TKV Centenary Celebrations

 TKV Centenary celebrations on 7th April 2025 

The centenary celebrations of Com. (Late) T.K. Velayudhan Nair ,  known to all SBTians by the name ‘TKV’ or ‘ANNAN’ was held in a grand manner across Kerala for the last one year, by the various employees unions, affiliated to AIBEA and welfare associations. Notable among them was 'TKV Foundation, Thiruvananthapuram' started in 1993 by the erstwhile members of State Bank of Travancore Officers’ Association (SBTOA), affiliated to AIBOA. 

TKV was the face of the bank employees’ movement in Kerala, with particular reference to State Bank of Travancore, for more than three decades since 1950s (before he breathed his last in 1982). ‘Annan’, Com. Natarajan and Com. Vincent Thomas were fondly referred to as the ‘Trimurthis’ of SBT employees' movement by the ex-SBTians. Together they ensured self respect and job security (Unimaginable in those times) to the then employees of SBT in the period 1960-80. Annan was the torch bearer of AIBEA in Kerala. All the affiliated unions in the banks of Kerala owe their origin and success to Annan TKV. Late Com. Ananthakrishnan (Nagercoil), Com. DPN David (Chennai)  and Com. R. Sridhar (Madurai), the stalwarts of SBTEU in Tamil Nadu,  had their training and education under the above ‘Trimurthis’.

'TKV Foundation' celebrated the birth centenary of Annan by launching several welfare schemes to the society including collecting and donating hundreds of books to the libraries and also in providing home (housing shelter) facility to a meritorious girl student.  The foundation could implement so many welfare activities for the last 32 years, mainly due to the tireless efforts put in by Com. Sharafudeen, Com. V. P. Radhakrishnan and its committee members (erstwhile members of SBTOA). The foundation brought out a Souvenir ORMATHALUGAL (Memory pages), as part of the Centenary Celebrations. It is a treasure to be kept at all times, with photos down the memory lane and  more than thirty articles from eminent personalities like Shri Thanu Pillai Sir (ex MD SBH), trade union veterans and comrades with whom I shared my shoulders at some point of time. 

I  was privileged to record my memories in the Souvenir: It is as under:

My fond memories about Annan

"Com. TKV came by bus all the way from Trivandrum to Chennai in September 1981 to understand the working conditions of a new double shift branch opened on the beach sides of Besant Nagar. He was accompanied by Com.DPN David, the zonal secretary, Chennai.

Reason: As per the promotion policy at that time, a lady cashier-cum-clerk from Tirupur (400 KMs away from Chennai) was posted as Cashier-in-charge to Besant Nagar Branch, since she was the senior most cashier in Tamil Nadu. The road in which the branch was situated will be pitch dark after 6.30 pm and no one will be seen walking in the street. The branch closing hours was 7.30 pm and the staff had to walk at least one KM to catch a bus for reaching home. I was the branch representative of SBTEU and the award strength of the branch was four. I was young and poured all our grievances to him, as though the union was responsible for this posting. He smiled and talked to the lady comrade with all affection and care. I still remember his words to her "I fully sympathize your conditions. I will not make any false promise. I assure you that you will go back to your place, based on your reversion request to clerical grade, at the earliest, say within a year". Before leaving, he called me aside and advised "I relish your open talk, but please channelize your energies so that the fire within you is sustained". The lady comrade went   back to her home town after a year, but Annan was not there to celebrate 'yet another successful fight for justice' by SBTEU.

As I start understanding Annan, who I was told, travelled by bus only to the nooks and corners of Kerala and Tamil Nadu SBT branches, he breathed his last in Trivandrum due to a massive heart attack after yet another bus trip to Nagercoil branches.

How to call him? Com.TKV or Annan? I prefer the latter. Com. Vincent Thomas and Com.TKV gelled well with their different personality traits. Though both took up our grievances, with all the might and kindness, Annan always gave the feeling of easy access with his ever smiling, humble and simple ways. I always compare his affection to that of a mother. In Vaishnavism, Thayar (Lordess Lakshmi) is preferred to Perumal (Lord Vishnu), as she is considered more compassionate even to the wrongdoers. Suffice to say that our Annan was like a Vaishnavite Thayar, with all his compassions and sincerity conveyed through his eyes.

Hundreds of years may pass, but his deeds will remain in our memory as long as banking and the trade union movements are alive."

Regards

V. Viswanathan 

Retd. CGM e-SBT

18th May 2025