabi Shakti Award of 2007.
Early life
Pillai was born in Pallippuram, a hamlet of Alappuzha a Communist Stronghold of Kerala on 25th May, 1931. He was a school drop out after the completion of 4th standard, due to poverty. He engaged in a lot of jobs like Construction Worker, Cook, Bearer in Hotel, Wendor of Peanuts and Pan, Coir Factory Worker, Water Boy in Cochin Port, Clerk in Ration Depot, Clerk of Advocate etc. After a long wandering he became a last grade employee on daily wages of Coffee Board's India Coffee House of Ernakulam in 1945.
Trade Unionist
In late 1940s he became a trade unionist. He was among one of the founders of India Coffee Board Labours Union. One of the first units of the union was formed in a secret meeting held in the Bellary branc of Coffee House in 1947. He was the secretary. Later, he has engaged in union activities at Thrissur, Coimbatore, Ootty, Madras and Kottayam also.
Pillai was one of the employees thrown out to the streets from Coffee Houses in 1957 by the Coffee Board. He was also the State Secretary of the Union then. He led the legendary struggle of Coffee House employees against the closure in Kerala.
Co-operator
He has deputed to form Worker's Coffee Houses in Kerala by the union. As a result of the initiative of TK and Pillai, cooperative societies of Coffee Board workers were formed at Thrissur and Palakkad. The first Indian Coffe House of Kerala was inaugurated by AKG on 8th March, 1958 in Thrissur. Pillai was the Manager cum Counter Clerk. It was the beginning of ICHs in Kerala. Now Kerala has the largest chain of ICHs in the country.
Pillai guided the ICH movement for three decades. He served the society at Thrissur as Founder Secretary, Sales Manager, Chief Sales Officer and Chief Executive Officer. Now it is the largest ICH society of the country. He was the Founder Secretary of Palakkad Society too. Pillai was also the Director, Deputy Chairman and Chairman of the Federation of ICH societies, New Delhi, the national umbrella organisation comprising all ICH societies of the nation.
Politics
Pillai became secret member of undivided Communist Party of India in late 1940s. He became Secretary of Naickanal Branch of CPI. After the division in CPI he became activist of Communist Party of India (Marxist). Posts held by him were Naickanal Branch Secretary, Trichur Town North Branch Secretary and Member of Trichur Town North Local Committee. Even at an age of late seventies he was an active worker and member of the CPI(M).
Family
He was married to Smt. K. N. Lalithamma a member of Kattipparambil family of Edappally in Ernakulam District. She is also one of the founder members of ICH Co-operative Society, Thrissur. She has also marked her place in the history of ICH movement by donating her ornaments as a loan to begin the first Indian Coffee House of Kerala, which was a rarest action of sacrifice at that days of uncertainty.
They have four children: N. P. Chandrasekharan (Director - News and Current Affairs, Kairali T. V.), N. P. Gireeshan (India Coffee Board Worker's Co-operative Society, M. G. Road, Thrissur), N. P. Murali (Muscat) and N. P. Sunitha, House Wife. His daughters in law are Girija (Information Kerala Mission), Jaya and Maya and son in law is N Ramesh (Balu Spinning Mill, Dharapuram).
Death
Parameswaran Pillai died on 17th December 2010 and was laid to rest on the banks of Bharatha Puzha at Pambady in Thrissur on the same day with no religious rituals.
See also
References
- Coffee Housinte Katha. Published Current Books, Thrissur. ISBN 81-226-0493-5.
Outside Liks
Categories:- Coffee houses of India
- Politics of Kerala
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