CPI(M) Delhi observed the legendary communist Comrade Major Jaipal Singh’s birth centenary on February 11, 2016. The well-attended meeting in Constitution Club was addressed by CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat, Central Secretariat member Joginder Sharma and Central Committee member Pushpinder Singh Grewal. KM Tiwari, secretary, Delhi presided over the meeting. Major Jaipal Singh was not only the secretary of the Delhi state committee of the Party, he was instrumental in building the Party in Western UP and Haryana. An organiser par excellence, he was an unassuming yet magnetic personality. In spite of the tremendous difficulties he faced in life, Major could never be lured into anything that could be construed luxury. He led a simple life. He died in 1982 during the 11th Party Congress in Vijayawada. Paying tributes to Major – as he was fondly called – Sitaram said he was not merely our leader but a friend. He said Major taught us to not merely criticise government policies, but also present an alternative before the people. Sitaram said the country is not short of resources, but needs alternative policies. And today when we are faced with multifarious problems – heightened communal tension, attack on the federal structure of the republic, increasing authoritarian trend – strengthening the Left forces is the only way out. For this we need to build our Party to be able to mobilise the people for a better India. Recalling Major’s contributions, Brinda Karat said he built the Party in this region. He was always against communalism – even while in the army he fought to check the spread of communalism in the army. Major, she said, very well understood the importance of participation of women in the democratic movement and played a major role in setting up JMS in Delhi. Joginder Sharma said Major was a multifaceted personality – people of all hues used to approach him for guidance. He never took credit for any of his contributions to the movement. Fondly reminiscing, P S Grewal said Major was a comrade, a father and a friend. He was a guerrilla fighter who was instrumental in training the farmers during the Telangana peasant struggle. He was a ‘baghi’ (rebel) of the British army. While in the army he busted the British conspiracy to assassinate Indian leaders, but after Independence, instead of felicitating him for his bravery, the Nehru government prosecuted him under the case filed by the British. During the great textile strike, Major visited textile mills and addressed gate meetings recalled Nathu Prasad. K M Tiwari said Major taught us how to conduct inner party struggle. He was proud to have been inducted into the Party by Major. He repeated what everyone had said that Major led a simple and ordinary life. All through the meeting, the audience saluted Com Major with ‘Com Major ko lal salaam’ and ‘Com Major amar rahen’.