The year - 1951. The place - Kozhikode. The venerable socialist Jayaprakash Narayan asks of a 15- year old boy his wish. The reply is spontaneous: 'Membership in the Socialist Party'. 'But aren't you a mere slip of a boy', queries the leader. 'But he will grow up', promises the father. Thus was Veerendrakumar initiated into the socialist ranks, under the admiring gaze of his father, Padmaprabha Gowder, Socialist M.L.A in the Madras Legislative Assembly. That unswerving commitment to the cause still propels the political activity of this multi-faceted personality.