People's Democracy

COMRADE N K Upadhyaya, a veteran freedom fighter, leader of the CPI(M) in Karnataka and member of the CPI(M)’s Karnataka state committee, passed away in Bijapur on December 9. Popularly known as NK, he was a pioneer in the communist and trade union movement in the state. He collapsed while attending a meeting in preparation for the party’s district conference. He was active even at 86 years of age.

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) has expressed grief over his passing away. It said Comrade N K Upadhyaya was a committed communist and had immensely contributed to building up the CPI(M) in the state.

Born in Nandikur village in Mangalore taluk on February 16, 1916, he left for Bombay in search of a job. There he was attracted to the freedom struggle, alongwith his brother N L Upadhyaya. He was first jailed in 1939 in Bombay, where he was organising protest against the British. He was a deputy commander of the "National Guards," a youth organisation dedicated to fighting against the British. In jail, he came in contact with the communists and joined the party in 1941.

In 1944, the then Central Committee of the Communist Party asked the Upadhyaya brothers to organise the communist movement in Karnataka. A versatile person, Comrade NK came to Hubli and played an active role in organising the railway workers though it was a new experience to him. He also contributed to developing the party journal Janashakthi. He also organised unorganised beedi workers, municipal employees, etc, in Hubli, Bijapur and other places.

During the 1950s he played a leading role in the United Karnataka movement. His participation in Goa’s liberation struggle was also noteworthy. Being one of the pioneers of the communist movement in Karnataka, he has been an inspiration to the younger generations.

He had been a member of the state secretariat of the party for a long time. At the time of his death, he was an office bearer of the state CITU unit. He was also the honorary president of the Karnataka State Gram Panchayat Employees Association.

NK wrote several books in Kannada. His life history (Nanu Nadedu Banda Dari) gives a brief picture of various movements in Karnataka, starting from the freedom struggle, and his participation therein. He also wrote a book on the secessionist movement in Punjab, and two books on the Krishna river water dispute. His participation in the farmers’ struggle in general and about irrigation projects in particular is noteworthy.

Comrade N K Upadhyaya has left behind his wife Champa and four children. Thousands of party members, sympathisers and trade union workers joined in expressing grief over his death and paid their condolences to the bereaved family. Leaders and workers from various mass organisations and political parties attended his funeral with heavy hearts.