COMRADE Sitaram Yechury, a revolutionary visionary leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), was a pioneer in recognising the grave threat posed by the fascist RSS's Hindutva ideology early on. Until his last breath, he dedicated his life to combating this right-wing, communal fascism. This was the view expressed by Prakash Karat, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) at a memorial meeting held in Kolkata on October 3.

Besides Prakash Karat, Party state secretary Muhammad Salim and Polit bureau member Surya Mishra also addressed the gathering. Party senior leader Biman Basu chaired the meeting. Paying tribute to Comrade Sitaram Yechury, the leaders emphasized the need to learn from his deep ideological understanding of the dangers of communalism and to fulfill the historic responsibility of building the broadest possible unity to combat it.

Karat said that Yechury had been deeply involved in preparing for the upcoming Party congress. He was meticulously crafting strategies and documents to effectively counter the BJP. Even while battling illness, his mind was focused on strengthening the Party's resistance to the rising tide of Hindutva.

Prakash Karat, a long-time comrade of Yechury, shared personal reminiscences. He described how Yechury, a brilliant student hailing from an upper-middle-class family and joining Jawaharlal Nehru University in 1973, had chosen a revolutionary path, embracing Marxism and dedicating his life to the cause of the working class. Sitaram, he said, became a revolutionary because he internalised Marxist economics and Marxism-Leninism and started applying them practically right from the time of the student movement. Subsequently, throughout his life, he was a dedicated Marxist guided by deep ideological understanding.

Karat said that Yechury's contributions were extensive and multifaceted, stating, “A proper assessment of Yechury's remarkable contributions will require time and reflection, but for now, I'd like to highlight four key areas where his impact was undeniable. Firstly, his role in determining our Party's ideological stand is noteworthy. In the 1990s, during the collapse of the Soviet Union when slogans of the end of socialism were being raised, he played a crucial role in solidifying our Party's ideological understanding, and due to the Party leadership's confidence in him, he presented that ideological document at the 1992 Madras Party Congress. He played a special role in ideological evaluation and updation in the post-Soviet era. His deep knowledge of Marxist economics and his accurate analysis and identification of the globalisation of finance capital were remarkable."

Karat also pointed out Yechury's prescient analysis of the RSS's ideology in a 1993 article, where he drew parallels between the RSS's treatment of minorities in India as presented in Golwalkar's 1939 book, 'We or Our Nationhood,' and Hitler's treatment of Jews. Yechury's international standing was also highlighted, with Karat noting the numerous condolence messages received from communist parties and progressive organisations worldwide. Yechury was truly an internationalist, he remarked.

Karat underscored Yechury's pivotal role in strengthening the Party's organisational capabilities and his tireless efforts in uniting the opposition against the BJP. Karat noted, “When Sitaram became the Party's general secretary in 2015, the BJP government had already come to power the previous year. As the general secretary, Sitaram played a crucial role in devising and implementing strategies to defeat the BJP. His sincere efforts to unite the opposition to BJP were evident in the reminiscences of the leaders of the INDIA bloc at the Delhi condolence meeting. Despite BJP forming the government in this year's elections, Sitaram had seen the positive results of his efforts due to BJP not securing a majority singularly. His passing leaves a void in Indian politics, but his legacy as a fearless fighter against fascism will continue to inspire generations to come.

ENDURING LEGACY

Addressing the memorial meeting, Polit Bureau member Surya Mishra recounted the moment when Comrade Sitaram reached out for medical advice, just a day before his hospitalisation. Mishra, deeply concerned, urged him to seek immediate treatment at AIIMS, emphasizing the value of his life. Throughout Sitaram's hospital stay, Mishra remained in constant contact, anxiously monitoring his fluctuating health.

Surya Mishra emphasized Sitaram Yechury's exceptional dedication to internationalism. He emphasized that even in his final days, Yechury remained dedicated to uniting the people against the dangers of divisive forces. “We bear a great responsibility, and only by carrying his work forward can we truly honour Comrade Sitaram Yechury's legacy”, he said.

A CHAMPION OF FREEDOM

Party state secretary Mohammad Salim lamented the significant loss of two esteemed leaders, Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and Sitaram Yechury, within a mere five weeks. He underscored the weight of their absence, and the responsibility to carry forward their unfinished work. Salim urged for a renewed commitment to their shared vision, stating that we must ensure their legacy lives on through our actions.

Salim said Sitaram's lifelong commitment to ‘study and struggle’, which began in his SFI days, serves as a shining example for political engagement on academic campuses. We firmly believe that without fostering democratic values, active political participation, and responsible leadership within educational institutions, the prevailing ‘threat culture’ will stifle progress. He pointed to recent attempts to instill fear surrounding the word ‘azadi’ (freedom) – an unprecedented phenomenon in Bengal. This fear of ‘azadi,’ he asserted, is harboured only by those who, having never participated in the freedom struggle, instead nurtured the divisive politics of the British. To them, ‘freedom’ is a tainted word. But for those of us who inherit the legacy of the freedom movement, uttering these words is second nature. We ask, who desires a life devoid of freedom? Sitaram's political foundation was forged during the Emergency, a period when freedom of the press, student movements, and public life were suppressed. Since then, he has remained a staunch defender of individual liberties, democratic freedoms for our citizens, and the liberation of those oppressed by imperialism and hegemony worldwide. This unwavering commitment to freedom is what defined him as a true internationalist.

Salim fondly recalled their bond, stating, ‘Our paths intertwined at the Party's twelfth Congress in December 1985, and when I moved to Delhi, our connection deepened. Working alongside Sitaram fostered spirited debates, enriching discussions, and under his guidance, we propelled the struggle forward. His mentorship was invaluable, leaving an enduring mark on me and an entire generation of organisers."

Sitaram believed that the rise of the right could only be countered by a resurgence of the Left in West Bengal, and that a nationwide expansion of Left unity and a strengthened Left ecosystem were crucial.

Biman Basu presented the condolence resolution, highlighting the multifaceted aspects of Comrade Sitaram Yechury's life. He emphasized Sitaram's pivotal role in bridging parliamentary and extra-parliamentary politics, and lauded his pioneering efforts in building and expanding the INDIA bloc. He passionately advocated for mobilising the masses and strengthening the Left's fight against the Hindutva forces.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Ramchandra Dom, CPI state secretary Swapan Banerjee, Forward Bloc Bangla Committee secretary Naren Chatterjee, RSP general secretary Manoj Bhattacharya, CPI(ML) Liberation leaders Kartik Pal and Basudev Basu, RCPI leader Mihir Bain, Bolshevik Party leader Prabir Ghosh, Workers Party leader Dipankar Chakraborty, Indra Ghosh Dastidar were also present. At the beginning of the meeting, the leaders offered floral tribute to the portrait of Comrade Sitaram Yechury. Musical homage was performed by artists of the Khardah unit of the IPTA. A documentary on Comrade Sitaram Yechury by the social media team of the CPI(M) state committee was also screened at the meeting.