I was reading the book ” Founders of the CPI(M)”, written by Com.N.Ramakrishnan, for the last few days and completed it today. The book is about the first nine PB Members of CPI(M), who were elected in the VII Party Congress held at Kolkata on 31st October – 7th November 1964, after the split with the united CPI. They are Comrades P.Sundarayya,  A.K.Gopalan, EMS Namboodiripad, B.T.Ranadive, M.Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjit, P.Ramamurti, Jyoti Basu and Promode Dasgupta. None of them are alive now. Com. Jyoti Basu passed away in 17-01-2010, the last to pass away.

The 20th century was the battlefield of these titans in the political arena. Each one of them were inspired by the Independence Movement, most of them came through Congress, Congress Socialist Party to the Communist movement. Every one of these leaders have been arrested several times, undergone years of imprisonment and were in underground also. These are the leaders who gave the lead to the walk-out from the National Council  meeting of the undivided CPI meeting in 1964 protesting against the reformist policy of the leadership  and later formed the CPI(M).

Organising the party was almost an impossible task facing the attack of the British Government and later Congress Government. At each and every moment the CPI(M) was attacked. It is specially to be noted that Com. A.K.Gopalan, who was a leader of the freedom movement and who was not released from the the jail when India got Independence had to raise the Indian National flag in the jail. There was not much difference between British and Congress government in attacking the CPI(M).

Three of the leaders, Coms. P.Sundarayya, EMS and Surjeet were General Secretaries of the CPI(M) during various periods. Two were Chief Ministers, EMS and Jyoti Basu. They were all great leaders and writers. The books and articles of Com. EMS have been published in to 100 volumes after his death. The Sundarayya Memorial Library has thousands of books  from the collection of Com. Sundarayya and  Com. Basavapunnaiah. All of the leaders have organised mass organisations/ trade unions and have been leading them.

Their entire life has been in the service of the people. They have sacrificed every thing for the country and the toiling masses. They are the great leaders of the Communist movement.

While paying homage and saluting these founders of the CPI(M), I congratulate Com. N.Ramakrishnan, who has written the book, which is inspiring and educative. It is a book which has to be read.