People's Democracy

Comrade Kali Ghosh

ON December 28, the central secretariat of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) expressed profound grief over the demise of Comrade Kali Ghosh at 8.00 on the same morning, in a hospital at Kolkata. He was 83 and was one of the senior most leaders of the CITU.

Comrade Kali Ghosh became a full time trade union activist from his early days and was involved in organising various sections of workers in West Bengal. He led many struggles of workers and was elected to various responsibilities in the CITU. He was elected secretary of the CITU state committee in the year 1980. From 2003 to 2012 he was general secretary of the West Bengal State CITU. In strengthening the functioning of the West Bengal state centre of the CITU, Comrade Kali Ghosh played a noteworthy role. 

He was elected one of the national secretaries of CITU in the year 1994 and continued in that position till the last conference of CITU in April 2013. He was elected to the national working committee of CITU in that conference and was also one of the secretaries of West Bengal state committee of CITU. He was also a member of the West Bengal state committee of CPI(M).

In due recognition of his capabilities as a very long standing trade union leader, many central level important responsibilities were assigned to him. He represented CITU in various bipartite and tripartite committees and was a member of the Board of Employees State Insurance Corporation. He articulated authoritative knowledge in laws. He had written many books on issues related to labour, including labour laws.

He had led many delegations of the CITU to various international meetings and conferences.

The CITU dipped its flag in memory of Comrade Kali Ghosh and conveyed its condolences to his bereaved family members and comrades.