Susheela Gopalan

Who was Susheela Gopalan?

Susheela Gopalan was an Indian Communist leader and one of the founding members of the Communist Party of India. She was elected Member of Parliament twice, from Alappuzha and Chirayinkil, and was a Minister in the Government of Kerala for a number of years. Born to the famous Ezhava kalari family, Cheerappanchira in Muhamma, she was educated in Alappuzha and Trivandrum and joined the Communist Party. She married A. K. Gopalan, one of the veterans of the party, who she had met during his years in hiding.

She was one of the few women who held major responsibilities in the CPI structure. She was a Minister in a number of LDF cabinets in Kerala. During her last term she was the Minister for Industries and Social Welfare. She almost became the Chief Minister of Kerala in 1996. She lost by one vote to E. K. Nayanar in an election in the state committee of CPI, in whose cabinet she became the Minister for Industries and Social Welfare.