People's Democracy

TAMILNADU

People Weep for Their Dear Leader

S P Rajendran

ON October 31, a number of people in Madurai were seen weeping over the loss of their dear leader following the sudden demise of Comrade P Mohan. It was an irrepairable loss not only to the CPI(M) but to many of the people personally.

Comrade P Mohan, a tireless worker of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and a two-time member of the Lok Sabha, who was known for his simplicity and for his utmost dedication to the cause of the common people, passed away on Friday, October 30.

Mohan was suffering from gastro-intestinal bleeding and not keeping well for some time. He was admitted to Government Stanley Hospital in Chennai and later shifted to a private hospital on October 22. But he could not be saved and on October 30, he died of cardiac arrest. His body was taken to Madurai, where his funeral took place on Saturday, October 31.

He was 60 and is survived by his mother Meenakshi Ammal, wife Poongavanam, three sons and two daughters. He was born in Uchipatti, a tiny village near Usilampatti in Madurai district of Tamilnadu, in 1949.

Comrade Mohan actively participated in the student movement when he was doing his BA at the American College in Madurai. Then he became an activist of the Socialist Youth Front (SYF) which later became a part of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). He worked as district secretary of the DYFI for a long time. He joined the CPI(M) in 1973, served first as Madurai town secretary of the party and then as its Madurai Urban district secretary. Still later, he was elected to the Tamilnadu state committee of the party, and served in this capacity for the last 15 years.

He was elected as a member of Lok Sabha from Madurai for two consecutive terms --- in 1999 and 2004. As an MP, he effectively raised in parliament the issues concerning the people of Tamilnadu.

Mohan had been imprisoned six times as a part of his public life and his role in various pro-people struggles. He was first imprisoned in 1995 when he led a powerful struggle demanding an increase in the funds for purchase of drugs for the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH). During the course of this struggle, he was brutally attacked by the police and had to be hospitalised for a long time.

While in parliament, he raised his voice for declaration of Tamil as a classical language. During his tenure as MP, Mohan was hailed as one among the few MPs who had spent the MPs local area development fund efficiently and effectively. During his tenure, he spent the entire amount he received as an MP, to the tune of Rs 20 crore, honestly and transparently. Also, the initiatives taken by Mohan resulted in the setting up of a regional passport office in Madurai, which eliminated for the applicants the hassle of making trips to Tiruchy, the nearest passport office for the southern districts of Tamilnadu.

He also took up the issue of expediting the doubling of railway track between Madurai and Chennai. During his tenure as an MP, he also fought for upgrading of the Madurai airport into an international airport. He also strove for establishment of an AIIMS like hospital in Madurai, for an extension of the GRH, construction of an underground subway near the GRH, and also for a big increase in funding for the government schools.

Though Mohan is now no more, his contributions to the cause of the people would ensure for him a permanent niche in their hearts of the people, for whose cause he spent a good part of his life.

CONDOLENCE

MESSAGES

Hearing the news of Comrade Mohan's death, M Karunanidhi, the chief minister of Tamilnadu, visited the hospital to pay his respects.

"His death is a great loss to the CPI(M). I have lost a good friend, who was in constant touch with me and brought the people's problems to my knowledge," he said in his condolence message.

The chief minister was accompanied by the deputy chief minister M K Stalin and some of his ministers.

Kerala chief minister V S Achudhanandan condoled Comrade Mohan�s demise, while noting that his contributions to the party will enthuse the younger generations.

On the day, the Tamilnadu state committee of the CPI(M) expressed deep grief over the comrade�s demise, terming it as a big loss for the party as well as the working people.

CPI(M) state secretary N Varadharajan said in a statement issued on the day that Comrade Mohan won the affection of the people through his simple life. He conveyed the party state committee's heartfelt condolences to Comrade Mohan's wife and children.

The state committee announced a three-day mourning, dipped its banner as a mark of respect to the departed comrade, and appealed to the party units to dip the red flag to condole Comrade Mohan's death.

The state committees of the CITU and DYFI also dipped their banners.

LAST

JOURNEY

When the news of Comrade P Mohan�s demise spread, thousands of party cadres gathered in front of the hospital at Chennai to pay their last respect to the leader.

The CPI(M)�s Central Control Commission chairman N Sankaraiah, its state secretary N Varadharajan, Central Committee members,  state committee members and Chennai district leaders paid also homage.

Comrade Mohan's body arrived in Madurai on Saturday, October 31 morning. It was kept at the CPI(M) district committee office for some time.

Several thousands of people from all walks of life --- students, youth, women, all sections of workers --- thronged the place and paid last respect with tears to their dear leader. The family members of thousands of CPI(M) cadres mourned that they had lost a family member of their own.

Union minister for home P Chidhambaram, union minister for chemicals and fertilisers M K Azhagiri, veteran CPI leader R Nallkannu, and leaders and cadres of various political parties including the DMK, AIADMK, Congress, MDMK and PMK also visited the CPI(M) state office.

In the evening, Mohan's body was taken to the crematorium, through the main streets of the city, with thousands of people joining the procession. His elder son cremated his body. The CPI(M)�s Madurai Urban district secretary R Annadurai presided over the condolence meeting that took place immediately after the cremation while N Varadharajan, R Nalla Kannu and other party leaders spoke on the occasion.