V.S. Achuthanandan, an unlikely green warrior

In early 2002, a stretch of verdant forestland in Kerala, rich in rare flora and fauna, was quietly being devoured by encroachers. Backed by political patronage, they cleared trees, started farming, and even stationed goons to block entry — all in one of the State’s most ecologically sensitive zones. 

That forest was Mathikettan Shola, a crucial part of the Western Ghats ecosystem. But an unexpected act in 2002 changed its fate. 

V.S. Achuthanandan, the then 78-year-old Leader of the Opposition, undertook a physically demanding trek into the encroached terrain. His journey, a symbolic yet resolute act, catalysed a historic environmental decision. Soon after, the Kerala government declared Mathikettan Shola, a national park. 

It was a moment that not only saved a forest but also transformed a political figure into a symbol of environmental resistance. 

Jomy Augustine, who had been raising alarm about the issue, recalls how it all began. “I visited the place and saw big trees destroyed. Farming had already started. Goondas were camping on the land to prevent entry of forest officials and outsiders,” he says.

“During a discussion, we felt VS was the right person to intervene. We approached him — and the intervention changed everything. The area was protected only after he stepped in,” he says.

K.M. Shajahan, Mr. Achuthanandan’s additional private secretary at the time, describes the act as a turning point in political responsibility. “Between 2001 and 2006, VS showed what real political work for public welfare looked like. The Mathikettan visit was one of the most historic interventions for environmental protection,” he says. “After VS intervened, the area was declared a national park.” 

The move was not without challenges. John Peruvanthanam, an environmental activist who accompanied VS during the visit, recounts the physical difficulty of the journey. “There was no proper road to reach the hills. VS reached the area in a four-wheeler, overcoming heavy hurdles. We saw clear signs of new farming activity,” he says. “That visit changed the scenario entirely.” 

Former Divisional Forest Officer of Munnar Prakriti Srivastava also remembers her interaction with Mr. Achuthanandan during the time. “One day, VS called me and asked how the land could be protected from encroachment. I shared my suggestions — and he went ahead and implemented them,” she says.

For many observers, the Mathikettan intervention marked a clear shift in Mr. Achuthanandan’s public identity. “Till the Mathikettan issue, VS was seen as a normal politician,” Mr. Peruvanthanam notes. “But after this, he took on Pooyamkutty encroachment, Thattekkad and Wagamon land grabs, Kambakkallu, and even the Kadavari ganja mafia. These efforts gave him the face of an environmental crusader.” 

Today, Mathikettan Shola National Park, covering 12.82 sq km, plays a critical role in the region’s ecology. It is a key source of water for the Santhanpara grama panchayat near Munnar, including several tribal settlements in Idukki. The government formally declared the park on November 21, 2003 securing it from further destruction. 

Mr. Achuthanandan’s environmental interventions did not stop there. His later role in the Munnar encroachment eviction drive helped prevent the unchecked spread of illegal constructions in the fragile hill station. With these bold actions, the veteran leader came to be seen not just as a politician, but as Kerala’s unlikely green warrior — a role shaped in the silence of the shola forests, where one man’s conscience met a vanishing landscape.