People's Democracy

(Weekly Organ of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)

Vol. XXXIV

No. 27

July 04, 2010


Yechury Condoles Comrade Jose Saramago


The following is the text of the condolence message sent by Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau Member and head of the international department of the CPI(M) to the Portuguese Communist Party

ON behalf of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and personally, I condole the death of Comrade Jose Saramago, eminent writer and winner of the Nobel Prize for literature. He was one of the finest Portuguese writers of his generation who was widely read and had immense following among the people. He used his exceptionally talented literary skills to bring forth the lives of the common people and their sufferings. Throughout his life, he stood for the interests of the working class and the toiling people. In his death, the working class not only lost one of its own, but a finest champion who always stood by it and used all the powers at his disposal fighting for their rights.

As a member of the Portuguese Communist Party from 1969 till his death, he stayed true to the class he was born into – landless peasants. The active role played by Saramago in the struggle against fascism in Portugal is an inspiration. He was extremely critical of the European Union and the International Monetary Fund. He was a committed activist against the occupation of Palestine, against the wars waged by the imperialist forces and was steadfast in the quest for world peace.

The death of Jose Saramago is not only a great void in the literary world but also a great loss to the peace movement and all the people who are fighting for a just and egalitarian society. Please convey heartfelt condolences to his family members, the PCP and the entire people of Portugal.