Com. Madan Singh
CPI (ML) Uttar Pradesh Standing Committee member and senior Communist leader Com Madan Singh passed away at the age of 58 on 6 September 2017 on the way to hospital from his home in Amethi. Earlier during the night he had woken up from sleep complaining of uneasiness and breathlessness; possibly he had suffered from a heart attack. When he was brought to the hospital the doctors declared him dead on arrival. Some years ago he had suffered a brain stroke but had recovered to a considerable extent after treatment and he once again threw himself into political and organizational work. Currently he was responsible for the Party’s work in Sitapur, Faizabad, Ambedkarnagar and some other districts in Awadh.
Com Madan Singh joined the Party in 1982-83 after completing LLB from Lucknow University. He was a good basketball player. Soon after joining the Party he became a full-time Party activist. In the phase when the Party was underground he was involved in bringing out its Hindi publication. Later he took on the mantle of responsibility for the trade unions’ State in-charge and various Party activities in Purvanchal and Western UP from time to time. He carried on the Party’s work as a doughty soldier even in the hardest of times and endeared himself to his comrades as an affectionate, sociable, good human being. Young comrades were particularly attached to him. His death is an irreparable loss to the Communist movement. The entire Party along with the UP State unit shares the bereavement of Com Madan Singh’s family, friends and well-wishers and pays tribute to him. Red salute to Com Madan Singh!
Com. Yamuna Prasad Poddar
Well-loved workers’ leader Com Yamuna Prasad Poddar passed away on 2 September 2017 after a heart attack. He was 85. Com Yamuna, currently a District President of AICCTU, leaves behind four sons and a daughter. His son Amar Kumar is a member of the AICCTU Bihar State Council.
Com Yamuna was a fearless and honest worker under whose leadership workers’ struggles were at the forefront in Bhagalpur. He openly challenged the feudal-Brahminic dominance which had taken root in the corridors of power. He was elected District President of the Bihar State Non-gazetted Workers Association (Gope group) in 1988-89 and was jailed for leading workers’ struggles. Associated with the Communist movement from the beginning, Com Yamuna joined the CPI (ML) in the same year (88-89). He was a member of the CPI (ML) Bhagalpur City Committee from 2002 to 2009. He worked with the Construction Workers’ Union and was elected President in 2006. He was jailed along with 26 workers in 2008 for leading the struggle against police brutalities on workers.
Hundreds of activists and leaders from the Left, trade unions, workers’ organizations, workers, and poor people gathered at his house on 3 September to pay their respects and condolences. He was draped in the red flag on behalf of the Party. His last rites were performed at Barari Ghat with the singing of Internationale. Red salute to Com Yamuna Prasad!
Com. Siraj Khan
Com. Siraj Khan, district committee member of Koderma passed away on 11 September in Kolkata while he was undergoing treatment. His lungs and kidneys had been affected by pneumonia and jaundice. Com. Siraj Khan had joined the party in 2012 and remained active since then. His activism ensured expansion of the party in the Jaynagar block. His survived by his mother, wife, two sons and daughters. His demise has left the party in shock. Red Salute to Com. Siraj Khan!
