KOZHIKODE: A.C. Varkey, who died at a private hospital here on Saturday, was a crusader for farmers’ rights for the last many decades. He was the first one in the state who wanted to liberate Neera (sweet toddy) from the clutches of abkari laws recognising the rights of the farmer on the toddy he tapped from coconut trees. For his obsession with Neera, many of his political opponents called him ‘Kallu Varkey’ (Kallu means toddy).
A visionary, Varkey dreamed of a farm sector where the farmers prospered by selling sweet toddy. “It is sad that he has left at a time when the farm sector in the state is abuzz with prospects of sweet toddy tapping, packing and marketing,” said Rajan Poothadi, a fellow traveller of Varkey. Exempting Neera from the Abkari Act was a long-pending demand of Farmers’ Relief Forum (FRF) founded by Varkey which materialised only in 2014.
“Varkey was arrested, tortured and persecuted for almost a decade for leading the agitation for the rights of farmers over Neera,” Rajan Poothadi said. Varkey was arrested and imprisoned in 2001 for leading the agitation and was slapped with many cases which ended only one year ago. Once in an interview with DC, Varkey said, “in those days we were treated like criminals selling ganja or other narcotics substances.” Challenging the Abkari Act which was anti-farmer according to FRF, Varkey and team sold Neera through select outlets in Pulppalli and Nadavayal in Wayanad district, Cherupuzha in Kannur district and Thiruvambadi and Kodanchery in Kozhikode district.
Slapped with many cases, for many years Varkey was shuttling between courts. “Ailing from varied illnesses, in his fight for the farmers, he had sacrificed everything, including his wealth, health and life, ” said Jose Sebastian, another close friend of Varkey. When the cash-strapped farmers failed to repay the loans due to the price crash of cash crops, Varkey headed a series of agitations against nationalized banks, bringing FRF, a fringe farmers’ outfit, to national limelight.
As farmer, leader Varkey led ‘Farmers’ Relief Forum’
Farmers’ leader A.C. Varkey, 62, chief patron and former chairman of Farmers’ Relief Forum (FRF), died at a private hospital in Kozhikode on Saturday. He was undergoing treatment for lung-related diseases for the last three years and was admitted to the hospital a few days back when his condition worsened. Born to the late Anikkal Chacko and Rosamma couple at Nadavayal, Varkey started his political career as a Congress worker.
He was the district president of Karshaka Congress, the farmers’ arm of the Congress, and later joined the Congress (S). In 1987 he left active politics and founded Karshaka Kadaswasa Samiti, leading to the formation of Farmers’ Relief Forum in 1992 to fight for farmers’ rights. As an alternative to banks, he launched Local Loan Fund for farmers in 1994 attracting thousands of farmers. He spent 29 days in prison for the Neera agitation. The last rites of Varkey would be held at Holy Cross Forane Church, Nadavayal, at 5 p.m. on Sunday. He is survived by wife Gracy, sons Jaison (accountant, Delta Telecom), Ajai and daughter Roselin George.
