Category Archives: Obituary, Tributes

Obituary

Homage to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet!

01 Friday Aug 2014

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Today, 1st August, is the death anniversary of Comrade H.S.Surjeet, former General Secretary of CPI(M) and veteran Communist leader, who passed away in 2008. The life of comrade surjeet is a saga of sacrifices and revolutionary activities started from his early teens. During his General Secretaryship, the movement reached new heights and he co-ordinated the left forces in a strategical way.

BSNL Employees Union gratefully remembers the support given by Com. Surjeet on settling the issues of the CG and BSNL Employees.

Revolutionary Greetings and Red Salute to the great Communist, Comrade Surjeet !

Punnapra Vayalar Leader Com.P.K.Chandranandan Passed away

03 Thursday Jul 2014

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Com.P.K.Chandranandan,veteran leader of CPI(M) and one of the topmost leaders of the Punnapra vayalar Revolt passed away on 2nd July 2014 at Alappuzha at the age of 89. He was ailing for some time.
Com. PKC was underground for more than 12 yours to avoid arrest in the Punnapra vayalar and other struggles. He functioned as the District Secretary CPI(M), State Secretariat member etc. for a long time.
His simple life and close contact with the grass root workers were exemplary.
Our respectful homage to the departed leader.

Homage to Com. K. Adinarayana, stalwart of P and T TU Movement

16 Monday Jun 2014

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17th June 2014 is the 11th death anniversary of Comrade K.Adinarayana, veteran leader of the P and T Trade Union Movement. There have been many illustrious leaders of the Posts and Telegraphs Trade Union Movement in the past and present and will be some more in the future. But it is difficult to find another comrade like K. Adinarayana, who had come from the lowest strata and through sincerity, dedication and hard-work had reached the highest leadership both in the P and T and the of Central Government Employees’ movement.

His life has been a saga of struggle and sacrifice. Com.Adi, as he is affectionately called, was involved in mass movements from a very young age which resulted in his discontinuing formal education itself. He was jailed for three and half years during 1950-53 for participation in the great Telengana movement. He joined P and T Department in 1954 as ED. He retired in June 1986 as LSG clerk. From day one of joining the P and T he was in the thick of the movement. He was elected as the General Secretary of Postmen and Class IV Union in 1968 and continued till 1997. He was elected as Secretary General, NFPE in 1992 and vacated the position in 2001 due to ill health.

I had been fortunate to have the opportunity of working together with Com. Adi in the movement for many years, especially after I joined CHQ of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III New Delhi as its President in 1991 and later as its General Secretary from 1994. On all matters of importance I used to consult him and seek his advice. He was suffering from many ailments, but still used to be very active. His residence in the V.P.House was a centre for union leaders to go and discuss issues with him.

He was staying at his ancestral home in Hyderabad after leaving New Delhi. When the sad news of his death reached, along with Coms. C.C.Pillai, then SG NFPE, K.K.N.Kutty, Convener of Confederation and Des Raj Sharma, GS Postmen and Group D Employees, I also went to pay our respects to the departed leader. The body was taken for funeral after we reached there. Hundreds of CG employees, postal workers and others were there. We placed wreaths and paid our homage.

on his 11th death anniversary, I pay homage to Com. K.Adinarayana, whose life was completely dedicated to the cause of the working class.
Red Salute to Com. Adinarayana !

Che Guevara, the Eternal Revolutionary, remembered on his martyrdom day

15 Sunday Jun 2014

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Mankind has advanced through centuries from barbarism to civilisation. There has always been struggle in this advancement – bitter struggle between the classes. The struggles have been lasting for centuries. Against slavery, against feudalism, against capitalism and so on. In these crucial fights there have been crusaders, who led these movements for the advancement of the society and to defend the underdogs.
Spartacus, Jesus Christ, Basavanna, Rani Lakshmi Bai, Rana Pratap, Tippu Sultan, Bhagat Singh, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King, Chandrasekhar Azad, thousands of Communists killed by the British and the Congress Government are all part of these huge army of martyrs.
And Che Guevara, the eternal revolutionary, who sacrificed himself at the altar of freedom of the Latin American countries is one of these great change makers of history.

Che Guevara was murdered by the mercenaries of the Bolivian Dictatorship during the guerrilla warfare on 9th October 1967. He was part of the Cuban Revolution and was a minister in the Cuban Government led by Fidel Castro and his comrade in arms. But he left everything and continued his journey for the freedom of the entire Latin American countries.

Che Guevara, the eternal revolutionary, is once again remembered on his 51st martyrdom day, 9th October 2018.

Red Salute to Che!

Meeting to pay homage to Com. R.Umanath

28 Wednesday May 2014

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A well attended meeting was held at BTR Bhawan, CITU Office, on 28th May to pay homage to the veteran Trade Union leader Com. R. Umanath, who passed away on 21 May 2014. The participants paid homage by garlanding and offering flowers before the photo of Co. Umanath. Coms. Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, Com. Hemalatha, Secretary, CITU, Com. Krishna Prasad (Kisan Sabha) and other leaders spoke about the great contributions of Com. Umanath to the workers and the left movement in the country.

Condolence Meeting at AKG Bhawan

23 Friday May 2014

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A condolence meeting to pay homage to Com. R.Umanath, Veteran Communist leader, who passed away two days back, was held at AKG Bhawan, New Delhi. Com. Prakash karat, General Secretary CPI(M) presided. In addition to the President, Com. Sitaram yechury and Com. Tapan Sen also spoke. They paid rich tributes to the memory of Com. Umanath and his unending contribution to the movement.

A large number of people attended the condolence meeting.

CPI(M) Condoles death of Com. R.Umanath

21 Wednesday May 2014

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CPI(M) Condolence Resolution on Com. R Umanath

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep grief at the passing away of Comrade R Umanath, veteran leader of the Party at Tiruchirapalli. He was aged 92 years.

R Umanath was a member of the Central Committee of the Party from 1978 to 2012. He was elected a member of the Polit Bureau in 1991 and served in that capacity till 2008. He served as a member of the Tamilnadu State Committee and Secretariat of the Party for several decades.

He began his political activity as a young student by participating in the freedom struggle. He joined the Communist Party in 1939 while studying at the Annamali University in Tamilnadu. He left his studies to become a wholetimer of the Party.

Umanath became a talented organizer of the trade unions and played an important role in building the trade union movement in different parts of Tamilnadu. He was one of the founders of the CITU and was the first General Secretary of Tamilnadu CITU. He served as the General Secretary and later as the President of the State CITU for long years. He served as the national Vice President of the CITU till 2010.

Comrade Umanath served as a member of the Lok Sabha in 1962 and 1967. Later he was elected to the state legislature for two terms. He was a powerful speaker in Tamil and English and made a mark in the parliamentary forums.

The Communist Party was repressed by the British rulers in the years before independence. Com. Umanath was convicted along with other Communist leaders in the Madras Conspiracy case and jailed for two and a half years. He spent altogether nine and half years in jail both before and after independence. He also spent seven years underground, the last period being during the Emergency in 1975-77.

Com. Umanath was a staunch Marxist-Leninist. He set an example of the Communist style of work among the working class. As a member of the Polit Bureau and the Central Committee, Umanath made a notable contribution to the evolution of the Party’s ideological and political line.

Married to Papa Umanath, they both were an inspiring example of dedicated work and simple style of living.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) pays homage to the memory of this outstanding communist leader. It conveys its heartfelt condolences to his daughters U Vasuki and Nirmala Ravi.

Com. R.Umanath, CPI(M) Leader and former M.P. passed away.

21 Wednesday May 2014

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Com.R Umanath, one of the senior leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), former PBM and M.P.died in Trichy today (21-05-2014) morning after a brief illness.

He was 92 and is survived by his daughters Com.U Vasuki, a CPM state secretariat member, and Ms. Nirmala Rani, a lawyer.

Com. Umanath was born in Kasargode, Kerala, in 1922 and shifted to Calicut and then to Chennai during his student days. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly as a CPM candidate from Nagapattinam constituency twice (in 1977 and 1980).

He served as a Lok Sabha member for two terms. He was elected to the third and fourth Lok Sabhas from the Puddukottai constituency.

A trade union leader for many years, Umanath was also a former Tamil Nadu state committee secretary of the CPM. He was closely connected with BSNLEU, AIIEA and other trade unions.

His wife, Com.Papa Umanath, one of the founders of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA), died in 2010 at the age of 80.

We deeply mourn the demise of Com.Umanath and convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, comrades and to CPI(M) in their great loss.

The funeral will take place at Trichy in the morning of 22-05-2014.
Red Salute to Com. R.Umanath!

Com. Kelu Ettan, a life of sacrifice and dedication to the people.

20 Tuesday May 2014

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Com.M.K.Kelu, fondly and respectfully called by all as Keluettan (Kelu Dada), was a father figure of the Communist movement in Kerala, especially in the Kozhikode District. His death anniversary will be organised today in many parts of the district. He passed away on 20th May 1991, while functioning as the District Secretary of the CPI(M), Calicut.

During my stay at Calicut during the period 1964 – 1191, I had the opportunity to meet him and get his advice and guidance several times. He was always available for consultation and advice. Everybody who was in contact with him will remember his simplicity and the closeness that he generated.

A front runner in the freedom movement, an early communist and a fighter for the cause of the common people – he was always in the front line. And naturally he was one who was the target of the police atrocities during the agitations. His head was cracked by the police by beating when he was leading a protest dharna in Calicut.

A bachelor till his end, he lived in the party office and prepared food for himself. By the way, he was an excellent cook and usually went to the kitchen and supervised preparation of food whenever there was some party programme or function etc. And he liked a good meal.

I had a lot of pleasant memories of Kelu Ettan. He had inspired me by his simple living and continuous service to the people.

it is appropriate that a Study Centre in his name has been established at Calicut and regular programmes are organised. I had the opportunity to attend a few programmes.

On his 23rd death anniversary, I pay my respectful homage to the popular leader Com.M.K.Kelu!

Today, 20th May, is the death Anniversary of Com.M.K.Kelu, popularly known as Kelu Ettan . He died in 1991. For a very long time he was the District Secretary of the CPI (M), Kozhikode.
One of the pioneers of the communist movement in Kerala, Keluettan was in the forefront of every struggle. Due to his big stature and body build, he was always the target of police atrocities. I still remember when during a protest dharna, he was beaten in the head by the police breaking his skull and blood spurting out. Immediate attention in the hospital only saved his life. He was respected by all for his simplicity, humble behaviour and the affection that he showed to each and every body. Even Comrade EMS Namboodiripad used to call him Keluettan though he may have been younger than EMS.
Once when Com.EMS came to Calicut and was resting in the Rest House at West Hill, I went there to meet him. Com.Chandran who was with EMS called me and told me confidently that the shirt of EMS is old and torn, but he is still using the same and asked me to speak to EMS to purchase a new one. I was afraid to speak. So when comrade Kelu Ettan cam a little later I told the problem to him. Immediately Kelu Ettan went to EMS and told him “I am taking this shirt with me and going to purchase a similar one from the market”. EMS could not object to Kelu Ettan and thus a new readymade shirt was purchased. Many people could not take such freedom with Comrade EMS.
Comrade Kelu Ettan came to my house warming function. Immediately after entering the house, he admonished me stating that why the gate is so small that even a car could not enter. He asked me to make the gate wider which I did later. He was fond of food and once or twice he took the initiative in coming to my home to eat vegetarian food.
It was rarely that he spoke about his past. However we got a chance to hear some of the past struggles etc. from him after a meal in a comrade Balasubramanian’s house. Comrades Balasubramanian and Aboobacker (Deshabhimani) were there. I remember that the narration was published in the NFPTE souvenir.
In 1980s, there was some problem between the staff of Telephone Exchange and the police. Both the offices were nearby and the police in large numbers trespassed the telephone exchange to arrest the union leaders. The entire telecom staff went on strike immediately. I was on duty and the police was searching for me to take in to custody. Getting the information, within a few minutes comrade Kelu Ettan and other comrades reached the exchange and a strong protest meeting was held and during that I escaped arrest and went underground. The strike continued for three days which became a Kerala Circle strike. The State Government had to intervene and an amicable agreement was reached after the concerned police officers were transferred.
I had a lot of pleasant memories regarding Keluettan. As with everybody, he was affectionate with me also. Whenever there was any doubt about any programme or how to plan it, he patiently gave the guidance.
I pay my respectful homage to the memory of this great leader.

Com.Moni Bose Remembered – Meeting at Delhi

19 Monday May 2014

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A well attended meeting was held at the National Council Room in Eastern Court today, 19th May 2014, to pay homage to veteran leader Com. Moni Bose, former General Secretary of E.III Union, who had passed away on this day in 2010.

The meeting was presided over by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU. All the participants stood in silence for one minute paying homage to the departed leader. They also paid floral tributes to Com. Moni, in front of his photo.
Com.Animesh Mitra, Dy. General Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed all and spoke in brief about the life and activities of Com. Moni Bose. Comrades R.K.Kohli, GS, NFTBE, R.L.Moudgil, AGS, R.S.Chauhan, Org. Secretary & CS NTR, R.S.Sagar,CS, ALTTC, Kamal Sah, CS Corporate Office and Chhidu Singh, VP, Delhi NTR circle spoke.
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri spoke in detail about the contributions of Com.Moni Bose, his sacrifice for the movement and how he built up the organisation. He also remembered the close connection he had with Com. Moni and the fight they fought together along with many others for the correct policies in the organisation.

A write up on the life and activities of the veteran leader prepared by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri was supplied to the members present.(The same is available in the BSNLEU website as well as this blog).

Such memorial meetings were held in several places as per the call of the BSNLEUCHQ.