The 24th Party Congress is scheduled to be held at Madurai, T. Nadu, from 2nd to 6 th April 2025, with sixty years of struggles and heroic activities since its formation in the Calcutta Congress held from 31st October and culminated on 7th November 1964, the 47th anniversary of the great October Revolution heralding the first Socialist State in the world, the USSR.

The first nine PB Members elected at Calcutta Party Congress, who were all part of the great Indian Freedom Struggle, who suffered jail life both before and after Indpendence and whose sacrifices for the toiling masses have no parallel are called ‘ Nava Ratnas ‘ as a great trbute.

They are comrades P. Sundarayya, B. T. Ranadive, E. M. S. Namboodiripad, A. K. Gopalan, M. Basavapunnaiah, P. Ramamoorthy, Promod Das Gupta, Harkishan Singh Surjit and Jyoti Basu. None of them are with us today.

Many books have been written about their life, struggles, sacrifices etc and many will be written in future also. I am giving below a very very brief mention of these great leaders.

Com. P Sundarayya ( 01.05.1993 – 19.05.1985 )

Com. P. Sundarayya, who was the first General Secretary of CPI(M) was the leader of the Telengana Armed Struggle against the misrule of Nizam, by which hundreds of villages were liberated. Well educated and belonging to a rich Zamindar family, his life was fully dedicated to the betterment of the toiling masses. Arrested and jailed several times. Worked from underground also. The first Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha. Organised party in South India.

Com. B T Ranadive ( 19.12.1904 – 06.04.1990 )

Com. B T Ranadive, instead of continuing his studies after passing M. A. ( with Gold Medal )from Pune College, , jumped in to the Independence Struggle. Supported and organised general strikes in Bombay in support of the 1946 Royal Indian Mutiny as also the P & T Strike in the same year, both of which are treated as part of Freedom Struggle. Elected as General Secretary of CPI in the Second Party Congress. Leader of Indian working class and Founder President of CITU.

Com. E M S Namboodiripad ( 14.06.1909 – 19.03.1998)

Com. E M S Namboodiripad, who belonged to an arstocratic rich landlord Brahmin family of Kerala left his college life for joining Independence Struggle. Arrested and jailed several times. Long period in underground to avoid arrest. Fought against obscurantic practices and anaachaarams in Brahmin community. From Congress to Congress Socialist Party and then toCommunist Party. Elected as the second General Secretary of CPI(M) after PS. Functioned as GS of undivided CPI. First Chief Minister of Kerala. Internationally known Communist theoritician. His articles and books are published in 100 big volumes, probably the maximum by any politician.

Com. A K Gopalan ( 01.10.1904 – 22.03.1977)

Com. A K Gopalan, left his teacher’s job to enter politics and plunged in to Independence movement. Like Com. E M S, he also reached Communist Party through Congress. Many times arrested and jailed in connection with people’s struggles. Wherever people were suffering, he was there giving inspiring leadership. PB Member since formation of CPI(M) till his death. Opposition Leader in Parliament for long period and fought in Parliament also, just like outside. Wife Com. Suseela Gopalan M. P. was the Founder President of AIDWA.

Com. M Basavapunnaiah ( 14.12.1914 – 12.04.1992 )

Com. M. Basavapunnaiah, an internationally known Communist theoritician, started his political life through Independence struggle and Telengana armed struggle along with Com. Sundarayya. Organised peasants and workers. Jailed many times. Was in underground to avoid arrest. PB Member since formation of CPI(M) till death.

Com. P. Ramamurti ( 20.09.1908 – 15.12.1987 )

Com. P. Ramamoorthy was born in a orthodox Brahmin family of Tanjore in former Madras Province. While studying in Lucknow and Benares he became interested in anti – imperialist and Independent Struggles and jumped in to the same. Participated in Congress activities. Organised workers and agricultural workers. He was jailed several times for his militant activities. M. P. from T. Nadu. Founder General Secretary of CITU.

Com. Promode Dasgupta ( 13.07.1910 – 29.11.1982 )

Com. Promode Dasgupta got involved in Independence movement while studying in college. Later he joined the revolutionary group Anuseelan Party. Was arrested and was an accused in conspiracy against British Government. Jailed many times for years. Joined Communist Party. One of the PB Members since 1964. Was State Secretary CPI(M), W. Bengal for many years.

Har Kishan Singh Surjeet ( 23.03.1916 – 01.08.2008 )

Com. Har Kishan Singh Sujeet was involved in freedom movement from his school days. Participated in activities of Gaddar Party as well as Nau Jawan Bharat Sabha. Even while only 15 and in his school days, on the martyrdom day of Shaheed Bhagat Singh he removed the British flag and hoisted the Tricolor flag on the flagmast in front of Hoshiarpur District Court. Joined Communist Party. Several times jailed. Consistent fight against communalism. General Secretary of CPI(M) for 12 years.

Com. Jyoti Basu (08.07.1914 – 17.01.2010 )

Com. Jyoti Basu, born in an aristocratic rich family, got involved in politics and Independence struggle while studying for Law in England. He became closely connected with the British Communist Party. After returning to India, instead of moving to practice of Law, he became fully involved with Communist Party and its activities, specially in trade union. He was Chief Minister of W. Bengal for uninterrupted 24 years.

(I am fortunate to have seen all these Navaratnas and got acquainted with all except two of them. It was a great privelege to get continued advice and guidance from Comrades BTR, EMS and AKG for many years on trade union and other matters.)

RED SALUTE TO THE FIRST NINE PB MEMBERS OF CPI(M) WHOSE SACRIFICES AND STRUGGLES FOR BUILDING UP THE PARTY AND FIGHTING FOR IMPROVING THE CONDITION OF PEOPLE IS LEGENDARY!

V A N Namboodiri 30.03.2025