HUNDREDS of people from all walks of life and from various regions, reflecting the rich diversity of our country, stood patiently in line to pay their final respects to Comrade Sitaram Yechury, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). A wave of grief swept through the gathering as they gazed upon the still form of Comrade Sitaram, lying in repose on a specially prepared platform. The love and respect he had earned throughout his life were on full display in the quiet, tear-filled eyes of those gathered.

Although the news of Comrade Sitaram Yechury’s illness and hospitalisation was known to all, none could believe that he would be so soon lost from our midst forever. Comrades working at the Party headquarters were seen reminiscing about their friendly interactions with him and the broad smile with which he greeted everyone. The thought that his booming voice would no longer call their names in the office brought tears to many eyes. With heavy hearts, arrangements were made for people to pay their last respects to Comrade Sitaram at the Party headquarters.

While it was announced that people could pay their respects from 11:00 am on September 14, by the time the body arrived at 10:30 am, hundreds of Party comrades and friends of Comrade Sitaram had already gathered at the AKG Bhavan. Members of the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) carried the body from the hearse to the special platform and draped it with Comrade Sitaram’s beloved red flag. With tears in their eyes and clenched fists, they saluted their comrade-in-arms. Secretaries of almost all the state committees followed the Polit Bureau members and Central Secretariat members in laying wreaths and paying homage to the general secretary. Sitaram had visited every state of the country in the course of his responsibilities as a leader of the CPI(M), and there wasn’t a single leader who didn’t hold a personal memory of their time with him. While words may have failed to capture the depth of their loss, the sorrow etched on their faces said it all.

Leaders from various political parties gathered to pay tribute to Sitaram Yechury. Leaders from all the Left parties were there. Among the first to visit the Party headquarters were D Raja, general secretary of the CPI, who arrived with his colleagues in the National Secretariat to pay homage on behalf of their party. Raja, who shared a long association with Comrade Sitaram, was moved to tears upon seeing his longtime friend and comrade lying in repose.

Dipankar Bhattacharya, general secretary of the CPI-ML (Liberation), and his party colleagues, Devarajan, general secretary of the All India Forward Bloc, Manoj Bhattacharya, general secretary of the RSP, and leaders from other Left parties such as the Communist Ghadar Party of India, SUCI(C), and MCPI, also paid their respects to Comrade Sitaram Yechury.

Sonia Gandhi, chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party, was among the first prominent leaders to pay their tributes. She recalled Yechury’s contributions, noting that he would be deeply missed, and offered her condolences to the Party leaders and Comrade Sitaram’s family. She was accompanied by senior Congress leaders including P Chidambaram, Jairam Ramesh, Rajeev Shukla, and others. Several other Congress leaders, such as Ashok Gehlot, Sachin Pilot, and J D Seelam, also paid their respects to the departed leader.

Sharad Pawar, president of the NCP, Akhilesh Yadav, president of the Samajwadi Party, Manoj Jha, MP representing the RJD, T R Baalu, Kanimozhi, and Udhayanidhi Stalin representing the DMK, Manish Sisodia, Sanjay Jha, and Raghav Chadha from the AAP, Vijaysai Reddy of the YSRCP, Suresh Reddy of the BRS, and Kunhalikutty from the IUML, all paid their respects on behalf of their respective parties.

Leaders from various trade unions, kisan and agricultural workers' associations, as well as women, youth, and student organisations, also joined in paying tribute to Comrade Sitaram.

Internationally renowned historian Professor Romila Thapar, despite being over 90 years of age and facing health-related challenges, came to pay her respects, demonstrating the high regard in which she held Comrade Sitaram. She was joined by academics such as S Irfan Habib and Nandita Narain in honouring him.

Eminent lawyer and political activist Kapil Sibal, along with psephologist and social activist Yogendra Yadav, also paid their tributes. Journalists from various organisations and media houses were present as well, sharing stories of their numerous interactions with Sitaram Yechury and reflecting on how he had shaped their political understanding of India.

An interesting and notable feature was the presence of religious leaders from various denominations – Christian, Muslim, Hindu, and Buddhist – who came to pay homage to Comrade Sitaram. Their presence clearly demonstrated how people across religious boundaries loved and respected him, not only as a political leader but as a friend and a figure for all times.

Foreign dignitaries and ambassadors representing diplomatic missions from China, Russia, Vietnam, Cuba, Syria, and Palestine paid their tributes, remembering Sitaram Yechury as a true internationalist who understood global struggles and consistently stood with oppressed peoples.

Madhav Nepal, former prime minister of Nepal, Ishwar Pokhrel, former deputy prime minister, and the current minister of culture led delegations from various communist parties in Nepal, traveling to Delhi to pay their respects to Sitaram Yechury.

Former and current JNU students, from the university where Sitaram Yechury had studied, also joined people from diverse walks of life in paying homage. Cultural artists from JANAM and Parcham, along with those associated with SAHMAT and ANHAD, were among the hundreds who paid homage. Doctors, scientists, writers, lawyers, bankers, insurance employees, workers from various industries, scheme workers, domestic workers, peasants, dalit and adivasi activists, and rights activists all gathered to honour Comrade Sitaram.

The diversity of people in the queue, waiting patiently to pay their last respects, reflected the multi-faceted interests and encyclopedic knowledge of Comrade Sitaram. Many were heard speaking of how he had engaged with them in their areas of interest – not as a casual observer, but with deep expertise. It was this quality of Sitaram – his ability to connect with people from all walks of life –that endeared him to them and inspired so many to come and be part of his final journey.

As a fitting tribute, student activists and the Parcham-Janam cultural groups sang two of Comrade Sitaram’s favourite songs – Laal Jhanda Lé ke Comrade and The Internationale – as a final salute to the departed leader.

At 3:00 pm, members of the CPI(M) Polit Bureau gathered around Comrade Sitaram’s body to bid their final farewell, followed by his family members. Afterwards, the body was once again placed in the hearse for its final journey.

Led by the red-clad volunteers, the hearse carrying Comrade Sitaram’s body began the journey to its final destination – AIIMS hospital, to which he had pledged to donate his body. Polit Bureau and Central Committee members walked behind the hearse, joined by Party comrades and friends who had come to pay their respects. The procession began at AKG Bhavan, Comrade Sitaram’s final place of work, and passed by 14 Ashoka Road, the former office of the CPI(M) Central Committee and the place where Comrade Sitaram’s political journey had begun. From there, people boarded vehicles to accompany the hearse on the long final journey to AIIMS.

Through tears, Comrade Sitaram’s body was handed over to the hospital for medical research, following the completion of formalities. Through choked voices and tear-filled eyes, the gathered comrades remained resolute, their grief only strengthening their resolve to carry forward the ideals to which Comrade Sitaram Yechury had dedicated his entire life.

As the editor of People’s Democracy for many years, every week before leaving office in the evening, he would ask us if everything was “under control?” Yes, Comrade; we promise you, everything will be brought under control. Red Salute!!