Comrade P B Rangnekar

THE Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses its deep grief at the passing away of Comrade P B Rangnekar, a prominent communist leader of Maharashtra and freedom fighter. He was 95 years old. He died in Mumbai on February 8, 2008.

Comrade Rangnekar served the Communist Party with utmost dedication for over seven decades with a great distinction. He was a member of the Maharashtra state committee of the CPI(M) and a member of the state secretariat from 1972 to 2005. Comrade Rangnekar was all-India joint secretary of the Students Federation in the late 1930s. He was a member of the editorial board of the party's Marathi weekly, Jeevan Marg, for more than 30 years. He was in jail for more than nine years during the freedom struggle, and also served several jail sentences after independence.

Comrade Rangnekar has left behind his wife Ahilya Rangnekar, member of the Central Committee of the CPI(M) and former MP, his sons Ajit and Abhay and their families.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) pays homage to his memory. It conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife, sons and family members.

CONDOLENCE

MESSAGES

Prakash Karat, general secretary of the CPI(M), sent the following condolence message to the secretary, Maharashtra state committee of the party, on February 8.

I WAS deeply grieved to hear the news of the passing away of Comrade P B Rangnekar. Comrade Rangnekar was one of the oldest leaders of the party. His entire life as a communist --- from being a student leader to a party organiser and editor --- was an exemplary revolutionary career. Comrade Rangnekar was a Marxist-Leninist to the core. His services to the party and the working class movement will always be cherished.

All of us who knew him will remember his affectionate behaviour and life of simplicity. Please convey my heartfelt condolences to Comrade Ahilya Rangnekar and all other family members.

Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau member of the CPI(M) and editor of People's Democracy, sent the following condolence message to the Maharashtra state committee of the party.

IT is with profound grief and anguish that I received the news of the death of Comrade P B Rangnekar.

I had the opportunity of working with him for nearly two decades. He was a living testimony to the fact that to be a good communist, one has to be a good human being.

During one of the most critical phases of the organised student movement, Comrade Rangnekar was the convener of the student committee of the Students Federation and steered the student movement through different stages and upheavals to contribute to the freedom struggle. He selflessly served the cause of the party with immense dedication for over seventy years.

Please convey my heartfelt condolences to Comrade Ahilya Rangnekar and his sons Ajit and Abhay. (INN)