Organ of theSOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA …not afraid of criticism and that, in criticising its defects, it acquires energy for making ... Shibdas Ghosh, Founder General Secretary

Volume 43 No. 13 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA (COMMUNIST)March 1, 2010 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE SHIBDAS GHOSH Price : Rs. 3.00

RED SALUTE GREAT REVOLUTIONARY

COMRADE NIHAR MUKHERJEE

Just asphilosophyfinds inthe prole-tariat itsm a t e r i a lweapon, sothe prole-tariat finds

in philosophy its spiritualweapon. — Karl Marx

Strength ofBolshevismis preciselythat it isnot afraidof criticismand that, incriticisingits defects,it acquires energy for makingfurther progress. — J V Stalin

PAGE TWO MARCH 1, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA

Contd. on page 3

Comrade Nihar Mukherjee,General Secretary, SUCI(Communist), a great communistrevolutionary till death andcomrade-in-arms of ComradeShibdas Ghosh, Founder GeneralSecretary of the Party and greatleader of the proletariat, has passedaway. After prolonged illness, hebreathed his last on 18 February,2010 at 11 p.m. at the CalcuttaHeart Clinic & Hospital. He hadbeen suffering from a number ofserious ailments including COPDand Parkinson’s disease and finallysepsis with multi-organ failure.Comrade Mukherjee had crossed 90years of age. With this not only asublime revolutionary characterceased to breathe in the proletarianmovement, but an unprecedentedrevolutionary struggle againstdisease and death also finally cameto an end. Deaths are always sadand painful but all deaths are not thesame. Some not only bring sadness,but cause irredeemable loss too, asthey mark ceasing of a heightenedstruggle to build up revolutionarymovement and character. Thestruggle of the departed ceases tolive, but the lessons of his struggleremain alive forever. ComradeNihar Mukherjee’s death is like that,but he has left a shining example ofhow a revolutionary should conducthis life struggle.

With the yearning for freedomfrom the yoke of the imperialist ruleburning in his heart, Comrade NiharMukherjee, born in 1920 in Dhaka(now in Bangladesh), was drawninto the vortex of Indian liberationmovement in 1933 at the tender ageof 13 as an activist of the AnushilanSamity that pledged to free thecountry through armed struggle. Itwas here that Comrade NiharMukherjee, caring little for life andcareer and striding forward with theflag of freedom movement, came inclose contact with Comrade ShibdasGhosh and was immensely attractedtowards him. Thus was cemented adeep bond between the two ascompatriots in the freedom struggle.Comrade Mukherjee invited thewrath of the authorities whileorganizing student movement first inDhaka Government collegiateschool and later in JagannathCollege, Dhaka. At that time, thestudents’ movement there assumedsuch a dimension that Sarat Bose, a

COMRADE NIHAR MUKHERJEE— a great lifelong revolutionary of rare mettle

renowned leader of freedommovement had to be brought toDhaka for mediation. Themovement was withdrawn only afterthe legitimate demands of thestudents were acceded to. In order toescape arrest by the British police,the leaders of Anushilan Samity sentComrade Shibdas Ghosh andComrade Nihar Mukherjee toCalcutta in 1940 and 1941respectively assigning them thecharge to build up uncompromising

counsel, however, couldsuccessfully act so much so that thecharges could not be proved andinevitable death sentence for bothcould be averted. Finally they weresent to jail for three years. WithinAnushilan Samity a movement tocultivate Marxism-Leninism hadbeen released by a section offreedom fighters in the late 1930sand both Comrade Shibdas Ghoshand Comrade Nihar Mukherjee weredrawn towards that.

party formation. Realizing thatemancipation of the oppressed andexploited Indian people could neverbe achieved without overthrowingthe national bourgeoisie poised toassume state power of independentIndia through compromise with theBritish imperialist rulers, and it wasimperative to have a genuinerevolutionary party of the proletariatto bring about this anti-capitalistrevolution, he took upon himself thehistoric task of building SUCI as agenuine communist party on the soilfollowing Leninist model. A handfulof his revolutionary compatriotsincluding Comrade NiharMukherjee immediately realized theneed and joined him in the arduousstruggle of Party building.

After being released from thejail in 1945, they built up aplatform of action as a part of thatprocess of building the Party.Following that, the foundingconvention of the SUCI was held atJoynagar, West Bengal, from 22 to24 April, 1948. In the foundingconvention, Comrade ShibdasGhosh was unanimously elected asthe General Secretary and ComradeNihar Mukherjee was elected amember of the Central Committeeand Secretary of West Bengal StateCommittee. In the exemplarypainstaking struggle of Partybuilding, Comrade NiharMukherjee, as close comrade-in-arms of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh,played a very significant role. Inthose grimly uncongenial days ofParty formation when there was nocertainty of food or shelter for theParty leaders, no source of funds,the person everyone depended on,for smooth conduction of all affairswith due attention and considerationof each and every aspects wasComrade Nihar Mukherjee.

After independence, ComradeNihar Mukherjee under the directguidance of Comrade ShibdasGhosh, his leader, teacher and guide,carried on the struggle to acquire anelevated communist character byconducting an all-embracingrelentless struggle for applying thenoble philosophy of Marxism-Leninism in every walk of his life.Side by side, when ComradeShibdas Ghosh, responding to theneed of the time, assigned thecrucial responsibility of developing

revolutionary freedom struggle andorganization. It is in the course ofdischarging this responsibility thatComrade Nihar Mukherjee becamea close comrade-in-arms ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh. During thepreparatory days of ‘Quit India’movement in 1942, Comrade NiharMukherjee was assigned theresponsibility of organizing thestudents of Calcutta and its suburbs.Comrade Shibdas Ghosh’s plan wasto capture Writers’ Buildings (thethen headquarters of the Britishregime), Fort William and LalbazarPolice Station through an armedupsurge in Calcutta and declarethem as liberated zones. The Britishintelligence managed to get thenews and both Comrade ShibdasGhosh and Comrade NiharMukherjee along with 138 otherrevolutionaries were arrested. Theywere charged with “declaring waron British regime and planning tooverthrow British rule by violentmeans” and were accused in the“Ward Institute Case’’. The defence

While in the British jail, itdawned upon the consciousness ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh that all thefruits of independence achievedthrough the heroic sacrifices ofcountless martyrs were going to beusurped by the aspirant Indianbourgeoisie and true emancipationof the Indian people from all sortsof exploitations and oppressions ofman by man was not going to comeabout. This imminent tragedy wasdue to absence of a genuinecommunist party on the soil as aresult of which the Indian workingclass failed to live up to itshistorically determined role in theanti-imperialist movement whichwas so full of possibilities. Deepand critical analysis fast convincedComrade Shibdas Ghosh that theparty under the name CommunistParty of India, or any of the so-called Marxist parties for thatmatter, had not developed as agenuine party of the working classon this soil because they had notfollowed the Leninist principle of

First Central Committee elected in the Founding Convention in 1948.Seated in the middle Comrade Shibdas Ghosh,

standing on extreme right Comrade Nihar Mukherjee

PROLETARIAN ERA MARCH 1, 2010 PAGE THREE

united left democratic movement inWest Bengal to Comrade NiharMukherjee, he demonstrated greatorganizing skill stemming from truerealization of revolutionarypurposiveness and successfullycarried out the task by bringing allthe left-democratic forces on asingle platform of struggle whichspearheaded intense mass struggles.Comrade Nihar Mukherjee played aleading role in building up teachers’movement, anti-Bengal-Biharmerger movement, movement inprotest of rise in tram fare, historicfood movement and such otherstruggles that developed against theanti-people policies and steps of thethen Congress government. Incourse of that, he emerged as afront-ranking leader of united leftmovement and democratic massmovements. While leading the classand mass struggles, he wasimprisoned several times during theCongress rule in independent India.In 1962, he was detained under theDefence of India Act and sent to jailfor a long period.

After the untimely demise ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh in 1976,the responsibility to lead the partyfell on Comrade Nihar Mukherjee.Succeeding Comrade ShibdasGhosh as the General Secretary ofthe Party, the post he wasunanimously reelected to in both theFirst and Second Party Congress,Comrade Nihar Mukherjee withrevolutionary audacity released anew struggle to lead the Party basedon the developed and enrichedunderstanding of Marxism-Leninism as provided by ComradeShibdas Ghosh in course ofconcretizing Marxism-Leninism onthe Indian soil and ensured that theentire Party stood as one man to fillup the void created by the untimelydeath of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh.The whole Party and the toilingpeople saw a heightened renewal ofa great revolutionary leaderunflinching in resolve to carry outthe task and struggle his leader,teacher and guide had bequeathed tohim. Weathering all storms andskillfully steering the Party throughall difficulties, Comrade NiharMukherjee as true disciple andrevolutionary compatriot ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh led theParty to boldly stride ahead turningdisadvantage into advantage. In theprocess, he elevated himself to a

new height of communist characterand kept the thoughts of ComradeShibdas Ghosh ever flowing amongthe Party comrades as well as thetoiling masses. It was at theinitiative of Comrade NiharMukherjee that the Study Centre ofMarxism-Leninism- Shibdas GhoshThought was set up at Ghatsila sothat comrades could periodicallyassemble there in batches to attendschools of politics, collectivelystudy the various aspects of Marxistideology and methodology as wellas the latest developments in scienceand human knowledge and alsolearn to lead collective camp life.

It is under his leadership that theParty expanded throughout thelength and breadth of the country. Inall the states the Party under hisleadership developed legitimatedemocratic mass movements of allsections of the oppressed people,either singly or in association withother pro-struggle forces.Movements on many pressing issuesand burning problems of people’slife in different places have surgedforth and intensified over the lastmore than three decades. In stateafter state, the toiling people haveincreasingly been taking note of thisstruggling character of the Party asdistinguished from other vote-basedoutfits and gradually gettingattracted towards the noble thoughtsof Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, worthycontinuator of Marx-Engels-Lenin-Stalin-Mao Zedong and one of theforemost Marxist thinkers of theera, upheld by the SUCI (C) underthe dynamic leadership of ComradeNihar Mukherjee. The task ofspreading the revolutionarythoughts of Comrade ShibdasGhosh in his absence was a giganticone. But resolutely, Comrade NiharMukherjee as his true followershouldered that task by elevatingthrough ceaseless struggle his ownunderstanding and grasp ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh Thought.The historic language movement ofWest Bengal, save educationmovement round the country,various mass movements against theanti-people policies of the centraland different state governments andlegitimate people’s struggles againstsystematic curtailment of hardearned democratic rights, againstatrocities on women, against stateterrorism unleashed on sufferingdeprived people, in demand forfood, shelter and healthcare, anti-

Nihar Mukherjee who wisely led theParty in concretizing the invaluableteaching of Comrade ShibdasGhosh about building up people’smovements by forming people’scommittees right from the grassroots level as instruments ofstruggles and developing volunteercorps. After 1977, when the shamMarxists, in their avid pursuit ofgovernmental power threw away the

was held in 1988 to strengthen theParty, both ideologically andorganizationally.

When in the early 1990sfollowing the dismantling of themighty socialist camp due torevisionist conspiracy aided andabetted by the capitalist-imperialistpowers, the world communistmovement suffered from disarray

COMRADE NIHAR MUKHERJEE

— a great lifelong revolutionary of rare mettleContd. from page 2

Contd. on page 4

With Comrade Shibdas Ghosh at Saheed Minar Maidan, Calcutta, 24 April, 1973

With Comrade Shibdas Ghosh and other leadersat Saheed Minar Maidan, Calcutta 24 April, 1975

price rise stirs, agitations against thenoxious prescripts of capitalistglobalization — all crystallized,developed, spread and intensifiedunder the able leadership ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee in thepost-1976 period firmly establishedSUCI ( C) as the Party of people’smovement holding aloft the bannerof Marxism-Leninism, leftismdefying all odds and adversities,overcoming all impediments causeddue to maligning of leftism by thepower-hungry pseudo-Marxists andtheir associates, and undaunteddespite complete whitewash bybourgeois press. It was Comrade

banner of movement and began toadopt non-left anti-people policiesin dexterous articulation of modernrevisionist politics, it was under theleadership of Comrade NiharMukherjee that the CentralCommitte of the Party, based oninvaluable thoughts of ComradeShibdas Ghosh, devised appropriatestrategy to fight and expose thesame and protect the nobility ofMarxism-Leninism. It was under theleadership of Comrade NiharMukherjee that after fulfilment ofcertain historic conditions, the FirstCongress of the Party that ComradeShibdas Ghosh so earnestly desired

PAGE FOUR MARCH 1, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA

and confusion, the CentralCommittee of the Party under theleadership of Comrade NiharMukherjee could correctlyunderstand that there was afundamental change in thecorrelation of world forces and inthe unipolar world, the imperialists-capitalists headed by the USimperialists would be unbriddled intheir pursuance of overlordism and

Committee was born to graduallycoordinate the anti-imperialistmovements in different countries. Inthe process, the illumining thoughtsof Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, themost advanced, developed andenriched understanding of Marxism-Leninism providing beacon to thecommunists round the world in theirstruggle to revive internationalcommunist movement and inflictcrushing defeat to all shades of

COMRADE NIHAR MUKHERJEE

— a great lifelong revolutionary of rare mettleContd. from page 3 before all. In the next phase, his call

was for revitalization andconsolidation of the Party. At theculmination of this struggle, theSecond Congress of the Party washeld in November last with theresolve to take the struggle to yethigher rungs. Thus, Comrade NiharMukherjee as revolutionarycompatriot and worthy follower ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh sought toelevate the standard of the Party to

be a true embodiment of democraticcentralism in the present stage ofthe era of imperialism andproletarian revolution.

His glorious struggle againstprolonged illness from multitude ofserious ailments till the last breathshines as a great teaching to not onlythe comrades of the Party but to allthe communists world over. A greatrevolutionary by character ComradeNihar Mukherjee showed how a truecommunist revolutionary fightsdeath with revolutionarypurposiveness. Suffering fromvarious ailments of heart, lung,stomach and fractured bone, he wasgoing through excruciating painover a very long period. The untoldhardship he took upon himself in thedifficult days of Party building sincethe 1940s had greatly impaired hishealth. As he was advancing in age,multiple diseases of serious naturedebilitated him and affected almostevery organ in his body and finallyinfected his blood. Each time agrave situation developed, heovercame it evincing great mentalstrength, exceptional power oftolerance and rare revolutionaryfirmness. It was the Party alone, itsadvancement, its unflinchingrevolutionary orientation, its

reformism-revisionism and exposeall conspiracies and machinations ofcapitalism-imperialism includingthe vile doctrine of globalization,could reach out to the various partsof the globe inspiring thecommunists to resurrect theirstruggle premised on correct basepolitical line, correct ideologicalunderstanding and correctorganizational build up. Thus as arevolutionary communist leader,Comrade Nihar Mukherjeedischarged his obligation to theinternational communist movement.

At the same time, in order toprotect the kernel of communistideology and character from allkinds of vile bourgeois attackscoming from without or even withinthe Party particularly manifested inthe menacing assault of vulgarindividualism, Comrade NiharMukherjee exhorted upon the Partyleaders and cadres to release a freshintense struggle within the Party forelevation and rectification andthereby strive for achieving a highercommunist character by fighting outevery bit of individualistic thinkingand identifying self with the class,revolution and Party. He himselfconducted the struggle covering allaspects of life to set an example

unscathed communist kernel — thatwas the centre of his life. It was thissingleness of purpose, indomitablerevolutionary spirit and fervour thatwas behind the gritty determinationto live as a revolutionary of raremettle, as worthy successor ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh, his leader,teacher and guide. So he couldconduct an exemplary struggleoverpowering one after anotherdeadly attacks of serious ailmentand succeeded in prolonging his lifeand led the Party to a new stature, anew height. All the eminent doctorsattending him were taken abackgiven his precarious healthcondition which could collapse anymoment but his consciousness abouthis revolutionary responsibility asthe leader of the party was stillaflame. It was during this mostcritical stage, the Second Congressof our Party took place. Despiteailing and falling health, ComradeNihar Mukherjee chalked out theminutest details of conduction of theCongress and oversaw each andevery area of the preparatory work.Though deteriorating healthcondition prevented him from beingphysically present in the SecondParty Congress, he provided thebasic guideline and specificdirection based on which theproceedings of the Congress tookplace and the Party emerged muchmore strong, consolidated andintegrated to take on the challengesposed before it and discharge theresponsibility history has adjured toit. A new motion has set in in theParty.

The death of such a greatcommunist character as embodied inComrade Nihar Mukherjee, theproduct of a long struggle led byComrade Shibdas Ghosh hasimpinged with deep shock the Party,the left-democratic movements, theclass struggles of the proletariat andthe world communist movement.But his exemplary life struggle hasleft us with the treasure-house ofvalues and teachings that wouldkeep imbibing all the comrades,leaders and cadres alike, of ourparty and play as the leading light tothe toiling millions in their strugglefor emancipation in the days ahead.

In his death, the country has losta life-long revolutionary of raremettle and a front ranking leader ofleft-democratic movement.

RED SALUTECOMRADE NIHAR MUKHERJEE

brigandage, usher greater attack onthe people and hold the whole worldransom. So, a Party Plenum washeld in 1994 under the leadershipand conduction of Comrade NiharMukherjee to deduce, based onComrade Shibdas Ghosh Thought,the political line in the changedworld situation. Based on theconclusions of the Plenum,Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, inorder to defend the class and massstruggles against the offence ofcapitalism-imperialism and resistimperialism-sponsored wars, gavecall to develop a worldwide anti-imperialist movement by buildingup international anti-imperialistfronts involving all anti-imperialistforces with the genuine communistsat the core. This, the Party under hisleadership was convinced wouldpave the way regenerating theinternational communist movement.So, at the initiative and under thewise leadership of Comrade NiharMukherjee, the All India Anti-imperialist Forum could get aconcrete shape and emerged as abroad based organization of anti-imperialist anti-war pro-peaceforces, and eventually theInternational Anti-imperialist andPeople’s Solidarity Coordinating

Addressing the Open Session of 1st Party Congress at Brigade Parade Ground, Calcutta (Left)and Open Session of 1st Party Plenum at Cuttack, Orissa

PROLETARIAN ERA MARCH 1, 2010 PAGE FIVE

Bidding adieu to the beloved leaderDeath falls on its knees

crouching before the life thatkindles lives. On 18 February, as theclock struck eleven in the night,Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, alifelong revolutionary of singulargenre, comrade-in-arms of ComradeShibdas Ghosh, the great leader ofthe proletariat, breathed his last,plunging the leaders and organizers,the supporters and sympathizers ofthe Party, thousands of his ardentadmirers, vast masses of the toilingpeople in great depth ofbereavement. The news of hisdemise spread like wild fire fromone corner of the country to another.That very night comrades fromCalcutta and the adjoining areasrushed to the Calcutta Heart Clinicand Hospital and joined others whowere on guard there. Many othersreached in the early morning nextday. Comrade Mukherjee there waslaid on a raised platform bedeckedwith flowers and red flag. Beams ofthe morning sun were spread overour beloved departed leader inradiant ardour. Comrades weresurrounding him in hushed silence.The Central Committee leaders andother veteran leaders, attendingdoctors and other members ofnursing team paid him floral tribute.After that, Comrade NiharMukherjee was taken to themortuary where he would be kepttill 22 February, the day of the lastjourney.

Before the day of 22 February

broke out, the central office of theSUCI (Communist) at 48 LeninSarani in Calcutta was all wrappedin red. On the broad red wall abovewas ensconced a huge portrait ofComrade Mukherjee. On the entirelong stretch above it was inscribedin large bold relief : RED SALUTECOMRADE NIHARMUKHERJEE. The surrounding ofthe Party headquarters extendingthrough to the heart of the city downto the south upto Keoratala burningghat route that would carry theleader to the last, turned red withbanners and half-mast flags.Calcutta, the citadel of left-democratic movement, the citywhere Comrade Nihar Mukherjee asclose revolutionary compatriot ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh spent mostpart of his life, was ready to bidadieu to the great lifelongrevolutionary leader.

Already people who had comefrom different parts of the countrywere in a great multitude patientlywaiting outside in an endlessdisciplined queue in front of theParty office when at 10 AM startedthe slow march up the first floor tohave last glimpse of their reveredleader and offer him red salute.People wearing black badge slowlyclimbed the stairs, passed the RedFlag dipped in half mast, entered thecentral hall where Comrade NiharMukherjee, comrade-in-arms ofComrade Shibdas Ghosh, was laidon a raised platform amidst flowers.Four comrades of Komsomol, theyoung communist league of theParty, were standing on guard at thefour corners of the platform. One byone, the grief-stricken stream ofcomrades and admirers paid floraltribute and offered red salute. Manyof them could not control tears

rolling down their cheeks. Butsilently they resolved to the tune ofthe call of Comrade NiharMukherjee: Intensify ideologicalstruggle, read and reread, cultivatethe thoughts of Comrade ShibdasGhosh, fight bourgeois vices,release and continue socialiststruggle covering all aspects of lifeto be true disciples of ComradeShibdas Ghosh, uphold nobility ofcommunism, build up class andmass struggles, remain unwaveringin commitment towards revolution.

Leaders of different politicalparties, mass organizations, citizens’bodies and eminent personalitiesalso paid their tribute with floralbouquets. Then the members ofvarious state committees, leaders ofthe class and mass fronts of theParty, State secretaries, veteranleaders and finally the CentralCommittee and Polit Bureaumembers offered their floral tribute.

Slowly time passed by. But thequeue got longer and longer.Comrades were so eager for one lastquick look of the greatrevolutionary leader. But therecould not but be a stop. Clock wasalready ahead of 3 pm, thescheduled time for commencementof the last journey. The comradesand the members of the public, whocould not reach Comrade NiharMukherjee because of time elapse,placed the wreaths they had broughtin the truck that was to follow the

Contd. on page 6

Comrades, you know, politics calls for noble feelings of heart.Nobler still is the feeling that spurs on to revolutionary politics.Tender as it is in one way, inherent in it are stern reality, strictdiscipline, and steadfast sense of duty. Our work cannot sufferbecause of our grief. Outwardly, the conduct of this politicsappears so heartless. But it is here, in what appears so heartless,that the significance of true realization of grief lies. That is why,big revolutionaries, even in the midst of most profound grief,unwaveringly pursue their revolutionary work (voice again chokeswith tears, and he continues in a tearful tone). Work they must. Inno event can they allow themselves to muddle up the work. Else, itwas not for them to tread this path. They had better lead lives ofcommon men.

— Comrade Shibdas Ghosh

Central Committee members at the Central Hall of the Party Headquarters in Calcutta

PAGE SIX MARCH 1, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA

Contd. from page 5

Contd. on page 7

bier carrying Comrade NiharMukherjee and stood in rows to jointhe last Journey.

In majestic state he lay, drapedin the Hammer-and-Sickle, as pallbearers, members of the Party PolitBureau, carried the bier down toplace it on the readied platform-on-wheels to go on the Last Journey ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee, belovedGeneral Secretary of the Party,lifelong revolutionary, compatriot,comrade-in-arms, and continuator ofthe Great Leader of the ProletariatComrade Shibdas Ghosh. Historybeckoned its muted message hereand now: Follow him, who casthimself in the mould of therevolutionary character which theGreat Leader and Teacher hadshaped out. Follow him, who led theParty, ever after the Great Leaderdeparted, through the twists-and-turns of the world revolutionarystruggle, the vicissitudes andturmoil in the wake of downfall ofthe USSR, the debacle of thesocialist camp, the degeneration ofthe CPC and the People’s Republicof China into a capitalist order at itsworst. Who led the Party throughchaos and confusion in theinternational communist movementcaught in the vicious web ofrevisionism-reformism. Who led the

Bidding adieu to the beloved leaderParty through its struggle forrectification and elevation within, inorder for strengthening itself andrising to be equal to therevolutionary task set by historynow.

The carriage creaked and startedslowly rolling on. The pall ofsilence which so long held aroundnow made up into trails in a billowymotion. And quietly rose up amuffled strain that sang of the GreatLeader:

You brought themthe song of liberation,

Oppressed and destitute millions.A new life to live

you breathed in them,Than die in squalor of

humiliation, exploitation.

The four-deep column movedon down Lenin Sarani from 48,eastbound to Taltala cross-point—its front being reared up by ninetymembers of Komsomol holding aRed Flag each. Thereafter, followedthe members of the Party CentralCommittee. On their heels walkeddown leaders of the Party’s Frontalorganizations. At the front of thecortege, comrades stood firm with alarge festoon written with “RedSalute to Comrade NiharMukherjee”. Behind rolled on the

carriage, with a portrait of thedeparted beloved General Secretaryplaced atop, two Red Flags in crossguarding the bier, and members ofthe Polit Bureau seated on guardclose to him, those whose healthallowed them to move on theJourney. There followed a carriagecarrying the wreaths that had beenplaced in tribute by leaders of otherdifferent political parties,representatives of Party units fromaround the country, Party comrades,a countless number from themembers of the public who turnedup with grief-laden hearts to paytheir respect. In long trails of this

Keoratola in South Calcutta. Behindwere the four-deep rows of sea ofhumanity at the beginning with two-deep rows at the rear stretching overlong way. All the participants ofthe cortege constituting as though aunit of family with heart torn byinexpressible pain of bereavement,but yet infused with steeleddetermination to overcome the lossby devoting themselves more to thestruggle for emancipation from thecapitalist exploitation for whichComrade Nihar Mukherjeededicated his life. The Journeyreached Taltala cross-point, turningsouth from here, turning again

carriage, Partymembers mingling upwith members of thegeneral publicbrought up the rear.The mourners of theprocession held inhand Chinese bannerswith portrait ofComrade NiharMukherjee inscribedon the same. Theprocession meanderedalong the streetscovering around 8-kilometer stretch ofpath to thecrematorium at

westward down S N Banerjee Road.Dense bodies of people lined up allalong to catch a glimpse. As thoughthey begged history to speak upwhat message this moving columnsignalled. For, this silence was notsound muted. Nor it bespoke sorrowcongealed into fathomless silence.Nay. It spoke in more eloquencethan could thunders of slogansspeak this day, or any soundsuttered could. History did speak up.It spoke through every move thismarch made. It spoke through theirsinging lips. This silence spoke — itspoke in eloquence, spoke in itsown language. This sorrow turned

Comrade Provash Ghosh, Polit Bureau member, Comrade Manik Mukherjee, Polit Bureau member Comrade Krishna Chakraborty, Polit Bureau member

Members of the Polit Bureau on guard of the bier

Ninety KOMSOMOL members each with a half-mast Red Flag at the front

PROLETARIAN ERA MARCH 1, 2010 PAGE SEVEN

Bidding adieu to the beloved leaderinto strength of resolve. This resolveheightened itself toward fulfillingwhat history behoved them to do.People need, so people want, radicalchange from their slavish living.People need, so people want, a lifewhich would accord them honourthat is denied. People need, sopeople want, deliverance from thisstifling grip of denial, this mountingexpropriation of labour, this steel-claw of oppression by rulers tomuzzle their voice, their demands.But they know not what to do, theyknow not how to realize what theyneeded to do. They need to get tothe right road. They need to rallyround the right organization. ThisParty Comrade Shibdas Ghoshreared up and bequeathed it to themas the organizational basis of theirstruggle; this Party Comrade NiharMukherjee, lying on theaccompanying bier, led all throughhis life to ramify throughout thecountry as the powerful weapon fortheir struggle. So people need toknow their own right party, peopleneed to rally round their own partyto forge strength and win victory.This winding column passing downbefore their eyes is theorganizational structure theyneeded.

Contd. from page 5 On the verge of Esplanade, thecolumn veered southward alongJawaharlal Nehru Road. Vehiculartraffic had been diverted. Theroadside thronged with passersby.Windows on roadside buildingsteemed with onlookers trying to geta view. From atop, the long columnpresented the view of a torrentsurging forward. Discipline inmotion. Resolve pent up for itsrelease. Human spirit outpoured intoa mass that flowed ahead. Lifelong,throughout his revolutionary modeof existence, Comrade NiharMukherjee stood by the GreatLeader Comrade Shibdas Ghosh. Inthe light of teachings of the GreatTeacher, Comrade Mukherjee ledthe Party structure on the realizationthat the Party emerges as product ofa dialectical process of struggle. Itsfoundational unity grows anddevelops in the course of dialecticalprocess of open conduct ofcontradiction and conflict betweendifferent and diverse views andopinions.

Constantly Comrade NiharMukherjee reminded that this Partyemerged in the course of a specialparticular process of conducting anintense ideological struggle withoutrelent in every sphere of life,wherefrom grew ideological

centralism, whereupon in turndeveloped organizational centralismin the Party, democratic centralismin word. Not just in the form oftheoretical formulations of theLeninist Party concepts, ComradeShibdas Ghosh pursued a particularprocess in order for inculcatingthese concepts in the leaders andcadres all through the Party astransformed into their intrinsicacquired habits. This became a newdimension of the Leninist Partymodel, a new acquisition of theMarxist movement. ComradeShibdas Ghosh exhorted at everyturn the inescapable task to conductan unceasing struggle to exhaust thebourgeois humanist values, ideasand ideals in full and acquire theproletarian sense of values, which ishigher than bourgeois humanistvalues and warrants completelyfreeing the self from privateproperty mental complex, at thelevel of tastes and habitual practicesin the Party life as a necessaryprerequisite in the stage precedingrevolution itself. In today’scircumstance, when confinement tohumanist values stands out as aninsurmountable obstruction on wayto acquiring the proletarian values,there is no alternative, exceptharm’s alternative, left open to us.

Bhowanipur, crossing Jatindas Parkon bound to Keoratala crematoriumground. A mass of people on bothsides of the street, many in a moodof grief while most fell silent at theunparalleled discipline displayed bythe processionists marching pastinterminably. Showing great honourto the departed leader and the Party,they made way for the procession toadvance. Many were found to bowtheir head when the bier carryingComrade Nihar Mukherjee passedby. Some were seen offering redsalute. At many points, variousorganizations and members of thebeholding public came forwardand placed floral wreaths on thecortege as a mark of their heartfeltrespect to the great revolutionaryleader.

Excepting for the refrains of theInternationale and song composedon Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, sungby batches of comrades in chorus,the vast funeral procession silentlyand solemnly wound its way, finallyreaching Keoratala Crematoriumwhen the last persons were stillstriding along the road farthest fromthe destination. The bier was carriedby the Polit Bureau members to thelast spot. After posting the lastguard of honour by the Komsomoland the Central Committeemembers offering the last RedSalute to bid final adieu to thebeloved General Secretary. With thebugle playing the Last Post, the bierof Comrade Nihar Mukherjee wasplaced into the electric furnace amidslogans of “Long Live ComradeNihar Mukherjee”, “Long live GreatLeader of the Proletariat, ComradeShibdas Ghosh”, “Long Live SUCI(Communist)”. Comrades came outwith tears rolling down, manysobbing profusely. But behind therolling tears was a firm resolve —to remain unflinching to the task offilling up the void created by thedemise of the great revolutionaryleader by strengthening and

On this recog-nition, ComradeNihar Mukherjeeunleashed thestruggle forelevation andrectification allthrough the Party.It is this whichmakes thisJourney sodifferent in theeye of the public.

At timesslow, at timesrapid, the columnpassed alongcrossing theMaidan, crossing Contd. on page 11

Comrade Ranjit Dhar, Polit Bureau member Comrade Anil Sen, veteran leader and former CC memberComrade Asit Bhattacharyya, Polit Bureau member

Central Committee members and state secretaries in the Last Journey

PAGE EIGHT MARCH 1, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA

Bangladesher SamajtantrikDal (BASAD)

We are shocked at the news ofthe demise of Comrade NiharMukherjee, the General Secretary ofour fraternal party SUCI(Communist) and the closestcomrade of Comrade ShibdasGhosh, the eminent Marxist thinker.At his demise the revolutionarystruggle in India has lost a mostworthy revolutionary leader who, atthe same time, had been playing asignificant historic role in thecontemporary world communistmovement. We would hope theleaders and cadres of the SUCI(Communist) will march aheadtransforming grief into strength.

Alex MoumbarisMember from France,Secretariat, InternationalAnti-imperialist and People’sSolidarity CoordinatingCommittee (IAPSCC)

Please transmit to the familyand SUCI my deepest condolencesfor Comrade Nihar Mukherjee’sloss. He did impress me very muchwhen I met him in Calcutta .

Wil van der KliftNew Communist Party of TheNetherlands

I wish to express my personalcondolence. I have met ComradeNihar Mukherjee a few times, asTineke did once. He deeplyimpressed us by his wisdom andcalm behaviour. We wish you,members of the leadership of theparty, friends we have met in Indiaand all other members of SUCI,strength in this difficult period.

Momar SambeDakar-Senegal

We have a deep pain to learn thedeath of Comrade Nihar Mukherjee,General Secretary of SUCI. Weknow the great part this Comradetook in the life of your party andanti-imperialist movement in theworld. In these sad circumstances,the Secretariat of our party (RTA-S)present to all comrades of SUCI hisdeep sympathy and militantencouragements.

Sara Flounders andJohn CatalinottoWorkers World Party, USA

We in Workers World Party,USA, send our condolences to thecomrades of SUCI upon learningthat Comrade Nihar Mukherjee,

Condolence messages from abroadwho was able to dedicate so muchof his life to the struggle of theworking class, had taken his lastbreath on February 18. It is a heavyburden to have the responsibility forleadership in a revolutionary partyin any country, all the more so in acountry of a billion people, and itComrade Nihar Mukherjee’s recordshows that he had managed thatresponsibility with skill andcourage. The loss of thisexperienced leader is a great loss toyour party as well as to the workers’worldwide, and so we send ourfirmest solidarity in this difficulttime.

Heather CottinWorkers World Party, USA

I send you revolutionarysolidarity and condolence for theloss of your great comrade —Comrade Nihar Mukherjee. I feelso fortunate that I met him andheard him in my life. …When I waslast in Calcutta, I saw his comradeshelping Comrade Nihar Mukherjee to the stage. His body was weak, buthis revolutionary mind and heartwere strong. When he spoke, hispowerful voice resonatedthroughout the hall. He gave anamazing speech with revolutionaryhistorical understanding …. I reallylearned a perspective that helped meforever after. Comrade NiharMukherjee also spoke of ShibdasGhosh…. The people attending thisconference were strengthened intheir revolutionary resolve by justhearing this one speech. I was.

Dr. Mohamad TayMember from Lebanon in theSecretariat, IAPSCC

I send my condolences to thecomrades of SUCI upon knowingthat Comrade Nihar Mukherjee,who dedicated much of his life tothe struggle of the working class,had died on February 18. The lossof this leader is a great loss to yourparty as well as to the workers’worldwide and us, and so I send mysolidarity in this difficult time.

Comrade Khaled Haddadinand Hani HaddadinJordanian Communist Party

I was very shocked and sadabout the disturbing news thatyou’ve given me. My condolencesto you and to all the party members.He was a great general, socialist anda wonderful human being. Our partywill never forget him, his impactwill live forever.

Mohammad KassemMember from Lebanon in theSecretariat, IAPSCC

We really feel great sorrow andpain for the loss of one of the greatleaders of the working class party,the loss of a revolutionary leaderwho spent his life struggling againstoccupation and part of his lifebehind prison bars never giving uptill the last moment of his life, leaving behind him a rich andglorifying history of anti-imperialistmovement and struggle of theworking class, striving and sharingin the process of establishing agenuine communist party in hiscountry, SUCI.

Our warm condolences to thecomrades of SUCI for the loss ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee, withour deep sympathy and militantencouragements that you wouldsurpass this situation. We doconsider the loss of this experiencedleader is a great loss to all of us aswell as to the working class all overthe world.

Nina AndreevaGeneral Secretary,All Union Communist Party(Bolsheviks)

With a heavy heart we receivedthe news of passing away ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee, GeneralSecretary of the Socialist UnityCentre of India (Communist). Hewas a great revolutionary andworthy continuator of ComradeShibdas Ghosh, the founder of yourParty. We express our heartfeltcondolence to the members of theSUCI (Communist), his familymembers as well as the closecomrades. His memory will remainalive for ever. We are confident that,the SUCI(C) will go ahead firmly inthe path of developing anti-

imperialist movement and classstruggle for the improvement of thelot of Indian working people. Weexpress our solidarity with yourstruggle.

S. K Senthivel (GeneralSecretary) and E. Thambiah(National Organizer)Central Committee, NewDemocratic Party, Sri Lanka

The New Democratic Party, SriLanka upon hearing the stoppage ofthe breath of Comrade NiharMukherjee the General Secretary ofSUCI (Communist) has been downwith deepest sorrow and would liketo share the heart feelings with ourfraternal neighbour the SUCI(Communist), its members and thepeople of India, through thismessage….We know ComradeNihar Mukherjee has exhausted hiswhole life to fulfill the task ofbuilding up the revolutionarycommunist movement in India andcontributing his part for theInternational CommunistMovement, by and large theInternational Anti-ImperialistMovement. …Comrades! Being aparental seed it is sure the latecomrade had produced childrenseeds with revolutionary spirit. So,we may wholeheartedly give thefarewell to the body of latecomrade, keeping his valuableexperience and knowledge.

National Democratic Front ofthe Philippines

The National Democratic Frontof the Philippines (NDFP) extendsits sincerest condolences to theSocialist Unity Centre of India(Communist) on the death ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee.

Comrade Nihar devoted decadesContd. on page 9

With foreign delegates on the occasion of Great November Revoloution DayMeeting in Calcutta on 17 November, 2003

PROLETARIAN ERA MARCH 1, 2010 PAGE NINE

of his life to the cause of liberatingIndia, first from British colonialism,then to the struggles of the poorpeople of India against imperialismand local reaction. His leadershiphas been well-respected andadmired as shown by the trustmembers of the SUCI havebestowed on him as GeneralSecretary of the Party since 1976.

He valiantly battled his sicknessas he also vigorously battledenemies of the Indian people andworking class. He may have lostthe battle for his body but the noblecause he has lived and died forremains alive in the struggle of theIndian people for true freedom,genuine democracy and socialism.

The Indian workers, peasants,indigenous people, and the poormasses are continually oppressed byimperialism and the systemperpetrated by the Indian rulingclass. As with people in othercountries in the world, the Indianpeople are also faced with theintensifying economic, political,social and military aggression of theimperialists, chiefly by the UnitedStates, as they struggle to bringabout the destruction ofimperialism.

Comrade Nihar lives in everyone of the Indian people who dareto struggle. In this respect he shallnever truly die.

Long live the struggle of theIndian people for national freedomand democracy!

Jordanian Communist PartyGreat sorrow and anguish

engulfed our hearts at the news ofthe departure of Comrade NiharMukherjee, Secretary General of theparty. The departure of ComradeMukherjee at this particular timehurts us and hurts millions ofcommunists and activists andoppressed people in the worldbecause he is a symbol of a longhistory in the fight againstcolonialism and occupation anddependency, poverty and hunger. It was Comrade Mukherjee whotaught not to weaken or be shaken inthe resolve at the turn of events inthe Soviet Union or the socialistsystem but to continue the struggleto recover the strength and eliminatethe root cause of people’s poverty.Comrade Mukherjee was thelieutenant and assistant of thefounder Secretary-General ComradeShibdas Ghosh and shared thestruggle and the incarceration in

prison cells, and thus has become agreat legacy in the struggle andexperience.

We miss the late, greatleader. We are confident that thecomrades will follow the course andthe path set by the late comrade andknow that the tree planted byComrade Mukherjee will grow andblossom and from among itsbranches will come RevolutionaryYouth, the Youth who will raise redflags for revolution high on theirshoulders adorned with the slogan ofworkers, peasants and intellectuals.

MLCPTurkey/Northern KurdistanInternational Bureau

We have learnt with great painthat Comrade Nihar Mukherjee, theGeneral Secretary of your party, haspassed away, leaving us an importantheritage of revolutionary theory andpractice. We know very well that arevolutionary cadre like himcarrying a long history of struggleagainst colonialism, imperialism andcapitalism on his body and minddoes not appear easily on the sceneof history. However, we believe thatall his comrades and students willleap one step forward in order to fillthe ranks once more taking a greatrevolutionary power from hisinheritance. We believe that yourparty SUCI will carry his dream andlabour to future uninterruptedly.

We convey condolences to yourparty SUCI, to the revolutionary andcommunist movement of India, tothe working and labouring masses ofIndia and to the InternationalRevolutionary and CommunistMovement. We confirm that hisexample will be a great source ofinspiration for us in our struggle.Martyrs of the revolution areimmortal! Comrade NiharMukherjee is immortal! Glory toComrade Nihar Mukherjee! Glory toSUCI!

Long live revolution! Long liveMarxism-Leninism!

Ninu ChapagainCultural Bureau In-Charge,United Communist Party ofNepal (Maoist)

It is with sadness that wereceived the news of the passing ofComrade Nihar Mukherjee. The lossof each remaining member of thefounding generation of thecommunist parties of South Asia isan acute loss for all South Asiarevolutionaries. It is equally achallenge to us, individually and

Condolence messages from abroadContd.from page 8

Those who offered floral tribute on22 February at Party Headquarters

On behalf of various political partiesComrades Ashok Ghosh, West Bengal State Secretary, Forward Bloc,

Benoy Konar, Central Committee member, CPI(M), Manju KumarMazumdar, West Bengal State Secretary, CPI, Amar Chowdhury andSubhas Naskar of RSP, Kartik Pal, West Bengal State Secretary,CPI(ML) Liberation, Amit Sinha, CPI (ML)-PCC, Subrota Bose,COIML, Debabrata Roy, Student Bloc, Biren Mahanta, Agragami KisanSangha, Ajay Roy, RCPI, Chitta Nath, Bolshevik Party, , SamirPutatunda of PDS and Shri Mukul Roy and Shri Partha Chatterjee onbehalf of Trinamool Congress chief Smt. Mamata Banerjee.

Eminent PersonalitiesSmt. Miratun Nahar, eminent social and cultural activist, Shri Ashim

Giri, folk and mass singer, Chhoton Das, Bandi Mukti Committee, Dr.A.B. Dutta, eminent psychiatrist, Shri Dilip Chakraborty, veteranjournalist and cultural activist and Smt. Rupashree Kahali, noted culturalactivist. On behalf of Shri Tarun Sanyal, President, Forum of Artistes,Intellectuals and Cultural Activists and a front-ranking intellectual ofleftist cultural movement, Dr. Anupam Dasgupta, distinguished Neuro-surgeon of the country, and Shri Kabir Suman, a mass singer of repute,Anil Chatterjee, former mayor of Howrah municipality and only livingmember of Durbhiksha Pratirodh Committee (Committee for resistingfamine) of the 1950s, and many others.

Veteran SUCI (C) leadersComrade Anil Sen, former member of the Central Committee and on

behalf of Comrade Sukomal Dasgupta, former member of the CentralCommittee.

SUCI (C) Polit Bureau membersComrades Provash Ghosh, Manik Mukherjee, Krishna Chakraborty,

Ranjit Dhar and Asit BhattacharyyaSUCI (C) Central Committee members

Comrades Yakub Pailan, Gopal Kundu, C. K. Luckose, K.Radhakrishna, Satyawan, Kalyan Chowdhury, Debaprosad Sarkar,Soumen Bosu and Shankar Saha

SUCI (C) State Secretaries and in-chargesComrades Shivsankar (Bihar), Dhurjati Das (Orissa), Hem

Chakraborty (Jharkhand), K. Sridhar (Andhra Pradesh), Dwarika Ratha(Gujarat), Pratap Samal (Delhi), Arun Bhowmik (Tripura), V. N. Singh(Uttar Pradesh), Umaprosad Biswas (Madhya Pradesh), K. Rengaswamy(Tamilnadu), Amrinder Pal Singh (Punjab), Girijeswar Singh(Rajasthan), Badsha Khan (Chhattisgarh), Bablu Mitra (Andamans),Madhav Bhonde (Maharashtra), Anil Tyagi (Mumbai) and RameshSharma (Sikkim)

Various class and mass organizationsComrades Krishna Chakraborty, President, AIUTUC, Shankar Saha,

General Secretary, AIUTUC, Chhaya Mukherjee, President, All IndiaMSS, H.G. Jayalakshmi, General Secretary, All India MSS, M. N.Sriram, President, AIDSO, Sourav Mukherjee, General Secretary,AIDSO, Dhrubajyoti Mukherjee, General Secretary, All India anti-imperialist Forum and many others.

collectively, to properly rememberand build upon the work theyengaged in. We walk upon groundthat they arduously preparedunder harshly repressiveconditions.

As the mantle of responsibilitypasses inevitably to the nextgeneration and the next, we canproperly pay tribute to the foundingcomrades like Comrade NiharMukherjee only through correct anddedicated revolutionary praxis. Inthis light, his united front work

should equally be remembered andsaluted. In that spirit, I extendcondolences from across a territorialborder, but from within thesingle United CommunistMovement.

Andy BrooksGeneral Secretary, NewCommunist Party of Britain

We are saddened to hear of thepassing of Nihar Mukherjee whoselife was dedicated to the struggle ofworking people and building theSocialist Unity Centre of India. Wewill send a formal condolencemessage in the next few days,

Ashok GhoshGeneral Secretary, Bengalcommittee, All India ForwardBloc

That day, on 17 February, 2010,when I had gone to the CalcuttaHeart Clinic to see Comrade NiharMukherjee, I told you: NiharMukherjee is not a leader of SUCIparty only; you must publish anaccount of his life struggle. Societydemands it.

Niharbabu was one of theeminent leaders among the leadersand parties of West Bengal, whohad taken particular initiative tobuild up the foundation of the leftpolitics in the state. I think, histhoughts and active initiative haveplayed a major role in guiding leftmovement of the state in a correctway. He played a creative role inbuilding up a genuine left unity bydeveloping those left movementsstep by step in a well plannedmanner guided by the ideology ofhis party. To that extent, he is aproduct of history and has createdhistory as well. Today he has madehis place in history.

It was this task that ComradeNihar Mukherjee had performedright from the inception of hispolitical life till his death. Today, athis demise, I would appeal to mycountrymen and the leaders andcadres of SUCI to carry through thishistoric responsibility.

AB Bardhan,General Secretary, CPI

I am extremely grieved to learnabout the demise of Comrade NiharMukherjee. On behalf of our party Iconvey our condolences to yourparty and to members of his family.

Tribute from political partiesand distinguished personalities

PAGE TEN MARCH 1, 2010 PROLETARIAN ERA

Prakash KaratGeneral Secretary, CPI (M)

I am saddened to hear the newsof the passing away of ComradeNihar Mukherjee, General Secretaryof the SUCI (Communist). I got thenews only today on my return toDelhi, through your letter.

Comrade Nihar Mukherjeejoined public life as a teenagerduring the freedom struggle. Hiscommitment to the ideology of theSUCI (Communist) was total. Overthe decades he made a notablecontribution to building up of theParty through his dedicated work.

In his passing away the SUCI(Communist) and the left movementhave suffered a big loss.

Benoy KonarCPI (M) Central Committeemember

Unfortunately and temporarilyour positions were diametricallyopposite; yet he will be everremembered in history for his greatcontributions to the development ofleftist movement in West Bengal.Red Salute to him!

Santosh RanaGeneral Secretary, PCC, CPI(ML)

CPI (ML) PCC expresses deepgrief at the demise of ComradeNihar Mukherjee, GeneralSecretary of SUCI (Communist).

His long political career wasdevoted to the cause of the workingclass and service for people. Peopleof this country will not forget hiscontributions to their struggle foremancipation.

We extend our fraternalsympathy towards his comrades.

Tarun SanyalPresident, Forum for Artistes,Cultural Activists andIntellectuals

Since my childhood, I have beenkeeping on dreaming of an earth asan abode of peace free of war.While going through the pages onthe life sketches of the heroic menand women of the Soviet, I wasdeeply fascinated with that land ofmany nationalities, of manylanguages. That fascination hasproved indelible as yet. In thosedays of my childhood and teen ages,those who were known ascommunists in this countryappeared to me as the heroic princesand princesses of fairy tales. Onceupon a time I came close to themand was inspired. Now, at thesehours of my taking leave from life,I find the descendants of thosecommunists of our country havebecome giants with earthen feet. Ashower now and then brings out theskeleton. Yet, all on a sudden, wecome across the instances ofrevolutionaries of giant stature. Wehappen to meet a genuinerevolutionary who can modestlypronounce: Man lives just for once.Before dying he should be able tosubmit that the life he lived, did notgo in vein, it was dedicated to thecause of emancipating mankind. Ithink, Comrade Nihar Mukherjeewho breathed his last very recentlyat his age beyond ninety, belongedto the creed who could utter thesewords. He was a tested commanderin the struggle for emancipation ofnot just the working class of thiscountry, but of the world as well.Last three or four years, world andIndian monopolists, riding on theunion and state governments, havecome down terribly upon people ofWest Bengal to turn them into slavelabours in Special Economic Zonesin different parts of the state. TheForum for Artistes, CulturalActivists and Intellectuals has beenfounded in protest of this. We wereencouraged to know thatNiharbabu was sympathetic to themovement of the Forum. With thedemise of Comrade NiharMukherjee we have lost that testedfriend. We will hope that hisfollowers and comrades would bevocal and active in protest againstanti-people role and measures ofthe state and the uniongovernments. Rising above party

sectarianism, our Forum in its turnwill definitely extend to them itsunstinted sympathy andcooperation, in the struggle fordemocracy and human rights,.

Long live his memories.

Dr. AB DattaEminent psychiatrist

We were acquainted long since.It is difficult to find such acharacter. He was gold in its purest.From my father, we used to hearabout the activists of the AnushilanSamity. Niharbabu and Shibbabuwere members of the Dhaka chapter.

We learnt from our father aboutthe freedom fighters of therevolutionary trend. They did notmake any compromise on questionsof principles and ethics. They wereof the purest mettle. Dr. Nani Guhaintroduced me to Shibbabu.Following that, I was acquaintedwith Niharbabu in the SUCIcommune at Tala (Calcutta). Icherish so many fond memories ofhim.

I would find in Niharbabu theliving embodiment of therevolutionaries of the AnushilanSamity. Whenever I came close tohim, it filled my heart; it was asource of inspiration. The more Ithink of him today, the more Irealize that his demise marks theend of an era.

It is a rare instance of mentalstrength with which he kept onfighting even at this age of 90years and in face of so seriousailments.

Partha Sengupta,Well-known law professional

I have seen late NiharMukherjee since I developed senses.His simple plain living that hasbecome rare with politicians today,could not but make me respect him.It did not change even when SUCIhad two ministers in West Bengalthat is when they could directly getinto the corridors of power. I wentto the commune he lived in. Theretoo I found what a simple ordinarylifestyle they had. Without enteringinto any political discourse, I canadd without hesitation that such alifestyle and conduct of him,presented to us an example of adedicated communist. I would onlyhope, that these lessons will not berepealed with the demise of such

Contd. on page 11Addressing All India Conference of All India UTUC in Calcutta in 1992

PROLETARIAN ERA MARCH 1, 2010 PAGE ELEVEN

personalities as Nihar Mukherjeehad been.

Dr. Anupam DasguptaRenowned neuro-surgeon

I bid adieu to my respectedfriend Shri Nihar Mukherjee withimmense grief in my heart. Frompersonalities, such as ShibdasGhosh and Nihar Mukherjee were,everybody would get a pleasantblend of resolute conduct, cool andcalmness of honesty and love foreverybody. These days, all this willnot be readily found.

Dr. Sukumar MukherjeeRenowned physician ofinternational fame

Nihar Mukherjee was veryobedient, humble, very clearthinking man; his endurance powerwas very great.

Dr. KB BakshiEminent cardiologist

It is very difficult for me towrite or say anything at the demiseof him. On getting the sad news onthe night of eighteenth, I becamequite emotional. I used to say to mydoctor colleagues: It’s a losingbattle; but we must fight. There wasno lax in efforts. Perhaps it wasimpossible to do any more.I havedeep respect and love for him. Ibecame emotionally attached with

him. Both of us used to be pleasedon seeing each other; I used to findinspiration.

Dr. Susrut BandyopadhyayEminent Critical CareMedicine expert

He was a man of very strongpersonality and clear brain.

Dr. Debasish GhoshWell-known cardiologist

He had a very strong willpower; he was very intelligent andlogical.

Dr. Gautam SarkarWell-known cardiologist

I was associated with histreatment for more than long fifteenyears. He was a man of great height.The first thing that occurs to me isthat he was a ‘man of science’ in thetruest sense of the term. Even underextremely serious conditions he wastotally impersonal about thetreatment of his own self. Henarrated his problems to the doctors,but never made any complaint orremark, howsoever painfulcondition might he be in. He neverargued on doctors’ opinions andfollowed their instructions word byword. He used to think that onmatters of medical treatmentdoctors’ opinions were the lastwords. His endurance power andcooperation knew no bounds. Acharacter with such a broad span ofqualities is extremely rare.

Dr. Ranjan Sharma,Cardiologist of repute

I have seen many VIP patients,but none like Niharbabu. I wasoverwhelmed from his associationand was moved at his simple, plainand hearty behaviour. He obeyeddoctors silently and like a child andnever put any pressure on them. Heused to take doctors’ opinions veryseriously. At his death, we have losta genuinely great personality.

Dr. Subhanan RoyWell-known cardiologist

Being associated with themedical treatment of Niharbabu, Iknew him since long. Ever since, Iwas overwhelmed with hissympathetic, sensitive mind. He hada very clear conception about hisown ailment. He never claimed foranything beyond science, anythingimpossible or irrational. Allthrough, he considered doctors,nurses and health workers as nearand dear to him.

Dr. ParthasarathiBhattacharyya,Eminent pulmonologist

I have been associated withtreatment of Niharbabu for over along period and have seen him fromvery close quarters. He was a veryrespectable personality. I feel proudthat I had the chance to treat such agreat personality.

Dr. Saibal GhoshPulmonologist: Intensivist ofRepute

He was very straightforwardand very specific, with a very highendurance power. It is unfortunatethat we could not help.

Dr. Sanjoy GhoshPhysician of Repute

I have treated Niharbabu over along period of time. At the outset, Imust mention about his immensepatience and unwaveringconfidence on doctors. I found himsmilingly enduring terrible pain andsuffering so long as he wasconscious. It is very painful that inspite of best of efforts, we couldnot save him. I feel honoured tohave the scope to medically treatsuch a fighting personality. Ipropose, the ICCU of the CalcuttaHeart Clinic and Hospital be namedafter him.

Dr. Pratik DasWell-known nephrologist

I was not associated with his

Tribute from political parties and distinguished personalitiesContd. from page 10

treatment for long. But myassociation with him for only a fewdays made me feel that he was aman of a giant stature. Hiscooperation with medical treatmentand doctors was unlimited.

Dr. Sitesh DasguptaEminent Neurologist

For quite a few years I wasassociated with his treatment. Hewas a man of great stature. He wasvery intimate in behaviour and hadimmense patience at listening toothers and understanding theirpoints. He used to followdoctors’ advice with utmostsincerity and word by word. Hisendurance power was also great.I have found him calm, quietand unmoved even under extremepain. I have never seen him tolament for anything. I am reallyproud to have come in touch withhim.

Dr. Gautam Guha,Well-known neurologist

For a long time, I have beentreating his Parkinson’s disease. Hewas very patient and meticulous inall affairs, be it about takingmedicine or any other daily score.He did never make any sort ofcomplaint about treatment. Alwayshe cooperated in all possible ways.I will remember him for years tocome.

At All India Conference of AIKKMS at Muzaffarpore in 1984

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consolidating the Party, founded,reared and steered by ComradeShibdas Ghosh, by applying theteachings of Comrade ShibdasGhosh in their lives and thuscontinuously elevate their standardas good communists to accomplish

proletarian revolution. This was theonly dream Comrade NiharMukherjee cherished and struggledto realize throughout his inspiringrevolutionary life spanning over 77years. Live we must to his clarioncall.

Contd. from page 7

Bidding adieu to the beloved leader

Edited & Published by Asit Bhattacharyya from 48 Lenin Sarani, Kolkata 700 013 and Printed by him at Ganadabi Printers and Publishers Private Limited,52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013. Phone : 2249-1828, 2265-3234 E-mail : [email protected] Website : www.suci.in

RNI No. 13932/67Postal Regd. No. KOL/ RMS / /145 / 2010-12

The Central Committee of theSUCI(C) in course of a statement issuedon 27 February, 2010 stronglydenounced the Union Budget 2010-’11as highly anti-people, glaringlyinflationary and extremely liberal indistribution of largesse to the monopolyhouses and big business at the cost ofthe toiling millions. While the commonpeople bleeding white under unthinkableprice spiral expected some definiteactionable programme on the part of thegovernment to rein in the priceline, theslew of measures announced in thebudget is, on the contrary, sure toincrease the price burden much morethus slaying the slain more cruelly andmercilessly. On the one hand, theFinance Minister tried to play with thecatchphrase of direct tax lowering that isgoing to benefit in the main the rich,affluent, large corporates and capitalists.On the other hand he has merrily hikedindirect tax the brunt of which will besquarely passed on to the commoncitizens. Moreover, whatever minisculebenefit is perceived to accrue to theindividual taxpayers particularly those inthe lower and middle slabs because ofmarginal lowering of tax rates will soonprove to be misnomer when as a falloutof budgetary measures, priceline willsoar yet more skyhigh on a sustainablebasis. It is deplorable that whenallocation to public welfare sectors likehealth and education have been meagre,most unproductive military budget hasbeen increased to as high as Rs.1,47,344 crore which is almost equivalentto estimated Non Tax Revenue Receiptsof Rs.1, 48,118 crore and around 13 %of total budget expenditure of 2010-11projected to be Rs.11,08,749 crore. Themost heinous act has been theimposition of higher customs and exciseduties and taxes on petrol, diesel andpetro-products and indication ofderegulating petrol-diesel prices basedon the recommendation of ParikhCommittee report—a step that will fuelsharp and sustained rise in the prices of

SUCI(C) flays the Union Budget 2010-11 as brazenlyanti-people and pro-capitalist and calls for building up

powerful movement against hefty increase in the dutiesand taxes on petrol-diesel and other petro-products

Reacting on the Railway Budget 2010 placed in the LokSabha on 24 February last the Central Committee of the SUCI(C) in course of a statement issued on 25 February, 2010observed that although the Railway Minister Smt. MamataBanerjee in an effort to respond to the expectations of the peoplehas included in the budget certain proposals like introduction ofmore trains, expansion of tracks, free travel by cancer patients,token cuts in freight on foodgrains and kerosene and some suchothers already doing the round in the country for quite sometime, some basic problems causing severe hardship to thecommon passengers continue to remain either unaddressed orvaguely referred to even this time as well. Likewise, the pressingneed for adopting immediate concrete time-bound measures toinstall new safety devices to prevent accidents rising alarminglyin number of late as well as to provide due security to the lifeand property of the passengers during travel has practicallyreceived no attention. It is also found that camouflaged behindthe stunt of ‘no fare rise’, the deplorable means the previousUPA government adopted to indirectly raise cost of Railwaytravel by converting more and more express trains into superfasttrains without any change in running time but chargingadditional superfast surcharge, enhancing fare for return journeybooking, raising the number of expensive Tatkal quota seats byreducing cheaper general sleeper class seats and so forthcontinue to be in vogue. The budget has also not touched uponthe issues like continuation with dilapidated bogies, phased andsystematic reduction in the number of unreserved generalcompartments, fast withdrawal of passenger trains particularlyfast passenger trains, virtual absence of any maintenance serviceworth the name and above all, prevalence of rampant corruptionsquandering away huge amount of public money. On the otherhand, though Smt. Banerjee was opposed to the policy ofprivatization which the previous Congress-led CPI (M)-backedUPA government introduced in the Railways, it is found that shein her bid to maintain her alliance with the Congress is yieldingto its pressure and is shifting from her earlier stand and optingfor the PPP route, a euphemism for backdoor privatization, formany of the declared projects like setting up hospitals andschools by handing over Railway land to private monopolists. Itmay be added that the people have been experiencing right sinceindependence that though some palatable proposals are dishedout during budget presentation, most of them never see the lightof the day and find permanent place in the cold storage. TheCentral Committee, therefore, urges the Railway Minister tomake a breakthrough by expeditiously implementing theproposals she has announced and adopt in right earnest definitesteps to redress the basic problems tormenting the commonpassengers.

SUCI (C) resents non-addressingof basic problems tormenting

common passengers in the RailwayBudget 2010 and expresses concern

at eventual privatization ofRailways through PPP route

Red Salute Great Revolutionary Comrade Nihar Mukherjee

Memorial Meeting3 March, 2010 at 3 p.m. at Netaji Indoor Stadium, Calcutta

Speaker : Comrade Provash Ghosh President : Comrade Krishna Chakraborty

essential items including foodgrains.Similarly, brazenly anti-people policieslike introduction of goods and servicetax, bringing more service areas underpurview of taxation, reduction infertilizer subsidy, privatization of publicsector units through disinvestment route,ensuring growth of Special EconomicZones (SEZs), requisitioning privatesector participation in storage offoodgrains are all going to push upprices, squeeze the people yet moreseverely and cause plummeting ofincome of the common masses muchmore rapidly. The budget has neitheraddressed the burning problems oflandlessness, availability ofremunerative prices for agriculturalproduce and increasing indebtednessplaguing the poor peasants nor has itcared to touch upon the all importantissue of massive job loss, wage cut andmounting unemployment tearingasunder the working class consequent toimplementation of capitalistglobalization. The Finance Minister hasbeen categorical in announcing that “thefocus of economic activity has shiftedtowards the non-governmental actors,bringing into sharper focus the role ofGovernment as an enabler” andgovernment will now create “anenabling ethos so that individualenterprise and creativity can flourish.”

This only reconfirms that thisCongress-led UPA government is aobedient servitor of the heinous classinterest of the exploiting capitalistshaving not even an iota of concern forthe rising predicament, penury andmisery of the common countrymen. TheCentral Committee, therefore, calls uponeach and every citizen of the country tobuild up countrywide united powerfulprotest movement against this noxiousblueprint of fiscal savagery andeconomic onslaught and demand in onevoice immediate withdrawal theproposed hefty increase in the duties andtaxes on petrol-diesel and other petro-products.