People's Democracy

Comrade Supriya Acharya

(1922-2002)

A MEMBER of the CPI(M)’s West Bengal state control commission and a veteran leader of the women’s movement, Comrade Supriya Acharya breathed her last in Kolkata on October 31.  Her husband, former advocate general of Bengal and CPI(M) leader, Snehansu Kanta Acharya had expired several years ago.

Involved with the Communist Party since the 1940s, Comrade Supriya was an author and translator of repute. She had published works on the Chinese writer Lu Shun, and was associated with the Asiatic Society and the Indo-Soviet Cultural Society (ISCUS).

Expressing his deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Supriya Acharya, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Jyoti Basu recalled his “long and fruitful association with Comrades Supriya and Snehansu Kanta.”  State CPI(M) secretary Anil Biswas spoke of the dedicated way Comrade Supriya worked for the party. Biswas noted how Comrade Supriya played a crucial role in providing shelter to communist leaders like Muzaffar Ahmad and Jyoti Basu when the police went looking for them. CPI(M) Central Committee member Benoy Konar said that, despite coming from an affluent family, the Acharyas worked for the toiling people throughout their life in an exemplary manner.

Among other people, Left Front chairman Biman Basu and AIDWA leader Kanak Mukherjee also condoled Comrade Supriya’s demise. She has left behind a son and a daughter.