Vol. XLI No. 48 November 26, 2017
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Comrade Sukomal Sen

CPI(M ) Polit Bureau has issued the following statement on November 22
THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Sukomal Sen, chairman of the Central Control Commission and ex-officio member of the Central Committee.  Sukomal Sen died after a long illness.  He was aged 83.

Sukomal Sen joined the Party in 1952.  He was the organiser and builder of the State Government Employees movement in the country.  He served as the general secretary of the All India State Government Employees Federation from 1982 to 2008. He was formerly vice president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions.  He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha for two terms.

Sukomal Sen was a committed Marxist-Leninist and an outstanding trade union leader.  He wrote the book, “Working Class of India: History of Emergence and Movement” which has become an authoritative account of the history of the working class movement.

The Polit Bureau pays homage to this dedicated Communist leader and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife and sons. 

Bengal Party Pays Tributes to Comrade Sukomal Sen

Comrade Sukomal Sen suffered a massive stroke on November 21 and was admitted to a private hospital in the city where he breathed his last on November 22nd morning.

Comrade Sen’s body was brought to CPI(M) state committee office on the 22nd. Party Polit Bureau members Biman Basu and Surjyakanta Misra laid Red Flag on the body. CPI(M) state secretariat members, leaders of Party and mass organisations offered their tributes. His body was then taken to CITU state office, the headquarters of state government employees’ trade union and his house. Later his body was donated to NRS Medical College and Hospital.

Comrade Sukomal Sen joined the Communist movement at an early age. He earned his Party membership in 1952. After graduation, Comrade Sen joined a job and got involved in trade union activities. He was a tall leader of government employee’s movement. He was one of the founders of All India State Government Employees Federation and was general secretary of AISGEF from 1982 to 2008. He was a senior vice president of the organisation till his death.

Along with employees movement, Comrade Sen was deeply involved in other areas of working class movement. He was formerly a vice president of CITU and was an invitee in its national secretariat till his demise.

Comrade Sen was involved in international working class movement as well. He was general secretary of Trade Union International of Public and Allied Services from 1996 to 2009. He played an important role in co-ordinating and strengthening of employees’ movement in that capacity.

In the working class movement, Comrade Sen always steadfastly professed the correct political understanding of the working class and ideological battles against various trends of capitulation. He took firm stand against class collaboration and exposed ruling class policies through his writings and speeches. He was a prolific writer. His books included ‘Working Class of India: History of Emergence and Movement’ which has become an authoritative account of the history of the working class movement. This book has been translated into different languages. He also wrote ‘History of May Day’, ‘History of International Movement of the Working Class’.

From 1982 to 1994, Comrade Sen served as a member of Rajya Sabha where he relentlessly espoused the cause of the working people.