People's Democracy

Glowing Tributes Paid To Comrade Surjeet

N S Arjun

A GALAXY of political leaders came together on the evening of August 8, 2008 at the Mavalankar Hall auditorium in the national capital and paid glowing tributes to Comrade Harkishan Singh Surjeet. They described him as �one of the biggest leaders of the Indian communist movement�, �a front-ranking leader of the Indian freedom struggle�, �a towering personality� etc and underscored his resolute fight against communalism and separatism.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat presided over the condolence meeting organised by the Delhi state committee of the Party and those who addressed the gathering were prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh, external affairs minister and Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, CPI general secretary A B Bardhan, Samajwadi Party general secretary Ramgopal Yadav, RSP general secretary T J Chandrachoodan, union minister and DMK leader T R Baalu, Janata Dal (United) president Sharad Yadav, TDP polit bureau member K Vijayarama Rao, AIFB leader Subrato Basu, AIADMK leader Dr K Malaiswamy, MDMK chief Vaiko, JD(S) leader Danish Ali, RLD chief Ajit Singh, BJD leader and MP P K Pattasani, RJD leader and MP Akhilesh Singh. Comrade Surjeet�s wife Pritam Kaur and CPI(M) Polit Bureau members Sitaram Yechury, M K Pandhe and Mohd Amin were also on the dais, which had, as a backdrop, a huge portrait of a smiling Comrade Surjeet. The hall was adorned all round with various red banners describing Comrade Surjeet as a �champion of the toiling masses�, an �uncompromising anti-imperialist fighter�, an �outstanding leader of the communist movement� etc. The proceedings began with Kajal Ghosh troupe rendering the song �Lal jhanda lekar comrade aage badhte jayenge� (comrade, with red flag in our hands, we will continue marching forward).

Prakash Karat in his inaugural speech praised Comrade Surjeet for playing a crucial role in implementing Marxism under Indian conditions without mechanically applying other countries� models. Beginning his political career at a tender age of 16 years, Comrade Surjeet�s 75 years of political life was marked with great difficulties � whether it be the heroic fight against British imperialism, the kisan struggles he waged as a farmers leader and as a communist leader. Karat noted how Comrade Surjeet spent 10 years in jail during these movements.

Lauding his role as a resolute fighter against communalism and separatism, Karat said Comrade Surjeet had personally seen the gruesome effects of partition and therefore resolutely fought every form of communalism. His role in fighting the separatist Khalistani movement in Punjab was heroic. Comrade Surjeet grew fighting British imperialism and continued that staunch anti-imperialist fight through out his life, he said. Comrade Surjeet�s role in national politics was such that he was not seen just as a CPI(M) leader but as a leader representing all secular and democratic forces.

Prime minister Dr Manmohan Singh described Comrade Surjeet as �a great Indian patriot who worked tirelessly for the unity and integrity of the nation�. He said Comrade Surjeet was a towering personality long before he came to know him intimately. Accepting that one can have many differences with the Left parties on various issues, he said that the quest for social justice is a big uniting factor. Comrade Surjeet had the burning desire for eradicating poverty of the millions of Indians. At the same time he was aware of the existing political compulsions and took a pragmatic view. Comrade Surjeet was an ideal representative of the cause of social justice who was willing to take people with diverse perceptions along to take the quest for social justice forward. He never lost sight of the fact that India was a country of great diversity and there was a need to strengthening the unity and integrity of the country. The prime minister recalled a meeting he had with Comrade Surjeet in the 80s in his capacity as RBI governor. He had expected Comrade Surjeet would discuss the monetary policy related to RBI with him. But at the outset itself Comrade Surjeet told him that he came to discuss about the grave Punjab crisis and its impact for the unity of the country. �Such was his burning desire to maintain the unity and integrity of the nation. He was a towering Indian who worked day in and day out for maintaining the unity of the nation.� He said the best tribute to pay to Comrade Surjeet is to stay faithful to his ideals The prime minister concluded his address by saying that blessed is the land where leaders such as Comrade Surjeet are born.

A B Bardhan in his speech said the demise of Comrade Surjeet is a loss not only to CPI(M) and the Left movement but also to the ongoing anti-communal fight in the nation. Stating that he was one of the builders of the nation, Bardhan called on everyone to imbibe the lessons taught by Comrade Surjeet, particularly on fighting the communal forces. Comrade Surjeet who at a very young age went to jail, made many sacrifices and underwent many tribulations -- all in the cause of the freedom movement -- knew the most the imperative of defending that freedom. Bardhan said it is our duty to emulate him in protecting the freedom. Comrade Surjeet was the first to realise that single-party rule had come to an end in the country and there was a need for coalitions. And being a master Marxist strategician he made successful efforts to build such coalitions. Bardhan said Comrade Surjeet also taught us lessons on international solidarity and lauded his efforts in relation to Cuba and Vietnam. The need for peaceful relations with China was always highlighted by Comrade Surjeet. All these remain relevant in today�s context also. Comrade Surjeet had always stressed on Left unity and had a big role in making all Left parties work together. Bardhan called for strengthening this unity further.

Pranab Mukherjee described Comrade Surjeet as a front-ranking leader of India�s freedom struggle and mass movements and as one who had the rare quality of being firmly committed in his ideology and principles while at the same time having the capacity of bringing people together for a common cause. He felt the determination showed by Comrade Surjeet in fighting against the forces of disruption was formed during his early years of life when he plunged into the vortex of freedom struggle. The fact that he witnessed the two world wars and the holocaust of Nazism also must have played a part in Comrade Surjeet becoming a �great protagonist of secularism and relentless fighter against communalism and obscurantism�, felt Mukherjee. Throwing light on Comrade Surjeet�s visionary outlook, Mukherjee said that post-Soviet Union collapse Surjeet had a meeting with him and advocated a closer relationship between Russia, China and India. Mukherjee was then also the external affairs minister of the country. He said that at that time no one had even thought of BRIC (Brazil Russia India China grouping) which came into existence much later. He also recounted how he had benefited from the advice of Comrade Surjeet during his visit to China as foreign minister in his earlier stint. Surjeet had told him to meet certain younger leaders of Communist Party of China. All those leaders he met later on became the main leaders of that country and Comrade Surjeet�s advice paid dividends. Acknowledging Comrade Surjeet as the �principal architect� of UPA government, he conveyed his condolences on behalf of Congress president Sonia Gandhi who could not attend due to her ongoing visit to China and millions of Congress workers. Mukherjee concluded by saying that in Comrade Surjeet�s death India has lost a great political and social activist who even in failing health contributed to the polity of the nation.

T R Baalu paid tributes on behalf of DMK party and its leader Dr M Karunanidhi. He credited Comrade Surjeet of recognising the demands and aspirations of regional parties at a time when the national parties were neglecting them. Comrade Surjeet brought together all regional parties on one platform and worked closely with Karunanidhi in this effort. He said his leader Karunanidhi has lost a very close friend. Baalu said he personally saw from close quarters the kind of active role played by Comrade Surjeet during the United Front regimes. He said the real tribute to Comrade Surjeet would be by continuing in a united manner the fight against anti-secular forces which were raising their ugly heads again.

Ramgopal Yadav felt a vacuum has been created in nation�s polity with the demise of Comrade Surjeet. Terming his ability to bring together disparate political forces as �unparalleled� Yadav said Comrade Surjeet had more than once given a new direction to the nation�s political course. The kind of respect Comrade Surjeet evoked from even international leaders like Fidel Castro was apparent to him during a visit to Cuba along with Comrade Surjeet. A day prior to the opening of a conference in Havana, Surjeet was undergoing an eye operation. Fidel Castro remained in the hospital monitoring this during the entire course of operation, revealed Yadav.

T J Chandrachoodan said Comrade Surjeet was the Bhishmacharya of coalition politics in the country and he became the face of the Left in general and CPI(M) in particular. He brought the Left to the centrestage of national politics and spread relations fraternally worldwide. Comrade Surjeet was the personification of all that is good in a communist, he said.

Sharad Yadav lauded Comrade Surjeet�s concern for the downtrodden and weaker sections of society. He saw this personally during his ministership in UF government when Comrade Surjeet would keep pressing the need to strengthen PDS and increase allocations for BPL people. �He used to catch hold of people who would influence the minister to take decisions in favour of the downtrodden people�, revealed Yadav.

Dr K Vijayarama Rao recalled Telugu Desam�s association with Comrade Surjeet which dated back to NTR�s days and said that close relations developed during the movement for restoration of democracy in Andhra Pradesh after the dismissal of NTR as chief minister. He said that with the formation of National Front and United Front governments at the centre, Comrade Surjeet had shown that in our pluralistic society different parties have to come together for the common good of people. He felt the striking aspect about Comrade Surjeet was his ability to capture the changing realities while remaining rooted in Marxist understanding. He assured that his party would be part of any effort to perpetuate Comrade Surjeet�s values in national polity.

Ajit Singh said Comrade Surjeet came across as a genuine personality who cared most for the downtrodden. He noted how despite wielding so much influence at the centre, Surjeet led a simple life and was accessible to all.

Subrato Basu termed Comrade Surjeet as a �great statesman, organiser and a man of action�. He started as a freedom fighter and remained a fighter through out his life and worked for freedom from poverty and illiteracy.

Vaiko gave an emotional speech saying that the country has lost a great Indian and he has personally lost a father figure who always showered affection on him. Recalling his association with Comrade Surjeet for the last 30 years as a great privilege, Vaiko said Comrade Surjeet has become immortal and would live in the minds of comrades, downtrodden, secular and democratic people of the country.

Dr K Malaiswamy read out a condolence message from AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha; Danish Ali read a message from JD(S) chief and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda and Akhilesh Singh conveyed condolences on behalf of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav who could not make it to the meeting due to a medical emergency in the family.

Sitaram Yechury thanked all the leaders for their solidarity. He particularly thanked Dr Lal of Metro Hospitals who took care of Comrade Surjeet for the last many years and was present in the condolence meeting. Yechury said all work of Comrade Surjeet was oriented towards fulfilling the Marxist goal of establishing a society where there was no exploitation. �It is a revolutionary goal and we rededicate ourselves on this occasion to reaching that goal�, he said.

The meeting concluded with Yechury reading out a condolence resolution.