We at LALKAR are saddened to learn of the sad and premature demise of Comrade Sitaram Yechury who breathed his last on 12 September at the age of 72.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), he left his mark on not just the CPM but also on the wider Indian political scene. Besides his leadership role in his party, he was editor of People’s Democracy, CPM’s English language weekly, and a prominent intellectual and thinker.
He also edited the CPM’s theoretical journal, Marxism.
Sitaram’s radical politics can be traced back to his student days at the Jawahalal Nehru University (JNU) where he studied for his Masters’ degree in Economics, while helping build an impressive left base which continues to this day.
He went to jail for organising opposition to the Emergency rule instituted by the late Mrs Indira Gandhi when she was prime minister of India. As a leading figure in the Students’ Federation of India (the CPM-affiliated student organisation), he was thrice elected as its head. He was also the editor of Students’ Struggle.
He joined the CPM and rose up its ranks to become a member of its Politburo. In 2015 he was elected to the position of the CPM’s General Secretary, following the retirement of Parkash Karat from that position. For years he headed the international department of the Party. In 1996 he opted for forming a multi-party coalition with the late Jyoti Basu, the Chief Minister of West Bengal, heading the proposed coalition government, but the motion was successfully opposed by, among others, Parkash Karat, leading instead to the formation of the United Front government headed by HD Deve Gowda.
He served as a member of the Indian upper house of Parliament where he was much admired as a parliamentarian. Over the past few years, the CPM had given him responsibility for its revival in the states of West Bengal and Kerala – provinces in which the CPM had played a prominent role for close to three decades, but where its fortunes had been declining lately.
He was a deadly enemy of communalism and religious fundamentalism, expecially exposing the role of the BJP and its parent organisation the RSS, for spreading the poison of communalism to divide the Indian masses along religious lines. His speeches, articles and pamphlets on this issue are testimony to his commitment in this regard, and his defence of minorities – from Muslims to Dalits.
He was a linguist of note and spoke several languages. He was deeply interested in the arts and had a close relationship with Safdar Hashmi, the renowned playwright and director who was murdered by religious fanatics. Comrade Sitaram was much pained, as were millions of people around the world, by the collapse of the Soviet Union but he did not lose faith in the socialist future of humanity. That is what he should be remembered by.
Comrade Sitaram had been in poor health of late and was admitted to Delhi’s All India Insititute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) where he was being treated for acute respiratory infection but sadly he could not be revived.
Apart from his friends, family and Party comrades, he is mourned by large swathes of the Indian masses.
A measure of his standing in Indian public life, his intellectual prowess and charming personality, his death has attracted condolence messages from unexpected quarters, which we reproduce here:
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said: “Pained by the passing away of CPI(M) General Secretary and former Rajya Sabha MP Shri Sitaram Yechuri. In his long years in public life, he distinguished himself as a seasoned parliamentarian who was known for his knowledge and articulation. He was also my friend with whom I had several interactions. I will always recall my interactions with him. Condolences to his bereaved family and supporters. Om Shanti!“
In his message, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh spoke of their three-decade association and frequent collaborations. “Sitaram Yechury – a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPM, and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour – is most sadly no more.“
“Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely at different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality,” Mr Ramesh added.
In his condolence message, Mr Rahul Gandhi said, “Sitaram Yechury ji was a friend. A protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country. I will miss the long discussions we used to have. My sincere condolences to his family, friends, and followers in this hour of grief”.
LALKAR sends its condolences to Comrade Sitaram’s family, friends and Party comrades. Some of us who, over the years, had the opportunity to spend time with him, will always fondly remember him for his wit, pleasant manner and engaging personality.
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