Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-90 K.V. Kurian Pottamkulam EX MLA

Prominent Figures of the Kerala Church-90
K.V. Kurian Pottamkulam
EX MLA
K.V. Kurian Pottamkulam, who has made a significant mark in Kerala’s politics as a member of the Legislative Assembly and as the Chairman of the Kerala Congress, is now fully focused on social work. He expresses that he has not found the satisfaction in political activities that he has found in the services rendered as the particular president of the Vincent de Paul Society. He has dedicated his retirement to charitable endeavors.
Born on December 19, 1928, in Velanilam as the sixth son of K.V. Varkey, his mother was Kunju Mariam from Pala Kuthuvele. He received his education at schools in Vettikkana and Mundakkayam. He completed his intermediate studies at the University College, Thiruvananthapuram. For a few years, he operated four bus services under the name Road Motors on the Ponkunnam – Enthayar route.
Kurian entered public life as an activist in the Indian National Congress. His elder brother, K.V. Mathew, served as his guide and mentor in his political journey. In 1962, he joined the Congress and was elected as the president of the Kootikkal ward. Two years later, in 1954, he became a member of the K.P.C.C.
K.V. Kurian was a prominent figure in the liberation struggle to remove the communist government that came to power in 1957. He and his wife Ammu were arrested during this struggle and experienced imprisonment.
In 1964, following the removal of Minister P.T. Chacko, he soon passed away. Subsequent events in the Congress led to the formation of the Kerala Congress party. Kurian participated in the Kerala Congress formation conference at Lakshminivas Auditorium in Kottayam alongside leaders such as Mathachan Kuruvinal, K.M. George, Ouseppachan Anthrappan, and R. Balakrishnapillai. The conference elected K.M. George as the chairman and also chose K.V. Kurian as the district president of Kottayam.
He contested and won elections to the Legislative Assembly from the Kanjirappally constituency in 1965 and 1970. In 1977, he was elected as the Chairman of the Kerala Congress. From 1964 to 1979, he served commendably as the president of the Mundakkayam Panchayat and the Mundakkayam Service Cooperative Bank for 20 years. As a member of the Legislative Assembly, he worked on numerous initiatives for the benefit of the Kanjirappally constituency. He led efforts to resettle over 600 families living along the KK Road and the Erumely-Mundakkayam road to a 150-acre site in Panayakkachira. Collaborating with the Malanad Development Society and the Mundakkayam Panchayat, he facilitated the construction of 300 homes for the homeless. As a member of the Kanjirappally Land Board, he took steps to prevent many farmers’ lands from being illegally appropriated.
After the split in the Kerala Congress in 1985, he resigned from the party and joined the Congress with several other activists. At that time, he was a member of the Public Service Commission. He resigned from his position as a P.S.C. member to part ways with the Kerala Congress. Kurian was not one to seek any shortcuts to hold onto power. The family history of Pottamkulam describes K.V. Kurian as someone whose interests lay more in the purity of his conscience than in the recognition he received for his contributions. He firmly believed in acting only on what he felt was right, and this principle guided him throughout his life. The priority of his conscience was evident in both his public and private life, a sentiment echoed by everyone who interacted with him.
He donated land and funds for the construction of a school and church in Velanilam, and the Velanilam School is located on the land he provided. He contributed one acre and sixty-five cents of rubber plantation land and another sixty cents for building the church.
During the communist government in 1957, although there were accusations against him from Minister Majid in connection with the assassination of Kuryachan, he was cleared of charges due to testimonies from senior police officers. Everyone knew that Kurian was innocent in this matter. Now fully retired from politics, K.V. Kurian continues to serve as a beloved leader, focusing on charitable activities.
His wife is Ammu, the daughter of N.C. John and Elikutty from Neroth, Alappuzha.