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Red Salute to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjit on his 12th Death Anniversary, 1st August 2020!

02 Sunday Aug 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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Red Salute to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjit on his 12th Death Anniversary, 1st August 2020!

The life of Com. H.K.Surjit was eventful even from his school days. He was part of the Independence struggle, was arrested and jailed several times. He was in underground for many years to avoid arrest during the first decade after independence. He joined the Communist Party of India in 1934 and was one of the first PB members of the CPI(M) from 1964 since its inception. He was General Secretary of the CPI(M) from 1992 – 2005 . His life, activities and contribution to the nation and the working class are well known.

I would like to mention here about an instance when Com. Surjit helped the Union in its most critical situation. It was at the time of the Membership Verification of E.III Union in 1997 to find out which of the Unions was having the maximum member of membership to be recognised. The membership verification was being organised as per Delhi High Court direction in the case filed by E.III Union with me as GS.

All the unions applied for M/Ship verification. DOT was completely prejudiced and did not accept our application with out any reason, while accepting that of other unions. Our efforts to get our application accepted was ignored by DOT.

I met Com.Surjit and requested his intervention in the matter. Immediately he contacted the Communications Minister Shri Brijlal Verma over phone. The minister called us on the same day and directed the DOT to accept our application.
However, the verification did not take place due to so many court cases filed by FNTO and NFTE afraid of defeat. That is another story.

Red Salute to Com. Harkishan Singh Surjit on his 12th death anniversary!

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REMEMBERING COM. M.S.RAJA by K.K.N.Kutty

25 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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On 14th July, evening at about 7.00 PM my telephone rang. The voice on the other side was of Com. Pijush Roy from Kolkata. He phoned to know whether what has been conveyed to him about Raja was fact or not. It was totally unbelievable and terribly sorrowful when Raja’s death was confirmed by Com. Sreekumar, President of the All India Audit and Accounts Association. Only a few days back I had a telephonic talk with him.. He appeared to be keeping fine. On 14th he had to go to the hospital for he was having some discomfiture. He suffered a massive heart attack and collapsed at the hospital itself. He could not be saved despite the best efforts of the Doctor.

During his long stay at Delhi, he had not suffered any ailments warranting hospitalization. He was however in constant difficulties of back-pain and got some relief from the massaging treatment he took from the Ayurvedic hospital at Trissur. He had no known cardiac problem so long as he was at Delhi. His untimely death was very sorrowful to his friends and his family members. It was really sad that neither his wife nor his son could be near him when he met the death on 14th July, evening..

Com.M.S.Raja took voluntary retirement in November, 2019, a few months before the end of his service career on superannuation. From 2004 to 2019, he was on foreign service on deputation to work as the Secretary General of the All India Audit and Accounts Association, New Delhi, to which position he had been elected continuously in all the triennial conferences held since 2004. He had been staying alone at the Audit Association’s Head quarters at Ghaziabad. Only when his son, on completion of his education and having received employment at Gurgaon, Com. Raja had some solace and company.

Com.Raja came forward to take over the post of Secretary General of AIAAA in 2004 pretty well knowing that he will have to leave his family, (his wife and son )at Mumbai. Ms.Nandini was employed at the Custom Department, Mumbai and she was not able to go over to Delhi, having the responsibility of looking after her aged father. Com.Raja was the natural choice of all the delegates of the all India Conference of the Association.

Com. Raja was fully aware that the position of the Secretary General of AIAAA was a seat of thorns. By 2004, the AIAAA which had been one of the mighty, militant and united organization of the CGEs had begun to slide down . It was a herculean task even for a leader like Com.Raja who had the highest level of conviction, courage, dedication, mass appeal, sense of sacrifice and the capacity to work hard to bring it back to its past glory.

I came in intimate contact with comrade Raja only after his election to the position of the Secretary General of AIAAA, though on many occasions earlier, I had the opportunity to meet and interact with him at Mumbai . He was an extremely straight forward person, a quality perhaps not in demand in the present day world. He never minced words. He had the capacity to tell what he felt without any sophistication, rather bluntly. The very fact that such admirable character will fetch few friends and more foes did not daunt him at all. Nor did he make any attempt to change it. There were many factors that led to the organizational weakness of AIAAA. Some of them were consequences of earlier decisions. But the most important was that the Government and the C & AG administration played an extremely pro-active role to ensure its units are either made defunct or weakened. Its chequered history was full of the life and struggle of quite a number of eminent persons, to be emulated by all those who are connected with the trade union movement.

Maharashtra unit of AIAAA was at Mumbai. It had played a sterling role in the building up of the organization. It is from this unit the leaders like com. E.X. Joseph rose to the eminence. He was one of the founding members of the all India Association. When Com.Raja took over the leadership of the Mumbai Unit, it was a pale shadow of its glorious past. It was the sagacity, courage and leadership qualities of Com.Raja that changed the scenario.. He could bring the movement of the Audit and Accounts employees of Mumbai to its premier position. It emerged under his leadership as one of the best performing units of AIAAA. His sterling personality and unique position made him the natural choice for the post of the General Secretary of the Co-ordination Committee of CGEs, the state unit of the Confederation of CGE & W. Perhaps next to Delhi and Kolkata, Mumbai had the largest number of Central Government employees as most of the GOI departments had their offices at Mumbai. This apart, the biggest unit of Atomic Energy Commission, BARC was located in Mumbai. Being the biggest urban agglomeration in the country, Mumbai had its peculiar problems. In the united struggle of the working class, initially against the LPG and later against the neo-liberal economic policies, the Audit Employees movement under the leadership of Com. Raja had played a vital role. He was closely associated with all the Central Trade Union Centres at Mumbai and had a warm relationship with the movement of State Government employees and Railway workers. He was a well known figure amongst the leaders of all organizations of Mumbai.

It was with that rich experience he landed at Delhi. Within no time, however, he could realize that working from the CHQ , divourced from the exhilarating crowd support, that are ever present at the work spots in the field formations, was a different cup of tea. The demonstration of the sheer strength of the movement often opens the doors of even unwilling authorities at the field formations for a meaningful negotiation. The discussions with an adamant bureaucracy at the apex level were mostly procrastinating and fruitless. As an astute person, he realized that unless the units which are varied both in size and attitude are brought into a minimum level of functioning, insurmountable though, it was difficult to bring the organization to its past glory. It was to accomplish this daunting task he spent most of his time as the Secretary General of the All India Association. He undertook extensive tours to know the reality of the situation obtaining in various Units and mobilize them to ensure that the collective decisions are uniformly carried out. He succeeded to a great extent is borne out of the extensive participation of the employees and officers in the mass casual leave programme organized in 2010.

His tenure as the Secretary General of the Association had been turbulent. The C&AG administration unleashed the worst form of victimization. It appeared that the Govt. and the C& AG Administration had jointly decided to wipe out the organization. Even peaceful demonstration to express resentment of the employees was met with stern, strong and unheard of reprisals. The extensive victimization giving charge sheet to about 12,000 employees must have been an unprecedented action. The utter un-tenabilty of many of the vindictive actions could be seen from the way these cases were got quashed by the courts in the country. But the purpose ostensibly was to create a fear psychosis and terror in the minds of the ordinary employees and thereby weaken the organized functioning of the Association. It must be said to his credit that he could and did withstand the onslaught with conviction, courage and determination. Pretty well knowing that the response from the members and units in the given situation might not be good, he thought it right and need of the hour to commit the organization to the path of struggles while endorsing the call of the Central Trade Unions for strike action against the neo- liberal economic policies of the Government. On a quite number of occasions I was witness to the sheer lack of appreciation for his efforts both from his colleagues and undoubtedly from his permanent critics. That however, did not dither him nor did he waver from the chosen path. The organizational weakness which surfaced especially after the heavy doze of victimization unleashed by the authorities had its adverse impact on the financial stability too. His stay at Delhi leaving his family behind was also beset with financial difficulties and he had not been able to draw his salary every month. That had been the nagging problem till his retirement.

He had been a tower of strength for all of us, especially for me, in the day to day functioning of the confederation. Beset with innumerable problems and financial difficulties, he found time to work for the confederation. The place Com.Vyas was living, some time at Mandir Marg, then at North Avenue and lastly at Feroze Shah Road, was the centre for all of us to meet and discuss the issues concerning the CGE movement. Com.Raja unlike others had to travel quite a distance to reach the city as he was living in Ghaziabad. It used to take not less than 2 hours to traverse the distance. It was only when the Metro was extended to Vaishali, his travel problems eased to some extent. Despite all these problems he used to attend the meetings and contribute immensely to the decision making process.

At the time of preparation of the memorandum to the 7th CPC, the centre of activities was shifted to Manishinath Bhawan, Rajouri Garden, where the ITEF CHQ had been located . Com.Raja stayed there on a number of days as most of the discussions had to be conducted during night sessions. After the death of Com . Vyas, Com.Raja succeeded him to the Standing committee of the Staff Side in the JCM., National Council. His contribution during the preparation and formulation of issues, while tendering evidence before the Commission and later at the negotiation with the Government had all been praiseworthy.

One of the special and sterling qualities, I could notice in him and wanted to imbibe but failed miserably, was his ability to tell what he felt without any sophistication and follow it up with a wonderful laugh to make the ambience normal and jovial. Like his mentor Com.Vyas, Com.Raja was also fond of preparing good food. I do not know whether it was by compulsion of circumstances or really he enjoyed it. I had on innumerable occasions stayed with him at his residence in Ghaziabad. In fact I had found solace in his company and those were really unforgettable days. It is during those days, I could get a fair picture of his life, his family and the ambience in which he spent his childhood. Having born in a feudal landlord family of Kerala, he was supposed to have a wonderful and joyful childhood. That was not the case was the truth. He was a very active participant in student movement of Kerala. From St. Thomas College, Trissur, he was elected as a councillor to the Calicut University. He was also a member of the District Committee of SFI during his college days. His commitment to the ideology, which he realized to be the best for the humanity, had been his forte. He never dithered at any point of time, and also had no hesitation to express his differing opinions and views on contemporary issues quite bluntly.

He had often expressed his wish to settle down at his native village, construct a house on the plot which he had inherited, to be in the midst of his old friends and spend the evening of his life away from the maddening crowd of cities and towns. He was to begin the construction of that dream house. He went over to Trissur with that in mind but got bogged down due to corona Virus . Those remained as mere wishes.

His death has saddened all those with whom he had come in contact and established friendship. It is quite impossible for them to obliterate his image from their minds as he had such a strong and pleasing personality. His immortal and inimitable style of loud laughter to dispel the smog of despair in the ambiance shall linger on as an indelible impression of his personality, perhaps without death. It is only with sorrowful tears I can bid adieu to you, comrade.

-K.K.N.Kutty

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Red Salute to Captain Lakshmi on her 8th death anniversary

22 Wednesday Jul 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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23rd July 2020 is the 8th death anniversary of Captain Lakshmi, the legendary head of the women’s regiment of Indian National Army, headed by Subhas Chandra Bose.

Born in Anakkara, Kerala on 24th October 1914 to the well known couple Shri Swaminathan and Smt. Ammukkutty Swaminathan, both activists in the freedom movement, she was well educated, passed MBBS and practiced medicine for some time. Later, joined the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) led by Subhas Chandra Bose and became the Captain of the Rani Jhansi Regiment marching to Delhi from Burma as part of the struggle to free India. But after the British victory in the II World war, she was arrested along with many of the INA leaders and sent to India for trial.

Lakshmi married Captain Saghal of the INA later. Lakshmi Saghal started practicing medicine in Kanpur, where she was settled. Two daughters, Com.Subhashini Ali and Smt. Anisa Puri. Dr. Lakshmi was a solace to the poor patients, whom she treated free. She Joined CPM(I) and contested for the post of President of India as a candidate of the left parties, but lost. She was a Member of the Rajya Sabha as a candidate of CPI(M).

Captain Lakshmi passed away at the age of 97 on 23-07-2012. Daughter Com. Subhashini Ali is PB Member of the CPI(M) and leader of AIDWA. Captain Lakshmi will always be an inspiration for the people of this country and especially women.

I had the opportunity to meet her at Delhi as also at Kanpur and visit her home. Later also I could go there and meet Com. Subhashini Ali in connection with our activities in U.P. She was very helpful.

Red salute to Com. Lakshmi Saghal on her 8th death anniversary!

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Remembering Nelson Mandela on his 102nd birth anniversary.

18 Saturday Jul 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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Today, 18th July 2020 is the 102nd Birth Anniversary of Nelson Mandela, the icon of South African freedom, anti-apartheid struggle and the undisputed leader of the African National Congress which fought for the liberation of the country from the British rulers. He was 27 years in jail punished in a conspiracy case against the state since 1962 most of the time in isolation  in very small room in the Robben Island. The militant struggle for freedom by the African National Congress for many decades, facing all repression by the white rulers is part of history. ‘uMkhonto We Sizwe’ (Spear of the Nation’) was their slogan.Mahatma Gandhi’s stay in South Africa and the struggle against the white rulers are well documented. Mandela was the first President of free South Africa from 1994 to 1999. His first wife Winnie Mandela was also a staunch fighter in the freedom struggle. Their daughter Zenani Mandela passed a few days back.

Nelson Mandela passed away on 5th December 2013 at the age of 95. Mandela’s life and  struggle is an epic itself. His burial ceremony was participated by most of the heads of states of the world.

During my visit to South Africa in connection with the Congress of the Trade Union International (Public Services) affiliated, I got the chance to know more about the legend. In the 1970s, while at Calicut,  I used to get copies of Sechaba, the journal of the South African Congress, regularly by post.  During the same period I was getting ‘Granma’, the journal of the Communist Party of Cuba also. After two- three years, both stopped. I am still not aware who was sending the journals and why it was stopped.

Red salute to Nelson Mandela!

 

 

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Sad news – Com. Sarbajit Singh, DS BSNLEU Amritsar no more

16 Thursday Jul 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in BSNL, Obituary, Tributes, Uncategorized

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Very sad news have been received that Com. Com.Sarbajit Singh, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Amritsar has passed away at 06.00 P.M. on 15th July 2020. He was not well for the past few days. He was only 58 years. He was very active in union activities and built up a strong union in the district.

I remember the early days when along with senior Punjab comrades visiting Amritsar on organisational tour. We did not have a strong union there at that time. But due to the continued efforts of Com.Sarbajit and his comrades, within a few years we could built up a strong base. He was also active in general trade union movement.

His premature death is a great loss.

My  heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, comrades and friends.

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Com.M.P.Veerendrakumar M.P., former Central and State Minister and writer no more.

29 Friday May 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes, Uncategorized

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സ: എം പി വീരേന്ദ്ര കുമാർ എം പി(84) ഓർമയായി. ഇന്നലെ രാത്രി 11.30ന്ന് കോഴിക്കോട് വെച്ചായിരുന്നു മരണം .
6 ദശാബ്ദങ്ങളിലേറെ പൊതു പ്രവർത്തന രംഗത്ത് വ്യക്തിമുദ്ര പതിപ്പിച്ച വീരേന്ദ്രകുമാർ കേന്ദ്ര മന്ത്രി ആയും എം പി ആയും സംസ്ഥാന മന്ത്രി ആയും പ്രവർത്തിച്ചു. ഉറച്ച സോഷ്യലിസ്റ്റ് നേതാവ്. മാതൃഭൂമിയുടെ എല്ലാമെല്ലാം. മഹാനായ എഴുത്തുകാരൻ , സഞ്ചാരി. ഉജ്ജ്വലനായ പ്രഭാഷകൻ. അതിലും ഉപരി ഒരു നല്ല സുഹൃത്ത്.
1960 കൾ മുതലുള്ള പരിചയം എനിക്കുണ്ട്. ജോർജ് ഫെർനാൻഡസ് കോഴിക്കോട് വന്നപ്പോൾ നടത്തിയ പ്രസംഗവും സഖാവിന്റെ പരിഭാഷയും ആവേശം കൊണ്ടും ആത്മാർത്ഥതയും കൊണ്ടും ഒന്നിനൊന്നു മേലെയായിരിന്നു. അടിയന്തരാവസ്ഥയിൽ ഒളിവിൽ, പിന്നെ ജയിലിൽ.
കമ്പിത്തപാൽ ജീവനക്കാരുടെ പല സമ്മേളനങ്ങളിലും സഖാവ് പങ്കെടുത്തു സംസാരിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. 1988 ൽ കോഴിക്കോട് വെച്ച് നടന്ന എൻ എഫ് പി ടി ഇ സംസ്ഥാന സമ്മേളനത്തിന്റെ രക്ഷാധികാരയായിരുന്നു.
1991ൽ വീരേന്ദ്ര കുമാർ പാർലമെന്റിലേക്ക് മത്സരിച്ചപ്പോൾ തിരഞ്ഞെടുപ്പ് കമ്മിറ്റി (അണിയറ) സെക്രട്ടറിയായി പ്രവർത്തിക്കുകയുണ്ടായി. ( കേന്ദ്ര സർക്കാർ ജീവനക്കാരന് രാഷ്ട്രിയ പ്രവർത്തന സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യമില്ലല്ലോ). എല്ലാ ദിവസവും അതിരാവിലെയും യോഗങ്ങളിലും മറ്റും പങ്കെടുത്തു രാത്രി വൈകിയും ഓഫീസിൽ എത്തി കാര്യങ്ങൾ ചർച്ച ചെയ്യും.
അടുത്ത തവണ എം പി യായും തുടർന്നു കേന്ദ്ര ഡെപ്യൂട്ടി ധനകാര്യ മന്ത്രിയുമായപ്പോൾ ഞാൻ ഡൽഹിയിൽ യൂണിയൻ ജനറൽ സെക്രട്ടറിയായി ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു. സ്ഥാനമേറ്റ ദിവസം തന്നെ കാണാൻ പോയി. റിസപ്ഷനിൽ കാത്തു നിൽക്കുമ്പോൾ സഖാവ് തന്നെ വന്നു മുറിയിലേക്ക് കൂട്ടികൊണ്ടുപോയി. രാഷ്ട്രിയ നേതാക്കളും വൻകിട വ്യവസായ പ്രമുഖരും അവിടെ കാത്തു നിൽക്കുന്നു. അഭിനന്ദനം പറഞ്ഞതിന്റ കൂടെ ഡി എ പ്രഖ്യാപിക്കാതെയുള്ള വിവരവും പറഞ്ഞു. രണ്ടു ദിവസത്തിനകത്തു ഡി എ കല്പന ഇറങ്ങുകയും ചെയ്തു.
ഇടക്കാലത്തു ന്യൂസ്‌പേപ്പർ ഫെഡറേഷൻ കാര്യത്തിനും മറ്റുമായി ഡൽഹിയിൽ വരുമ്പോൾ കാണാൻ പോകും.
1996 ജൂണിൽ ഞാൻ സർവീസിൽനിന്നും നിന്നും വിരമിച്ചപ്പോൾ ടൌൺ ഹാളിൽ നൽകിയ പൊതു സ്വീകരണത്തിൽ കോട്ടക്കൽ ആയുർവേദ ആസ്പത്രിയിൽ ചികിത്സയിലായിരുന്നുവെങ്കിലും വീരേന്ദ്ര കുമാർ അവിടെയെത്തി സംസാരിച്ചു വീണ്ടും ആസ്പത്രിയിലേക്ക് പോയത് ഞാൻ ഇന്നും ഓർക്കുന്നു.
ഒരു സുഹൃത്ത് എന്ന നിലക്കാണ് എന്നും സംസാരിക്കാറുള്ളത്. സ: എ കെ ജി യുമായുള്ള ആത്മ ബന്ധത്തെ കുറിച്ച് പലപ്പോഴും സൂചിപ്പിച്ചിട്ടുണ്ട്. പല രാഷ്ട്രിയ കാര്യങ്ങളും പറയും. ഞാൻ കേൾക്കും.
അവസാനം കണ്ടു സംസാരിച്ചത് ഈ വർഷം ജനുവരി അഞ്ചിന് ചാലപ്പുറത്തെ വീട്ടിൽ വെച്ച്. ബി എസ് എൻ എൽ പെൻഷൻകാരുടെ പെൻഷൻ റിവിഷൻ കാര്യത്തിൽ കേന്ദ്ര സർക്കാരുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടുന്നതിനായി കാണാൻ. പുന്നശ്ശേരി ബാലൻ, കെ ജി സഞ്ജീവ്, എം ചന്ദ്രൻ, പി വി സി ll, എം കെ പ്രഭാകരൻ,എം രാജഗോപാലൻ നായർ എന്നിവരും കൂടെ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നു.സുഖമില്ലാതെ കിടക്കുകയാണെന്നും ആരെയും കാണുന്നില്ലെന്നും ഞങ്ങളെ അറിയിച്ചെങ്കിലും പേര് പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ അകത്തേക്ക് കടത്തി. സഖാവ് കിടക്കുക തന്നെയായിരുന്നു. വളരെ അവശതയിൽ. ഒരു വിധം എഴുന്നേറ്റിരുന്നു സംസാരിച്ചു. ഞങ്ങൾ കാര്യം അവതരിപ്പിച്ചു നന്ദി പറഞ്ഞു വേഗം മടങ്ങി. ഇത് അവസാന കാഴ്ച്ച ആയിരിക്കും എന്ന് കരുതിയില്ല.
ഇന്ന് സീനിയർ സിറ്റിസൺസ് ഫ്രണ്ട്‌സ് വെൽഫേർ അസോസിയേഷൻ ജില്ല സെക്രട്ടറി സ: മേലടി നാരായണൻ ഒപ്പം ചാലപ്പുറത്തെ വീട്ടിലെത്തി അസോസിയേഷന്റെയും സ്വന്തം പേരിലും ആദരാഞ്ജലികൾ അർപ്പിക്കുമ്പോൾ അടുത്ത ഒരു സുഹൃത്തിനെ നഷ്ടപ്പെട്ടതിന്റെ ദുഃഖം.
സ: വീരേന്ദ്ര കുമാറിന്റെ വേർപാട് സമൂഹത്തിന്ന് വലിയൊരു നഷ്ടമാണ്.
അദ്ദേഹത്തിന്റെ ഭാര്യ, മക്കൾ മറ്റു കുടുംബാംഗങ്ങൾ എന്നിവരെ അനുശോചനം അറിയിക്കുന്നു.

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Homage to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime minister of Independent India on his 56th death anniversary.

27 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in General, Obituary, Tributes

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Jawaharlal Nehru

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the most acclaimed leader of the Independence struggle next to Mahatma Gandhi only. He was the undisputed claimant as the first Prime Minister of independent India. His entire family from his father Motilal Nehru, sister Vijayalaxmi Pandit and daughter Indira Gandhi was connected with the Independence movement in one way or other. was attracted to the USSRand socialism. His ‘Socialist Pattern of society’ slogan was accepted by the Avadi Congress, but it was only partly implemented and later was completely forsaken. Non-alignment was a powerful movement, but that also did not last much after him. The creation of Public Sector and its growth in the first two decades is clearly his contribution. His speech on 15th August 1947 on the ramparts of Red Fort is a memorable, which echoed throughout the country.

I had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister  Pandit Nehru during 1957/ 58. He had come to Tellicherry and was to address a public meeting there which was massively participated. I was working as a school teacher and had come to hear him. I wanted to get his autograph. I had a small box camera with me and along with the press photographers I went near to him and took a photo. I utilised the opportunity by requesting for an autograph. He readily agreed and signed in my small autograph book.

As a P and T worker, later I read that Jawaharlal Nehru supported the 1946 Posts and Telegraph Strike and was also partly  instrumental in its settlement with almost all the demands accepted by the British Government. But as the Prime Minister of India, he called the Central government Employees’ historical strike of July 1960 as ‘Civil Rebellion’ and suppressed it  by using all the brute force at the hands of the government including the ‘Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance’ promulgated.

There is no doubt that he was a man of destiny and had the opportunity to lead free India for more than 17 years.

Homage to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru on his 56th death anniversary!

 

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Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary, BSNLEU, bereaved

22 Friday May 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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.
Mrs. Minu Biswas, elder sister of Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, passed away at Kolkata, today. She was 75 years old. She fell down inside her house day before yesterday and was admitted in a hospital. However, she passed away in the hospital today. The funeral took place at around 4:00 pm today. We deeply condole the death of Mrs. Minu Biswas and convey our heartfelt condolences to Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and all the members of his family. (BSNLEU Website)
I contacted Com. Swapan Chakraborty and conveyed deep sorrow and condolences.

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Com. R.Umanath remembered.

20 Wednesday May 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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21st May 2020 is the 6th death anniversary of Com.R.Umanath, former CITU Vice President and PBM of CPI(M) for long period from 1991 to 2008. His wife Com.Pappa Umanath was also a senior leader of CPI(M). He was M.P. for two terms and was also elected to the T.Nadu assembly.

Com.Umanath was jailed for many years for organising agitations, and during attacks on the CPI and later CPI(M). He attended many meetings of the P & T Unions and was a good advisor. He used to prepare well in advance for the speeches he had to make. When I requested to him at address a convention at short notice, he chided me stating that how a well planned speech can be made in such short time. However he attended and gave a fine speech. Each and every speech of his was a study class itself, with notes prepared thoroughly. He was simple and was approachable to all comrades.

His daughter Com.U.Vasuki is also a veteran leader of CITU and party. His elder brother Shri  Kesava Rao, a crorepati agent of LIC, was settled at Calicut and was also close to the P and T workers.

Red Salute to Com.R.Umanath!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Red Salute to Com. E.K.Nayanar, former Chief Minister Kerala on his 16th death anniversary.

19 Tuesday May 2020

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Obituary, Tributes

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( Nayanar Memorial at Payyambalam Beach, Kannur)

Com.E.K.Nayanar, who passed away 16 years back on this day was three times Chief minister of Kerala, an efficient administrator, writer and an organiser par excellence. His humorous speeches and simplicity are well known. He was PBM of CPI(M) for a long time. His political activity started from student days and was arrested for participation in freedom movement. He was a close friend and advisor of the working class. He attended and addressed many conferences of the P and T workers.

We pay our respectful homage to the memory of Com. E.K.Nayanar!

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