K. R. Gowri Amma

K.R. Gowri Amma (born 14 July 1919) heads the Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS), a political party based in Kerala, India. Prior to the formation of JSS she was a prominent figure in the communist movement in Kerala.

Ms. Gowri was born at Pattanakad village in Alappuzha district of Kerala, where the Holy Menassery Martyr Memorial.

Education

Schooling at Thiroor and Cherthala, Completed graduation from Maharaja college , Ernakulam. Obtained Law degree from Ernakulam law college

Political life

Under the influence of elder brother and trade union leader Sukumaran, she entered the vibrant world of politics at a time when women hardly found themselves in politics.Starting her public life through trade union and peasant movements, Ms. Gauri was elected to the Travancore Council of Legislative Assembly in the year 1952 and 1954 with overwhelming majority. She became Revenue Minister in the first EMS ministry in 1957. In the very same year she married TV Thomas, a prominent politician and also a minister in EMS ministry. After the split of Communist party in 1964, KR Gauri joined the newly formed Communist Party of India (Marxist). But her husband, T V Thomas, stood with the Communist Party of India. This created fissures in their relationship and soon they parted owing to the differences in their political views. In 1994 KR Gauri was expelled from CPI (M) on charges of anti-party activities. Following this she established a new political outfit named Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS). JSS went on to join the United Democratic Front, the arch-rivals of the Left Democratic Front to which CPI (M) belongs. She served as the Minister of Agriculture in the Oommen Chandy ministry.