Mentor of trade unionists,sharp,tireless and acceptable to all

Encouraging workers of each important sector to form a national-level federation for their sector was his passion. CITU now has such federations in almost all industries. The leaders of these federations used to be in close touch with Comrade Pandhe personally.

One of his major contributions is his tireless effort to develop a united struggle in the interest of the working class of the entire country. On a number of occasions,we observed that his devotion and sincerity about developing a joint movement made him a natural leader on the platform of all Central trade unions. During deliberations,leaders of all trade unions would eagerly wait for a contribution from Comrade Pandhe. We noted that while interactions were in progress,he would skilfully draft the joint communiqué/resolution of the meeting,and almost all participants of the joint meeting would endorse it.

His memory was a wonder to me. He could remember accurately any comrade whom he had met once. And wherever he had gone once,the location,route and topography of the place remained vivid in his memory.

Comrade Pandhe was a member of various national-level bodies formed by the government. In the meetings of all these bodies,people right from Union ministers and bureaucrats paid keen attention to what he said.

He was a tireless traveller. There are very few towns in India that he had not visited. Before he started using a cellphone,we could not easily trace Comrade Pandhe. Wherever he went,he would find the cheapest route of commuting. Once,in Paris,he made plans to travel to the airport by the Metro and the Roissybus. His comrades,20 years younger,insisting on travelling by taxi but he remained firm. Finally,a local Indian friend offered a drop to the airport.

He was hardworking. He wrote a number of books while travelling on a train or a plane. His authority in analysing and finding a resolution for industrial disputes became legendary. His explanations of labour laws in favour of workers were unique. We used to find the best possible solution to a long-standing,complex matter by handing it over to him. After his counsel,everything once confusing became more lucid and decisive than earlier.

After the formation of CITU in 1970,Comrade Pandhe lived in Kolkata. He adapted to Bengali culture. He liked eating muri,popped rice,very much. He found the muri of Kolkata better than that of Delhi,and used to carry it when he travelled out of Kolkata. Earlier,when he used to stay in the CITU office,his bed would be two benches of the office. Later,the state CPM office was constructed with guest rooms. Once,in the party office,dinner was served with parshe fish. He told me he was very fond of this fish but was afraid of its bones. I showed him how to separate the fish from the bone. I told him,You have taught me so many things about the trade union and labour laws. Here is at least one thing I have taught you. His loud laughter still rings in my mind.

Comrade Pandhe did not have a house of his own. He and his wife were both party full-timers. For the last two years they had been staying in a small room in the bungalow allocated to me from Parliament. One Sunday morning,I visited them. They welcomed me to join a special breakfast prepared for the Sunday. When the special dish was served,it was pressed rice (chira) with almond. I was taken aback. Then I realised that this simple menu was special for the party full-timer. Sometimes,he jokingly addressed me as my landlord.

Poet Tagore paid homage to Guru Govind Singh with the lines,Amar jibane loviya jiban jago re sakal desh (Gaining vigour from my life,awake,my country). This fits Comrade Pandhe too.