Born on 20 October 1923 to Sankaran and Accamma in Alappuzha, Travancore (part of present-day Kerala state, India), he lost his mother when he was four years old and subsequently lost his father at age 11.
This forced him to quit his studies after finishing 7th standard in school and college He started working by helping his elder brother in a village tailoring shop.
Later he took up the job of meshing coir to make ropes at a coir factory.

V.S. started his early political life by organising the agricultural workers in Kuttanadu.
He was a well dedicated organizer of coir factory workers at the age of 16 under A.K. Gopalan and A.V. Kunjambu.
Even though V.S. Achuthanandan lacked formal education, he was noted for his simplicity, dedication and deep reading.
He was initiated into the political movement by P. Krishna Pillai.
Later he participated in the freedom movement and the Communist Movement.
V.S was in the forefront of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising and Freedom Struggle against the policies for C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Divan of Travancore who wanted to establish an American model government in Travancore.
He was arrested on 28 October 1946 and was taken to Poonjar police station.
He was beaten up severely in the lock – up.
Policemen pierced his sole in both legs with bayonet.
V.S spent five and half years in jails and four years underground during his political life.

V.S Achuthanandan was in the forefront of the land struggles in Kerala starting with the Alappuzha declaration in 1970 demanding implementation of the Land Reforms Act passed by the EMS Government in 1967.
Later his activities as the leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly had evoked good public response.
Born on 20 October 1923 to Sankaran and Accamma in Alappuzha, Travancore (part of present-day Kerala state, India), he lost his mother when he was four years old and subsequently lost his father at age 11. This forced him to quit his studies after finishing 7th standard in school and college He started working by helping his elder brother in a village tailoring shop. Later he took up the job of meshing coir to make ropes at a coir factory.
V.S. started his early political life by organising the agricultural workers in Kuttanadu. He was a well dedicated organizer of coir factory workers at the age of 16 under A.K. Gopalan and A.V. Kunjambu. Even though V.S. Achuthanandan lacked formal education, he was noted for his simplicity, dedication and deep reading. He was initiated into the political movement by P. Krishna Pillai. Later he participated in the freedom movement and the Communist Movement. V.S was in the forefront of the Punnapra-Vayalar uprising and Freedom Struggle against the policies for C.P. Ramaswamy Iyer, Divan of Travancore who wanted to establish an American model government in Travancore. He was arrested on 28 October 1946 and was taken to Poonjar police station. He was beaten up severely in the lock – up. Policemen pierced his sole in both legs with bayonet. V.S spent five and half years in jails and four years underground during his political life.
V.S Achuthanandan was in the forefront of the land struggles in Kerala starting with the Alappuzha declaration in 1970 demanding implementation of the Land Reforms Act passed by the EMS Government in 1967. Later his activities as the leader of the Opposition in the Kerala Assembly had evoked good public response.
V. S. Achuthanandan