A tribute to a communist | Joydip Ghosal

BOOK REVIEW

Sitaram Yechury: Outstanding Communist
CPI (M) Publications

Sitaram Yechury: Outstanding Communist, Tributes by Comrades is a collection of articles on the life and contribution of departed comrade. It was originally published in People’s Democracy, the weekly paper of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). This paper published tributes to the left stalwart in successive issues on September 22 and 29, 2024.

After his passing away on 12 September 2024 his close comrades found it extremely difficult to come to terms with the shocking loss. Tapan Sen recalled how he analysed the deepening systemic crisis that plagued the neo- liberal capitalist order. He vividly articulated the exploitative project of governance. This project with its authoritative overtones attacked the Constitution. His contribution earned recognition across the political spectrum. He was recognised as ‘ Parliamentarian of the Year’ in 2017. Following the setback of socialism in the Soviet Union he contributed immensely to formulating ideological resolutions. His role in the building up of INDIA Block had been widely recognised across the political spectrum.

B. V. Raghavulu remembered his struggle to retain the spirit of syncretic India, his struggle against the relentless Hindutva fascist onslaught. His unparalleled dedication to the protection of democratic ideals and his lifelong devotion to the rights of the underprivileged inspired many of his close comrades in arms. He was born in Chennai. With his grandfather, a high court judge he later moved to Guntur, after the formation of the Andhra Pradesh. In 1956 the family shifted to Hyderabad. Sitaram studied at Presidents’ Estate School and St.Stephens’ College. Later he moved to JNU. The rise of the Telugu Desam Party ( TDP) coincided with Sitam’s “ increasing involvement in national-level politics as a central functionary of the CPI(M).”In 1984 when N.T. Rama Rao was toppled his party played a key role in mobilising support. He also took part in the process of arranging MLAs to parade before the President of India. Apart from that he also played a pivotal role in the formation of United Front in 1996- 98. He believed in the famous poem of Gunduraja Apparao “ A country does not merely mean it’s soil, a country means its people.”

Prakash Karat reminisced that in 1993 Sitaram Yechury wrote a critique of We or Our Nationhood Defined by MS Golwalkar. That book by him debunked the fascist underpinning of right-wing fanaticism. It was first published in Frontline. According to Manik Sarkar as the head of the party’s International Department Yechury maintained an amicable relationship with different Communist and Workers’ parties of the world. Sitaram Yechury no doubt played a crucial role in uniting the left, democratic and secular forces of the country to defeat the fascistic trend. M.A. Baby recalled how as the editor of Student Struggle he played a pivotal role in strengthening the student front. He remembered how he conducted an interview with Cuban filmmaker Thomas Gutierrez Alea when he came to Delhi for the International Film Festival. Prabhat Patnaik emphasised that George Lukacs, the renowned Marxist philosopher differentiated between two types of communists driven by the pursuit of revolution. Eugene Levine, the revolutionary martyr who led a life of ascetic austerity exemplified one type. Lenin belonged to another type who perceived life as joie de vivre. Though he was immersed in the thought and activities of the revolution he still saw life as a source of joy. He did not believe in the culture of renunciation. Sitaram belonged to the second group. He was a great connoisseur of music. He was a passionate admirer of the late composer Madan Mohan. He even titled a book Left Hand Drive.

To Mohammad Salim, he was deeply committed to the idea of India’s plurality and diversity. As an academician and scholar he possessed the inherent ability to theorize on remarkable historical turbulence. He contributed brilliantly in his analysis of the rise of neo- neo-liberalisation. In the wake of the disintegration of the Soviet Union he tried to find out the root cause behind the fall. Despite the electoral debacle he tried to keep the morale high among his peers through his resilience, patience and intelligence. Pinarayi Vijayan termed him as the people’s parliamentarian. His unwavering commitment to the downtrodden was prominent in his contributions to the drafting of the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) during UPA term one. Nilotpal Basu recalled how his pamphlet for the SFI New Education Policy: A Blueprint for Colonization became a future foundation for the academic community to launch a relentless battle against Hindutva. Ashok Dhawale described him as an embodiment of study and struggle.

This book offers us rare insights into the life and activities of the departed leader. All the contributors hope that his unparalleled dedication to the protection of democratic ideals enshrined in the Constitution would inspire his comrades to carry forward the essence of the ideology that he held aloft throughout his life.