Veerendra Kumar was among the first in Kerala to talk about environmental conservation: CM Satheesan

Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan on Thursday (May 28, 2026) said that the late socialist leader and former Union Minister M.P. Veerendra Kumar was among the first to talk about how human health is closely linked with the health of the nature.

The chief minister was in Kozhikode to deliver a lecture in memory of Veerendra Kumar at an event organised by the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD).

Mr. Satheesan said that the ‘One Health’ approach that recognised the interdependence of human, animal, and environmental health gained traction after the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Veerendra Kumar had highlighted the essence of that approach decades ago. “He was one of those political leaders who foresaw the danger of climate change and the need for environmental conservation much earlier. Veerendra Kumar always spoke about how humans are closely linked with the nature.”

Veerendra Kumar: A journey with words

Kumar was also the first politician from Kerala who had talked about the conservation of the environment, Mr. Satheesan said.

“I was part of a group of United Democratic Front MLAs who championed such causes during the late Oommen Chandy’s tenure as Chief Minister between 2011 and 2016. We were definitely inspired by Mr. Veerendra Kumar’s activities, including the agitation that eventually forced Coca Cola to close down its Plachimada plant in Palakkad,” Mr. Satheesan added.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas, filmmaker Sathyan Anthikad, and RJD State president and Veerendra Kumar’s son M.V. Shreyams Kumar, among others were present.