VETERAN CPI(M) leader Subodh Das passed away at G B Pant Hospital in Agartala on February 24 after remaining bed-ridden for several months. He was 74. A former member of the CPI(M) Tripura state committee and a former minister in the third Left Front government, Das was a bachelor.

 

Das was born in Habiganj in Syllhet district of undivided India (now Bangladesh) on January 15, 1964. After completing matriculation, he, along with his family members, migrated to Dharmanagar, North Tripura. While studying pre-university in Ram Krishna College in Kailashahar, he associated himself with the communist party in 1963. He joined CPI in 1964 and subsequently sided with the CPI(M). He played an exemplary role in building up Party organisation in Dharmanagar subdivision and solidly organised the peasantry under the AIKS. He had a robust role in strengthening the Left and democratic movement in the subdivision. He successfully steered the Party as the secretary of Dharmanagar subdivisional committee for many years. He was a state committee member of the Party from 1978 to 2013.

 

Das was first elected to the Tripura legislative assembly in 1978 from Panisagar constituency and represented this assembly segment for eight terms till 2013. In 1993, he was panchayat minister in the third Left Front government. Simple lifestyle and frank and down-to-earth behaviour of Das made him dear to all sections of Party workers, supporters and helped him to create a lively contact with common people, both Bengali and tribal communities.

 

The CPI(M) Tripura state secretariat, in a condolence statement, deeply mourned the demise of Das. The secretariat recalled the contributions of Das in the development of Left and democratic movement, in expansion of the Party bases among various sections of the people of Dharmanagar. The secretariat expressed sympathy towards his family members. Mortal remains of Das were taken to the state secretariat, Tripura legislative assembly, CPI(M) Tripura state committee office and various sub-divisional offices of the CPI(M) on way to Dharmanagar and lastly to Dharmanagar sub-divisional office, where leaders and people paid their tributes.