Marxist leader Sitaram Yechury dies at 72, body donated to AIIMS for research
Political leaders across the country expressed their condolences. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, remembered him as "a protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described his death as "a loss for national politics."
New Delhi: Sitaram Yechury, the long-serving General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday at the age of 72. The prominent political leader was admitted to AIIMS, New Delhi, on August 19 after being diagnosed with pneumonia. Despite medical efforts, he succumbed to the illness, leaving behind a legacy that shaped the landscape of Indian politics.
Yechury’s family donated his body to AIIMS for educational and research purposes, in line with the leader's commitment to the greater good. Born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, Yechury played a pivotal role in India’s political discourse, particularly through his advocacy for Marxism and his skillful coalition-building efforts.
Glorious past
His political journey began in 1974 with the Students' Federation of India (SFI), and he quickly rose to leadership positions, becoming a three-time President of the JNU Students' Union and later the All-India President of SFI. By 1992, he was a member of the CPI(M) Politburo and held the position for more than three decades. Yechury served as a Rajya Sabha MP from 2005 to 2017, representing West Bengal, and was re-elected as the CPI(M) General Secretary in 2015, 2018, and 2022.
Political leaders across the country expressed their condolences. Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP, remembered him as "a protector of the Idea of India with a deep understanding of our country." West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described his death as "a loss for national politics." Yechury’s passing marks the end of an era, but his contributions to Indian politics and society will be remembered for generations.
