KALADY: Kalady grama panchayat former president Mary - popularly known as ‘Kuruvi Pengal (Sparrow Sister)’- a leading fighter of the Liberation Struggle that toppled the first Communist Ministry in Kerala led by EMS, died at Mattoor near Kalady on Friday. She was 87.The funeral of Mary, wife of the late Kunjuvareed, Kudiyiruppil Mattoor, near Kalady, will be held at Mattoor St Antony’s church at 3 pm on Monday.Mary got her sobriquet, ‘Kuruvi Pengal, when she contested in Parliament, Assembly and grama panchayat elections with the symbol of sparrow.She became a panchayat member in 1979, defeating both the Communist and the Congress-led fronts. She won the panchayat election again in 1995 as an LDF independent candidate. She defected to the Congress after three years and was chosen president of the grama panchayat, which attracted defection case against her. Although the Election Commission disqualified her, she obtained a stay from the High Court and completed her term as the president of the grama panchayat. Mary was in the forefront of the Liberation Struggle in 1959. Impressed by her initiative and organising capacity, former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had stayed at her house during the struggle. The Congress party had entrusted her with the task of mobilising women for the struggle. The police station march, led by her wearing the farmer’s traditional cap and brooms in hand had hit the headlines. She chased police personnel away with an umbrella when the police came to arrest her from her house.Mary hailed from Kayyala family in Vappalassery. She is survived by children Leelamma, Ambika, Chackochan, Jesintha, Francis, Kochuthresia, Reethamma, Violet and Babu.‘Kuruvi Pengal,’ as local people address her affectionately, was a loving sister to all, irrespective of political and religious affiliations.
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