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Nallakannu, freedom fighter and veteran leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), passed away at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai on Wednesday, February 25. He was 101 years old. Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced that his mortal remains will be buried with full state honours.
Tamil Nadu CPI state secretary Veerpandiam has announced that Nallakannu’s mortal remains will be kept for public homage at the party headquarters, Balan Illam, in T Nagar, Chennai, from 5 pm on February 25 to 3 pm on February 26, after which party cadres will take out a procession from the party office to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where his body will be donated for educational purposes.
In a statement issued Wednesday, the hospital said he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on February 1 due to health complications and had been undergoing treatment for hypertension, a kidney ailment and difficulty swallowing. He had been admitted for specialized care and was cared for by a multidisciplinary team of doctors.
“During the last 24 days of treatment, his condition showed fluctuations. A multidisciplinary medical team continued to provide him with intensive care and close monitoring throughout this period. Since early morning, his ability to respond to medications gradually decreased and his condition became extremely critical. Despite being under advanced intensive care, all his vital organs eventually failed. With deep sadness, we inform you that Mr. Nallakannu passed away at 1:55 p.m. on February 25,” the statement reads. statement.
Originally from Tiruvaikuntam in Thoothukudi district, Nallakannu was one of the senior leaders of the communist movement in India and had been associated with the Left movement for several decades.
Born in 1925, he joined the communist movement at the age of 15 and was active in numerous protests for workers’ rights. He served as State Secretary of the CPI in Tamil Nadu for several years and was widely respected for his simple lifestyle and firm ideological commitment. He lived an underground life for many years when the British banned the CPI and later during the Congress regime.
In 1948, India’s first independent prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, banned the CPI. Nallakannu, who was 27 years old at the time, was taken into police custody, where he was subjected to brutal custodial violence. Recalling his days in custody, Nallakannu had said that he could not grow a mustache because a police officer burned his upper lip with a cigarette butt.
In 1949, Nallakannu was sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly conspiring to overthrow Jawaharlal Nehru’s government, infamously known as the Nellai conspiracy case. He was lodged in the Madurai Central Prison, where he fought for the rights of prisoners.
Among his notable contributions were sustained campaigns on inter-state river water disputes, particularly the Cauvery issue, where he consistently advocated for equitable sharing of water for the farmers of Tamil Nadu. He also spoke out against sand mining along the Thamirabarani river and sought a judicial ban on sand mining from the river for five years. In 2010, he filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter and argued personally before the Madras High Court.
During the Emergency (1975-1977), he was imprisoned for his political activities. Over the years, he received several honours, including the ‘Thagaisal Tamizhar’ award from the Tamil Nadu government in 2022.
In 1999, Nallakannu contested the Lok Sabha elections from Coimbatore constituency, but was defeated by BJP’s CP Radhakrishnan.
Expressing condolences on the demise of the veteran leader, CM Stalin said, “The time we lived during the lifetime of Comrade Nallakannu Ayya is our pride. No matter what awards or honors he received, he was a leader who donated each of them to the party and the government for public welfare.”
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder president Vijay said his loss is irreplaceable and expressed his condolences.
“From the age of 15 to the end of his life, he fought tirelessly and achieved victories for the rights and upliftment of the poor, workers and marginalized people. Beyond political parties, he was held in high esteem and respect by all,” Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Selvaperunthagai said.
Former Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai said: “He was recognized as an exemplary social reformer and an extremely humble leader. Cutting across party lines, he earned the respect of people from all walks of life.”
