Comrade Maridandiah Budha, who played an important role in the CPIML in its formative stages in Karnataka and built a strong Union of Coolie workers of Mysore, passed away on 10th July at his residence in Mysore.
Comrade Budha suffered from diabetes and succumbed to a brain tumour after a prolonged illness. He was in the midst of all progressive movements - Dalit, Women, Communist, Human rights and all social movements - in the state, specially in Mysore for more than three decades. As a president of Karnataka Coolie Workers Union he was held in high esteem amongst the working class and the civil society of Mysore.
Leading a simple life, Comrade Budha was always ready with public-spirited help and solidarity to factory workers, sanitation workers, and all sections of the working class.
Comrade Buddha never even used a bicycle to move all around Mysore, reaching different offices to help workers who had sought his help. Travelling in the city buses was a passion for this man with passion for service to mankind. In the 1990s when he contested Loksabha elections as an independent but with the support of CPI-ML liberation, he fetched more than 5000 votes - this speaks of his stature amongst the working class and common masses.
In him, people’s movements lost a committed comrade, whose commitment towards social upliftment of the downtrodden was total and for whom communism was a way of life. One week before he breathed his last, Comrade Budha had told his mother to cover his body with the Red Shawl. His wish was honoured when hundreds of comrades bid him final farewell, and when he was finally laid to rest at Mysore, amidst slogans of Long live Revolution.
Lal Salaam Comrade Budha!
