Comrade Nripen Chakraborty, former chief Minister of Tripura and former PB Member of CPI(M) was paid respectful homage by the people of Tripura on 21st January 2011, on the occasion of his birth centenary.

Com.Nripen was the comrade who sowed the seeds of Communism in Tripura among the tribals and gradually drew the Bengali population in it, stated Com. Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPI(M) while inaugurating the function. In contrast to the ethnic hostility that prevails in other states of the NE region, Tripura stands as a unique example of unity, thanks to the great contribution of Com. Nripen Chakraborty, he said.

I pay my respectful homage to the memory of one of the stalwarts of the communist movement, who was so simple in his life and lived as one among the tribals and non-tribals of Tripura.

During every organisation tour of Kolkata, I have been meeting one comrade who can be seen moving here and there with the help of  crutches. His onle leg has been amputed below the knee, but he manages to attend every activity with committment to the work. Today, 31st December 2010, when I was to go to the Airport from the Inspection Quarters Salt Lake, in the early morning, he came up to the second floor mounting the stairs with the help of crutches. He accompanied me to the Airport also. He seemed to be full of energy despite his disability . On the way I asked him what happened to his leg.He told me the story.

His name is Asok Sen Gupta and at present is the District Secretary of BSNLEU Bidhan Nagar and the Circle Organnising Secretary of Kolkata Telephones. He started as a DRM in 1977 and after regularisation was promoted as a Telecom Mechanic in 1997.  He is working in the stores, Salt Lake exchange, at present.

The horrible incident happened on 14th March 1986. A group of Congress goondas came and attacked him and some other comrades with out any provocation when they were walking in the streets. The only reason was that they were not supporting the congress. His leg was chopped off with a sword like weapon. Despite the fact that the Left front was ruling, the congress hoodlums continued their nefarious attacks on the progressive section of workers. He was taken to the hospital and had to be there for about some months after amputation of the leg.

Despite the fact that Com. Asok Sen Gupta Sen can walk only on crutches, he continues to lead the union with determination and committment. Thousands of such commited comrades have strengthened the BSNLEU to its present position. I salute them.

In W.Bengal, the Trinamul Congress continues this legacy of goondaism and crime which   was started by Congress in 1970s. I am sure that the people of W.Bengal will give suitablle reply to these atrocities.

K.Karunakaran (93), four times chief Minister of Kerala and senior Congress leader passed away on 23rd December. The burial will take place on 25th December at Trichur.

We express our grief and convey our condolences to the bereaved family and congress party.

Com.Papa Umanath, wife of CPI(M) leader Com.R.Umanath and one of the senior leaders of the party passed away at Trichy on 17th December 2010. She was one of the founder leaders of the All India Democratic Womens Association. From childhood she was in the middle of struggles and was jailed for years. She was closely connected with Railway trade unions. She is survived by her husband and daughter Com. U.Vasuki, CPI(M) leader and Nirmala Rani.

We express our deep sorrow and conveys our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

It is nine years since Comrade Suseela Gopalan, the fighter for the working class and especially for women, left us. She passed away on 19th December 2001.  Born in a communist family, she got acquainted with the legendary leader of the working class, Comrade A.K.Gopalan during his underground days and later got married  to him.

During the period as Member  of Parliament, she helped and took up the cases of Telecom Employees very effectively and represented many of our cases. She raised many important issues in the Parliament also. After her tenure as M.P., she became Minister in the Kerala Government and did a good job. She is the founder President of  All India Democratic Womens Association and continued as such for a long period.  When as the Circle Secretary of AITEE Union Class III in Kerala Circle, we decided to start a Mahila Committee in the union and held a Mahila Convention in Trichur  in 1977, Com.Susheela Gopalan was invited to inaugurate the convention. Many of our comrades in the union felt that only very few, say some twenty or thirty women  may attend. But surprisingly more than 300 lady comrades attended and a Mahila Committee for the Union was formed. Probably, it may be for the first time that such a committee was formed in the union. It still continues to effectively work in Kerala. Com. Susheela congratulated all of us for the effort to bring more lady comrades in to union activities.

On this 9th death anniversary we pay our respectful homage to our dear comrade Susheela Gopalan. VAN Namboodiri.

36^th Death Anniversary of Com. K.G. Bose

11^th December, 2010 is the 36^th Death Anniversary of Com. K.G. Bose, the indomitable fighter who gave the P&T and Central Govt. Employees T.U. movement the correct direction and guidance.

Appointed as a clerk in the DET office Calcutta in 1942, he became fully engaged in the P&T Trade Union movement in no time and was one of the leaders in the historic 1946 strike.

In 1949, he was dismissed from service for his leadership role in the proposed P&T strike and never taken back. But even after dismissal, he continued his trade union activities in the P&T and Central Govt. Employees movement.

 In 1970, Com. K.G. Bose was elected as the President of the mighty NFPTE – defeating the reformist leadership. In the meantime he was elected as an MLA in West Bengal.

 His continued work and hectic tours adversely affected his health. For better treatment he was admitted in a hospital in London. But his illness increased and he passed away on 9^th December, 1974.

 Our Red Salute and Homage to the memory of the great Revolutionary Com. K.G. Bose.

Com.S.Chandrasekharan, veteran leader of the P&T Trade union movement and former Asst. General Secretary of Administrative Union passed away to day at Chennai. He was at present working in CITU, Chennai. He was 80.

He was one of the leaders who was in the forefront fighting against the reformist policies of the NFPTE leadership. He was circle Secretary of both Administrative Offices Employees Union as also Line Staff Union, Chennai. He organised the Central Government employees movement there. Perhaps he and Com.A.K.Veeraraghavan might be the leaders who organised the Casual & Contract workers for the first time. For this and his other trade union activities, in In 1977 he was compulsorily retired from service. But due to sustained efforts of the union he was reinstated. In 1979 he took voluntary retirement for full time trade union work and started working in CITU.

He was well studied and used to take regular trade union classes for the workers. He was always with the workers and for solving their problems.

I had close association with Com.Chandrasekharan. After his retirement, I met him in the CITU office Chennai. When I came, he was sitting on an old wooden bench and taking classes to some workers who were sitting on the floor on a mat. When he saw me the class was stopped for a few minutes and we exchanged greetings and spoke for some time. Then he continued with the class.

He was  discussing a case with his advocate today evening when all of a sudden there was serious heart attack and he succumbed to the same within minutes.

He has got two daughters and one of them is working in BSNL. I contacted the family and conveyed my heartfelt condolences.

Red Salute to Com. Chandrasekharan !

We pay our respectful homage on the 55th Death Anniversary of Dr.B.R.Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitution and the great leader of the under privileged.