Chittabrata Majumdar

 On July 1, 2001 Com. Niren Ghosh breathed his last at the age of 87, a life dedicated to the cause of revolution. He became member of the undivided Communist Party of India in 1936. Much before that he had started his political life through freedom struggle when he was a student that too brilliant one. Since then, his was a life entirely devoted to political and trade union movement.

Com. Niren Ghosh had profound knowledge of Marxism-Leninism. He played active role as teacher in Party classes. In each and every complex situation he always took firm position from Marxian standpoint. He played vital role at the time of formation of CPI(M) in 1964 and CITU in 1970. As a true communist, all along he maintained a simple and disciplined life. He was unmarried, Party and trade union was his family.

I can recall two recent instances, which shows his lifelong commitment to the party and trade union work. This year on May 31 and June 1 there was a meeting of Central Committee of CPI(M) in Delhi. Side by side on 2^nd and 3^rd June there was a meeting of All India Office bearers of CITU. A few days prior to these meetings he was released from the hospital after treatment. He talked to me and expressed apprehension about his ability to move around in his present physical condition. We thought it would not be possible for him to come to the meetings in Delhi this time. But he was very much there in these two meetings and actively participated in the discussions.

On June 30 and July 1 we had a meeting of State Committee of the party. On July 1, he had a programme on Jute industry in Doordarshan. He was present in the State Committee meeting on June 30 and was preparing himself for the evening programme in Doordarshan on July 1. We had, therefore, no inkling of what was coming in the afternoon of July 1 when we lost him from our midst.

Com. Niren Ghosh started his trade union life with Jute industry. Up to the last day of his life he was the leader of workers in Jute industry. His trade union life was not only limited to Jute workers. He was the President of State CITU. He had given leadership to workers movement as a whole. He was connected with various engineering and other industries in the state.

He had a firm conviction that the country can progress only through a self-reliant economy and development. He had been all along stressing about industrialisation based on the resources available within the country. As a Member of Parliament he had been fighting on the issue of coal-based industries in the country. Coal being the major fuel resource available in the country, he was pressing the Government for developing not only coal based power plants but coal-based chemical industry, coal to oil, coal gasification etc. In his relentless struggle to protect Jute industry, he was vociferous against the use of synthetic material and he personally never used a plastic glass or bottle. His contention was not only on the issue of protection of the industry and the workers, but also on the livelihood of about 6 million of jute growers and on the use of eco-friendly Jute as packaging material in the interest of the common man.

In every CITU conference of meeting he was equally vociferous on the issue of mobilising strong movement for distribution of surplus lands so that an internal market is created within the country, in the absence of which indigenous development of industry is not possible. He was assertive that through such movements only unity amongst peasants and workers would blossom which is essential to usher a change in the existing system in our country.

As a Member of Parliament he was equally eloquent about the Centre-State relations and more power to the States as a step towards a better and stronger India. His ideas and work was, therefore, not only limited to working class movement but encompassed much bigger vision and perspective for exploited class as a whole.

Com. Niren Ghosh used to come to the Party office as a member of the State Secretariat daily unless he was out of Kolkata. In the afternoon he used to come to Bengal Chatkal Mazdoor Union office and then used to sit in State CITU office. Grass root workers or the leaders would come to him and discuss all issues openly. This was his daily routine, which shows his simple and disciplined life dedicated to the working class and the Party.

We lost him at a time when the country and the working class preparing themselves to fight back the offensives of the BJP led communal and authoritarian Government at the Centre. His presence was very much needed at this juncture.

(The writer is a Central Committee member of the CPI(M))