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Sitaram Yechury, a veteran Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader, passed away on Thursday. He was 72.
The CPI(M) general secretary was being treated for a serious respiratory illness at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi.
“It is with profound grief that we announce the passing away of CPIM General Secretary, our beloved Comrade Sitaram Yechury, at 3.03 pm today, 12th September, at the AIIMS, New Delhi,” CPI(M) said on X.
“We thank the doctors, nursing staff and the Director of the Institute for the excellent treatment and care extended to Comrade Yechury.”
Yechury, who was taken to AIIMS on August 19, was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and receiving oxygen assistance while his condition was constantly watched by a multidisciplinary team of specialists.
The CPI(M) stated on Tuesday that the senior leader was suffering from an acute respiratory tract illness that had progressed to pneumonia-like symptoms. On Wednesday, his health was described as “critical but stable”.
Accommodative Leftist, Delhi’s favourite comrade Sitaram Yechury passes away
In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Sitaram Yechury – a very fine human being, a multilingual bibliophile, an unrepentant Marxist with a pragmatic streak, a pillar of the CPM, and a superb Parliamentarian with a wonderful wit and sense of humour – is most sadly no more.”
“Our association stretched over three decades, and we collaborated closely at different occasions. He had friends across the political spectrum and was admired for the strength of his convictions and for his most engaging personality,” Ramesh said.
“Salaam Tovarish. You have left us much too early but you enriched public life immeasurably and will not be forgotten,” Ramesh said.
TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee posted on X: “Sad to hear about the passing of veteran CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury. While our political ideologies often clashed, I had the privilege of interacting with him during several opposition meetings over the last couple of years. His simplicity, profound understanding of public policy and keen insight into parliamentary affairs were truly remarkable. My thoughts are with his family, friends and all those who admired him. May his soul find peace. Om Shanti!”
Sitaram Yechury: A stalwart of Indian Left politics
Sitaram Yechury originally became involved in student activism while attending Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi, when he was elected President of the Students’ Union. Yechury’s political worldview took root here, as he adopted Marxist ideals and joined the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the CPI(M)’s student branch.
Yechury formally joined the CPI(M) in 1975 and soon advanced through the ranks. He developed a reputation as the party’s outspoken voice, arguing for worker rights, land reform, and a secular state. His oratory and debate talents in Parliament, where he was a member of the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017, made him one of the most revered voices in Indian politics, even among political opponents.
Yechury was elected general secretary of the CPI(M) in 2015, succeeding Prakash Karat. His tenure as general secretary came at a difficult moment for the CPI(M), which was facing diminishing electoral prospects, particularly after losing power in West Bengal in 2011. Yechury attempted to manage these challenges by lobbying for larger coalitions with other left-wing and secular parties, which occasionally resulted in internal party conflicts.
Throughout his career, Yechury was noted for his humility, personal honesty, and capacity to engage in civil political conversation.
Yechury’s personal life was characterized by sadness when his eldest son, Ashish, died of Covid-19 in 2021.
Source:HT
