People's Democracy

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Mahadev Saha, a veteran member of the CPI(M) and one of the pioneers of the communist movement in the country, after a brief illness. He died at the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital on 14th evening. He was 85 years old.

Mahadev Saha came from a family from Avoli, in Avadh of Uttar Pradesh, which took pride for its participation in the First War of Independence in 1857.

After completing his schooling in Kolkata, Mahadev Saha did his M.A. from the Allahabad University. Later he went abroad to obtain his doctorate. He was an authority on linguistics. It was during his student days that he joined the freedom movement. He was a volunteer at the Lucknow session of the Indian National Congress and came in contact with Subhas Chandra Bose during the Haripura Congress session in 1938.

In 1939, Mahadev Saha was jailed for taking part in Satyagraha struggle. Drawn to the left wing section of the national movement, he got acquainted with communist leaders and joined the Communist Party in the mid-30s. Mahadev Saha, worked among the jute mill workers and later among the tea garden workers of North Bengal.

An avid reader, his thirst for knowledge and books was insatiate. He was also known as a living encyclopedia. He wrote and edited many books on Marxism and various aspects of history. He assisted the Bengal unit of the Party in the publication of the Bengali Swadhinta and Hindi Swadintha and later on the Deshitaishi in its early days. He was instrumental in initiating Rahul Sankritayan into Marxism. A disciplined and selfless person, Mahadev Saha was marked by his self-effacing nature.

In his death, the CPI(M) has suffered a grievous loss. The Polit Bureau pays its respectful homage to his memory.

VETERAN CPI(M) member and one of the pioneers of the communist movement in India, Comrade Mahadev Saha, who had expired on Sunday evening following a brief illness, was cremated in New Delhi on the afternoon of April 15.

His body was brought to the CPI(M) Parliamentary office at 12, Windsor Place, where he had lived and kept to enable those who wanted to pay their last respects. CPI(M) general secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet , Polit Bureau members P Ramachandran, S Ramchandran Pillai, R Umanath, M K Pandhe were the first who placed wreaths as a mark of respect.

Many CPI(M) MP's led by Loksabha floor leader, Somnath Chatterjee visited 12 Windsor Place and paid their respects.

AIDWA, CITU, SFI,DYFI, AIKS,AIAWU leaders also paid floral tributes to Comrade Mahadev Saha.

Many prominent literary figures, University teachers and intellectuals who had great regard for Comrade Mahadev Saha came to pay their respects. Among those who turned up were Namwar Singh, Rajender Yadav, Vishnukant Sharma, Vishwanath Tripathi, Shiv Kumar Mishra etc.

Comrade Mahadev Saha's last rites were performed at the electric crematorium in Nigambodh Ghat. A brief meeting was held after the cremation which was addressed by S Ramchandran Pillai. All those gathered stood in silence for a minute and paid homage to his memory.

The Janwadi Lekhak Sangh (JLS) has condoled the death of Comrade Mahadev Saha. In a statement issued on April 15, it has underlined Dr. Mahadev Saha's contribution to the world of letters. It has also underlined his contribution in building JLS, of which he was a founder-member and vice president.

The JLS organised a condolence meeting in memory of Dr. Mahadev Saha on April 17 in which many writers participated.