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N Sankaraiah, one of the founding members of the CPI(M), passes away in Chennai

Sankaraiah is considered to be one of the tallest leaders in the country's Marxist movement, especially in Tamil Nadu.

South First Desk

Published Nov 15, 2023 | 1:30 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 15, 2023 | 1:50 PM

N Sankaraiah

N Sankaraiah. (Creative Commons)

Freedom fighter and veteran Marxist leader N Sankaraiah passed away in Chennai on Wednesday, 15 November, following a brief illness, CPI(M) sources said.

He was 102 years old and was under treatment at Apollo Hospital in Chennai, they added.

Sankaraiah is considered to be one of the tallest leaders in the country’s Marxist movement, especially in Tamil Nadu.

He was one of the 32 National Council members who walked out from a Communist Party of India (CPI) National Council meeting held on 11 April, 1964, protesting against party chairman SA Dange and his followers’ “anti-unity and anti-Communist policies”.

‘Comrade N Sankaraiah Amar Rahe’

“Our beloved comrade Sankaraiah passed away today morning. A veteran leader, freedom fighter, and one of the founder members of the CPI(M), comrade Sankaraiah died at 102. We feel deeply saddened. Comrade N Sankaraiah Amar Rahe!” wrote the CPI(M) on X.

He had donned the roles of CPI(M) general secretary, All India Kisan Sabha secretary, CPI(M) Tamil Nadu state secretary, and CPI(M) central committee member.

Sankaraiah was also one of the founding members of the Madras Students’ Organisation and was elected as the secretary of the Madurai Students’ Union.

He was elected to the Tamil Nadu legislative Assembly twice from the Madurai West constituency in 1967 and from the Madurai East constituency in 1977 and 1980.

Sankaraiha unsuccessfully contested the 1962 and 1957 elections from Madurai East constituency.

Shankaraiah was born on 15 July, 1921 in Kovilpatti, Tamil Nadu. He did his schooling in Thoothukudi till class 5 and then at St Mary’s School in Madurai. He joined the American College in Madurai to study BA History but could not complete his studies. Shankaraiah, who was the joint secretary of the students’ union in the college, joined the then-banned Communist Party of India at the age of 17.

During the final year of his course, he was arrested by the British force on 28 February, 1941. He was released only on 14 August 1947. The charge against him was that he organised a protest in support of the students of Annamalai University in Chidambaram, at the instance of late Communist leader AK Gopalan — popularly known as AKG — who was then hiding in Madurai.

He was married to Navamani Ammal and had three children, two sons and a daughter.

Offering condolences for Sankaraiah, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin said he was a fighter against communalism.

“Thagaisal Thamizhar, who lived his life as a public charity, was a veteran fighter for communalism and a freedom fighter. Salutations to Sankaraiah! In recognition of his contribution to Tamil Nadu, we will bid him farewell with state honours,” he wrote on X in Tamil.

Kerala Chief Minister and senior CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan condoled the death of the veteran and hailed him as a selfless leader who was ready for sacrifices.

“The departure of Shankaraiah is deeply saddening. The comrade’s life, spanning more than a century, is synonymous with modern Indian history itself. That life was a guide to the communist movement and he was a perennial source of inspiration,” said Vijayan.

“From the time he left his higher education incomplete and jumped into the freedom struggle, he upheld the interest of the party and the people over personal interest,” he added.

AIADMK leader Edappadi Palaniswami condoled the demise of Sankaraiah saying that he was a close friend of the labour class people and worked for their benefit.

CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury also offered condolences to the departed soul.

“Com N Sankaraiah, Lal Salam. With deep grief, we learn of the demise of Com N Sankaraiah, one of the founders of India’s Communist movement. As a dedicated Marxist-Leninist, he devoted his life to India’s socialist transformation. Deepfelt condolences to his family and comrades,” he wrote on X.

(With PTI inputs)

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