Freedom fighter, veteran communist leader N Sankaraiah dies at 102

Sankaraiah’s journey as a revolutionary began at the American College in Madurai. His father wanted him to become a lawyer but his participation in the freedom struggle led to his arrest, days before his final examinations. He spent a total of eight years in prison — both before and after Independence — a time that shaped his belief in communism and social justice. His education remained incomplete.

He emerged as an active Communist Party of India (CPI) worker in the 1940s and quickly rose through the ranks, eventually becoming a key organiser in Tamil Nadu. He was the party’s Madurai district secretary in 1944.

He was instrumental in the formation of the CPI(M), breaking away from the CPI in 1964 due to ideological differences.

With his demise, former Kerala Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan, 100, is the only founding member of CPM who survives.

Sankaraiah was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly in 1967, 1977 and 1980, a marker of his popularity and influence. His tenure was marked by his fervent speeches for the working classes and the oppressed.

Sankaraiah was also secretary of the party’s state committee from 1995 to 2002.

His impact was not limited to politics. He was deeply involved in the development of the farm movement and led the All India Kisan Sabha as its General Secretary and President. He was a powerful public speaker, one who would articulate communist politics and policies with clarity and conviction.

Sankaraiah was honoured with the prestigious ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ Award by the DMK government in 2021. He donated the prize money from the award for Covid-19 relief.

G Ramakrishnan, the former state secretary of Tamil Nadu CPI(M) unit, told The Indian Express recently that Sankaraiah chose to not accept the government pension for freedom fighters. “Sankaraiah has always been about the cause, not the applause. His choice to turn down the freedom fighter pension is just one example of his real-deal dedication to India’s independence — he felt that he fought the British for his own country, not as a job or for remuneration,” Ramakrishnan said.

A few weeks back, Governor R N Ravi rejected a honorary doctorate offered by Madurai Kamaraj University to Sankaraiah, triggering a major controversy in the state. Following the governor’s move, the state higher education minister K Ponmudy boycotted the university’s convocation function last week.

Chief Minister Stalin, in his condolence message, underscored Sankaraiah’s significant contributions to the state and the nation. He hailed the late leader as a symbol of resistance and resilience, whose life and sacrifices for the working class and Tamil land would be forever remembered.

Stalin’s presence at the hospital following Sankaraiah’s demise was a reminder of the high regard in which the leader was held across the political spectrum.

Referring to the recent doctorate controversy, Stalin said he regretted that the honorary doctorate could not be conferred upon Sankaraiah due to the some “narrow-minded” persons who were unaware of the history of the freedom struggle in Tamil Nadu. Though the degree was announced by Stalin last July after it was passed by the Madurai Kamaraj University’s syndicate and senate bodies, Governor Ravi declined to approve it as chancellor.

A statement from the CPM said: “The Communist movement has lost a leader with a glorious record, but his legacy lives on.”

“The Polit Bureau pays homage to his memory and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his two sons and family members,” said the statement.