Lal Salaam Comrade Yechury

Free Thinker *

When Manipur is still in turmoil a veteran leftist National leader Sitaram Yechury passed away at AIIMS, New Delhi. He was a young man of 72 - in active politics septuagenarians are still considered young - like our energetic PM at 73.

On his sad demise the President of Bharat Madam Murmu says, “he had friends cutting across Party lines and he was a committed ideologue". PM Modiji says, "he was a leading light of the Left and an effective Parliamentarian".

Being an articulate person with a smiling sense of humor Yechury could make friends across the entire political spectrum of the country. He was one of the rarest communist characters with whom even the rightwingers did not hesitate to interact freely. For instance, a photo of PM Modi and Yechury talking & laughing together at an all-party meeting had gone viral.

Yechury was one of the leading Communist leaders of the country post ‘Emergency’. He was a dedicated Nationalist though attached to an international ideology. Yechury moved here and there - covering the entire length and breadth of the country - worked for the poor and downtrodden people including poor farmers and working class.

He also fought for the rights of the tribals and Dalits. Though a firm believer in the Communist ideology he was a pragmatic communist and a practical politician. Perhaps he was the only comrade who became the General Secretary of CPI(M) outside of West Bengal and Kerala. He was very close to all the contemporary left leaders of the country.

In Manipur the CPM cadres are not many but certainly they are there. Though a microscopic minority they still have the commitment and dedication towards their party and Communist ideology. Here in Manipur CPI has more cadres and more pockets of influence.

Most of the time CPI and CPM cadres work together for various National issues and State causes. They are extremely worried about the fragile situation of the State. All Parties have been putting pressure on the State and Central Government to effectively control the unfortunate situation of Manipur.

Sitaram graduated from St Stephen's College , Delhi University. He was a gold medalist in Economics. For his Masters he went to Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). In an interview to ‘The Hindu (Newspaper)’ in 2020, he recalled, "In my entrance interview, there were three very senior Professors. Suddenly one of them asked, “Do you smoke? I said, ‘Yes’. So, he said, "then light one up". Sitaram was a heavy smoker.

Yechury was elected as the President of JNU Students Union. During his time the Chancellor was forced to resign - the Chancellor was none other than Smt Indira Gandhi. In fact she, even after her electoral defeat in the Lok Sabha election was holding the post of JNU Chancellorship. JNU students led by Yechury went to her residence demanding her resignation. He remained JNU students Union President for three terms.

Sitaram recalled, "There were 500 of us. Her (Indira Gandhi’s) aide told us that only 5 of us can go in to meet her. But when we insisted, she herself came out. We read out our resolution against her which was full of litanies, but she listened stoically, I handed over the resolution to her and she took it politely too. Couple of days later she resigned".

In a small class of students constituting the first MA batch (1973-75) of the Centre of Economic Studies and Planning at JNU, he was not just clearly the most brilliant but the one who made everyone smile. He combined those qualities with remarkable intelligence, amply reflected in the results of his academic career, which he gave up for the rough and tumble of politics.... Prof CP Chandrasekhar fondly remembers.

As a firebrand student leader, he joined the Communist Party (CPM) in the 1970s. He was made a Central Committee Member at the age of 32- one of the youngest to attain such a feat. When he was in the Central Committee he was the blue eyed boy of Communist Veteran EMS Namboodiripad, who was the then General Secretary of the Party. Later he also became very close to Harkishan Singh Surjeet , another doyen of the Party.

In August, 2023 a four member delegation led by Sitaram Yechury came to Manipur and stayed for three days. The other members of the CPM delegation were Suprakash Talukdar,, Jitendra Choudury and Deblina Hembrom. They went to the relief camps in Churachandpur and Moirang.

Sitaram later put up on X , "The CPM delegation called on the Hon. Governor of Manipur and had an hour long discussion and requested for her intervention in ensuring that the appalling conditions in the relief camps are improved". Perhaps he had also written to the top leadership of the country for restoring peace and normalcy in the State of Manipur.

For me, Comrade Sitaram Yechury was a chain-smoking orator who could build consensus out of utter confusion and one who kept working ceaselessly for the country and countrymen.

Salute to you, Sir - from a frivolous free thinker.