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Kozhikode: President Droupadi Murmu nominated Kerala BJP state vice-president and a victim of political violence in Kannur, C Sadanandan, to Rajya Sabha on Sunday.Sadanandan, 61, a retired teacher from Parinchery in Kannur, had lost his legs at the age of 30 in an attack by CPM cadres in 1994 when he was RSS Kannur sarkaryavahak. Sadanandan continued to be active in RSS and BJP, walking using prosthetic legs. He contested as a BJP candidate from Koothuparamba assembly constituency in 2016 and 2021.In his congratulatory message shared on X, PM Narendra Modi said Sadanandan’s life was the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. “Violence and intimidation couldn’t deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable,” he said.Sadanandan expressed happiness over the nomination and said that Modi gave a hint in a telephonic conversation on Friday.”It’s a decision which would provide strength to Kerala and party activities in the state,” he said, adding that he viewed the decision as part of the party’s efforts for realization of the concept of ‘Vikasitha Keralam’ the party has put forward before the people of Kerala rather than a message against political violence.”Let us view those days as a nightmare and forget it. There are several party workers like me who were maimed and had to live the rest of their lives bearing the sufferings. Also, there are many mothers and widows who have lost dear ones. Such an atmosphere remained in Kannur for decades. But we worked hard to end the culture of ‘eye for an eye’ and it was a tolerance of sorts. As a result of that, there is now peace in Kannur and I want it to continue forever. So, I don’t want it to be affected even with a word,” he told reporters.The assault on Sadanandan, who came from a Communist family and was initially aligned with SFI before joining RSS in the 1980s, was allegedly to send across a warning to those who change sides and for setting up an RSS shakha at his village near Mattannur.On the night of Jan 25, 1994 when Sadanandan alighted from a bus at his village Uravachal, the assaulters grabbed him from behind, pinned him down and hacked off both his legs were and discarded them nearby. Sadanandan lay bleeding there for 15 minutes before police arrived. Though his severed legs were collected and rushed to the hospital, reattachment surgery was not available. Though he lost both his legs, his life could be saved. At the time of the brutal attack, Sadanandan was working at Kuzhikkal LP School in Kannur.Within hours, SFI activist K V Sudheesh was killed by RSS assailants in retaliation near Koothuparamba.Sadanandan later resumed his teaching career at Sri Durga Vilasam HSS at Peramangalam in Thrissur, retiring in April 2020. He also served as state president of Deseeya Adhyapaka Parishad.He had formally joined the RSS in 1984 and went on to serve in key roles including Sarkaryavah of Kannur district, Baudhik Pramukh of Kozhikode and Thrissur Mahanagar and later Vibhag Baudhik Pramukh of Ernakulam.Sadanandan is married to Vanitha Rani, a retired teacher. Yamunabharathi S is their daughter.By honouring Sadanandan’s sacrifice, BJP brass aims to reinvigorate the cadre base in the state. Also, the decision is expected to bring the issue of political violence — which has left scores of people in Kannur either dead or maimed — to the national stage. His presence in Rajya Sabha is expected to provide a counter-narrative to allegations of political intolerance and erosion of democratic rights.