Obituary

Comrade Gopal Prasad, legendary leader of the urban poor in Ara and former member of the Ara Municipal Corporation, passed away on May 1. He was a pillar of strength for CPIML in Bhojpur. Red Salute to Comrade Gopal Prasad.

More power to his revolutionary legacy.

Eminent human rights and anti-caste campaigner and long-standing leader of the CPI(ML) in Karnataka, Dr. V Lakshminarayana breathed his last around 11.30 pm in Mysore on 22nd April 2024. Comrade Lakshmi was a dermatologist by profession.

Comrade Jaiprakash Singh, 77, passed away on 5 April in Begusarai. A large number of left activists and supporters bid him final farewell to this veteran communist who began his activism during the student’s movement of 1967. During that time, he came in contact with CPIML leader Kamleshwari Rai and became a part of the Naxalbari struggle. He had been a committed crusader since then for the left politics and people’s issues. He was the Indian People’s Front’s Begusarai district secretary in 1980.

Comrade Dukhi Pasi from Bhadaura block of Ghazipur district in UP passed away on March 24. For decades, he had played a role in strengthening the struggles of the poor under the red flag against the feudal-criminal attacks.

The life and legacy of Comrade Dukhi Paswan represents the unwavering commitment to the cause of justice and against oppression. He also gave his land for the building of the party office. His demise is a great loss for the party and the people.

Comrade Ramashish Sah, a veteran communist and senior leader of CPIML in Darbhanga district and former mukhiya of Madhopur Panchayat, passed away on March 27. Born on 5 August 1942 in a farmer family, he joined the communist movement at the spark of Telangana farmers in Mithilanchal. He, along with Bhogendra Jha, Abdul Salam, Vijaykant Thakur and others, raised the red flag after leaving his job as a teacher. 

Comrade Ramswarth Singh, 62, passed away in the wee hours of 14 March at a hospital in Patna where he was undergoing treatment for cancer. An old timer, he came into the party's contact in 1980 and formally joined as a member two years later. He worked as a full-time activist for a long time and was Bihar Pradesh Kisan Sabha’s Vaishali district secretary and state council member. He was CPIML district secretary from 1988 to 1991 as well as a member of North-West Bihar regional committee. Comrade Ramswarth Singh always stood firmly with the party.

Comrade Hena Sultana, 30 the ever smiling and vivacious young party cadre of Hooghly District (WB) suddenly passed away on 17 March in PG Hospital, Kolkata, due to some postpartum complications. She was the wife of Comrade Sk. Anarul, the Secretary of Balagarh Block Committee and member of Hooghly District Committee of our party. She hailed from a middle peasant family where the political atmosphere was lacking, let alone the influence of any leftist culture.

The passing of Comrade Ashok Singh leaves a big void in the party Bihar. He died on the night of 3 March after a brief illness. He was Party’s Bhojpur office incharge since the nineties. He played a pivotal role in the functioning of the party office in the tumultuous years when the party and rural poor were facing multiple attacks and massacres by Ranvir Sena. He also functioned as Vidhayak Pratinidhi for comrade Ramnaresh Ram during 1995 to 2010.

Comrade Shivani Verma, CPIML district committee member and AIPWA state committee member and district president, died on 14 February 2024 at Madhuraj Nursing Home, Kanpur, UP. On January 29, 2024, she fell ill with pneumonia and was admitted to Madhuraj Nursing Home, but her health continued to deteriorate. On 14 February, she breathed her last in the hospital at around 3 pm.

Comrade Shanti Kol, Mirzapur District Committee Member of CPIML and AIPWA District Secretary, passed away on February 6, 2024 at the age of 65 Years after a prolonged illness. We pay our tributes and pledged to carry forward her mission. Red Salute Comrade Shanti Kol!