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Sitaram Yechury
Yechury in 2013
General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
In office
19 April 2015 – 12 September 2024
Preceded byPrakash Karat
Succeeded byPrakash Karat (interim co-ordinator)
Member of the Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
In office
10 January 1992 – 12 September 2024
Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha
In office
19 August 2005 – 18 August 2017
Preceded byAbani Roy
Succeeded byShanta Chhetri
ConstituencyWest Bengal
Personal details
Born(1952-08-12)12 August 1952
Madras, Madras State, India
(present-day Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India)
Died12 September 2024(2024-09-12) (aged 72)
New Delhi, India
Political partyCommunist Party of India (Marxist)
SpouseSeema Chishti
RelationsMohan Kanda (maternal uncle)
Alma materJawaharlal Nehru University (MA)
St. Stephen's College (BA)
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Sitaram Yechury (12 August 1952 – 12 September 2024) was an Indian Marxist politician and the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), who was a member of the Politburo of the CPI(M) since 1992. Previously, he was a Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha, West Bengal, from 2005 to 2017.

Early life

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A charcoal portrait of Sitaram Yechury by Amitabh Mitra

Yechury was born on 12 August 1952 into a Telugu Brahmin family in Madras.[1][2] His father Sarveswara Somayajula Yechury and mother Kalpakam Yechury are natives of Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh. His father was an engineer in the Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation.[3] His mother was a government officer and currently lives in Kakinada.[4]

Yechury grew up in Hyderabad, and studied at the All Saints High School, Hyderabad, till his tenth standard.[5] The Telangana agitation of 1969 brought him to Delhi.[4] He joined Presidents Estate School, New Delhi, and achieved the All-India first rank in the Central Board of Secondary Education Higher Secondary Examination.[6] Subsequently, he studied B.A. (Hons.) in Economics at St. Stephen's College, Delhi,[7] and M.A. in Economics, from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), achieving first class in both. He joined the JNU for a Ph.D. in Economics,[8] which was aborted with his arrest during The Emergency.[9]

Political career

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Yechury joined the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in 1974. A year later, he joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist).[10]

Yechury was arrested in 1975 during the Emergency while he was still a student at JNU. He went underground for some time, organising resistance to the Emergency, before his arrest. After the Emergency, he was elected as the President of the JNU Students' Union thrice during one year (1977–78).[11] Yechury, along with Prakash Karat, created a leftist unit at JNU.[12]

In 1978, Yechury was elected as All-India Joint Secretary of SFI, and went on to become the All India President of SFI. He was the first president of SFI who was not from Kerala or Bengal.[4] In 1984, he was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M). In 1985, the party constitution was modified, and a five-man central secretariat—Yechury, Prakash Karat, Sunil Moitra, P. Ramachandran and S. Ramachandran Pillai—was elected to work under the direction and control of the politburo.[12] He left the SFI in 1986. He was then elected to the Politburo at the Fourteenth Congress in 1992[13] and as the fifth General Secretary of CPI(M) at the party's 21st party Congress in Visakhapatnam on 19 April 2015. He and politburo member S. Ramachandran Pillai were the frontrunners for the post but the former was unanimously chosen after Pillai chose to withdraw.[14] He succeeded Prakash Karat, who had held the post for three consecutive terms, from 2005 to 2015. He was again re-elected as General Secretary of CPI(M) at the 22nd Party Congress held at Hyderabad in April 2018.[15] He was elected for a third term as General Secretary of CPI(M) at the 23rd Party Congress held at Kannur, Kerala in April 2022.[16]

Yechury was considered to uphold the coalition-building legacy of former general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet. He worked with P. Chidambaram to draft the common minimum program for the United Front government in 1996 and had actively pursued the coalition-building process during the formation of the United Progressive Alliance government in 2004 and Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance in 2023.[17][18][2]

Yechury headed the party's international department, and the party used to depute him as fraternal delegate to the party conferences of most socialist countries.[19] A prolific writer, he authored many books and wrote the fortnightly column Left Hand Drive for Hindustan Times, a widely circulated daily.[20] He edited party's fortnightly newspaper People's Democracy for 20 years.[21]

Role in Rajya Sabha

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Yechury receiving Best Parliamentarian Award (Rajya Sabha) in 2017

Yechury was elected to Rajya Sabha from West Bengal in July 2005.[22] He was known for bringing several popular issues to the notice of parliament and for raising questions on important issues. On blaming by the ruling party for frequent disruptions in parliament, he said that government cannot escape from its responsibility by blaming the opposition for frequent disruptions. He justified disruptions in parliament by calling it a legitimate process in a democracy.[23]

During the negotiations for the Indo-US Nuclear Pact, Yechury listed in the Rajya Sabha all the conditions that the CPM required of the agreement. After the Manmohan Singh government satisfied all the conditions, he was overruled by Prakash Karat, who claimed that the agreement still violated the CPM's idea of independent foreign policy. It was said that this left Yechury "displeased and helpless".[24]

On 3 March 2015 during parliament session, Yechury moved an amendment to President Pranab Mukherjee's address on the inaugural day of Parliament's budget session. This was passed by division of votes in Rajya Sabha, and it was an embarrassment to the Modi government. Parliamentary affairs minister Venkaiah Naidu stated that Yechury's concern had been noted and requested him to not go ahead with the amendment as this was not a convention. Yechury said normally he would accept such a request, but he was pressing for the amendment as the government left no choice as even after 14 hours of debate, opposition was denied opportunity to seek clarification on the Prime Minister's reply. This was the fourth time in Rajya Sabha's history that an amendment moved by the opposition to the motion of thanks to the President's address had been passed.[25][26]

Views on United States

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Yechury was a staunch critic of US foreign policy. He also criticised the visit of the US president Barack Obama as the chief guest of the 2015 Republic Day parade.[27]

While blaming the US for rise of Islamic fundamentalism he said

US military interventions in West Asia have created a situation of complete uncertainty. The military interventions have always given birth to the rise of fundamentalism, which we see today in the menace that has been created by the ISIS. They have given birth to such tendencies.[27]

He also blamed the US for its hegemonic attitude; he said

Now, in their (US) quest for global hegemony, they are trying to capture the energy resources in the world. They are trying to control the entire process of the energy transfers or trade in the world. And for this reason, their military interventions has also continuing to deny the Palestinians their legitimate right to a homeland.[27]

He was also a staunch critic of abrogation of article 370 and 35A in Jammu and Kashmir.[28]

On 12 September 2020, he along with Yogendra Yadav and others was named in the supplementary chargesheet by Delhi Police for their alleged role in the 2020 Delhi riots[29][30] over which Yechury responded that Bharatiya Janata Party was misusing its power to target the opposition.[31]

Personal life

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Yechury was married to journalist Seema Chishti, who is the editor of The Wire, and formerly the Delhi editor of BBC Hindi Service.[32] She was the Resident Editor of The Indian Express, Delhi. Yechury said in a ScoopWhoop episode that his wife financially sustained him.[33] He was married before, to Indrani Mazumdar, daughter of Vina Mazumdar, and has a daughter and a son from this marriage.[34] His daughter, Akhila Yechury, is a major in history and teaches at the University of Edinburgh and University of St. Andrews.[4][35] His son Ashish Yechury died on 22 April 2021 due to COVID-19, at the age of 34.[36] Mohan Kanda IAS, former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, is Yechury's maternal uncle.[3]

Illness and death

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Yechury was admitted to the department of emergency medicine at AIIMS Delhi on 19 August 2024 and was put on respiratory support after his condition turned critical in September, according to a statement by the CPI(M).[37][38] He displayed symptoms of a pneumonia-like chest infection and died on 12 September, at the age of 72, after suffering from an acute respiratory infection.[39][40][41] His body was donated to AIIMS for teaching and research purposes by his family.[42][43]

Works

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Yechury authored the following books:

  • What Is This Hindu Rashtra?: On Golwalkar's Fascistic Ideology and the Saffron Brigade's Practice (Frontline Publications, Hyderabad, 1993)[44]
  • Pseudo Hinduism Exposed: Saffron Brigade's Myths and Reality (Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi, 1993)[45]
  • Caste and Class in Indian Politics Today (Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, 1997)[46]
  • Oil Pool Deficit Or Cesspool of Deceit (Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi, 1997)[47]
  • Socialism in a Changing World (Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, 2008)[48]
  • Left Hand Drive: Concrete Analysis of Concrete Conditions (Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, 2012)[49]
  • Modi Government: New Surge of Communalism (Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, 2014)[50]
  • Communalism vs. Secularism[51]
  • Ghrina Ki Rajniti (Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, 2006) (in Hindi)[52]

Yechury edited the following books:

  • People's Diary of Freedom Struggle (Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi, 2008)[53]
  • The Great Revolt: A Left Appraisal (Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi)[54]
  • Global Economic Crisis: A Marxist Perspective[55]

References

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  1. ^ "Sitaram Yechury: Suave, Soft-Spoken and Dynamic". NDTV. 19 April 2015. Retrieved 19 April 2015.
  2. ^ a b "Who was Sitaram Yechury? From political career, education to family, here's all you should know about the Chanakya of coalition politics". The Economic Times. 12 September 2024. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 15 September 2024.
  3. ^ a b "S.S. Yechury memorial office building opened". The Hindu. 24 July 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d Mukul, Akshaya (20 April 2015). "1969 Telangana agitation brought Sitaram Yechury to Delhi". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. ^ Venkateshwarlu, K. (19 November 2005). "All Saints High School in select group". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 May 2010.
  6. ^ "Sitaram Yechury". 28 August 2009.
  7. ^ "Detailed Profile – Shri Sitaram Yechury – Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) – Who's Who – Government: National Portal of India". india.gov.in.
  8. ^ "Biography of Sitaram Yechuri". winentrance.com. 14 March 2011. Archived from the original on 16 July 2023. Retrieved 30 November 2014.
  9. ^ "Comrade Yechury, an idealist who smiled, fought and survived the darkest times – CNBC TV18". CNBCTV18. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Sitaram Yechury passes away". Deshabhimani. Retrieved 14 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Sitaram Yechury – Communist Party of India". Communist Party of India. 28 August 2009. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  12. ^ a b Pillai, Sreedhar (31 January 1989). "13th party congress of CPI(M) in Trivandrum one of the most significant in its history". India Today. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Party Congress". Cpimkerala.org. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 23 April 2015.
  14. ^ Joshua, Anita (19 April 2015). "Yechury is new CPI(M) chief". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  15. ^ "Sitaram Yechury re-elected as CPI(M) general secretary". Archived from the original on 29 April 2018.
  16. ^ "Yechury re-elected CPI(M) general secretary". The Hindu. 10 April 2022. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 27 June 2023.
  17. ^ Ramachandran, Rajesh (20 April 2015). "Sitaram Yechury: A fine combination of pleasant personality, interpersonal skills & flair for negotiation". The Economic Times. ISSN 0013-0389. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  18. ^ Joshua, Anita (19 April 2015). "Yechury has an unenviable task on hand". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  19. ^ Mahaprashasta, Ajoy Ashirwad. "A Fighter and a Thinker, Sitaram Yechury Leaves Behind a Towering Legacy". The Wire. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  20. ^ "Latest News, India, Cricket, Sports, Bollywood". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 January 2013.
  21. ^ Chatterji, Saubhadra (19 April 2015). "From an activist to CPI-M general secretary: Sitaram Yechury's journey". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 13 September 2024.
  22. ^ "National : Yechury, Brinda Karat take oath". The Hindu. 23 August 2005. Archived from the original on 14 February 2006.
  23. ^ "Government can't blame Opposition for bedlam in Parliament: Sitaram Yechury". timesofindia-economictimes. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015.
  24. ^ Baru, Sanjaya (2014). The Accidental Prime Minister: The Making and Unmaking of Manmohan Singh. Penguin India. pp. 226–227. ISBN 9789351186380.
  25. ^ "Opposition gets amendment passed in Rajya Sabha embarrassing government". The Hindu. 3 March 2015. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 18 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Embarrassment for Modi: Rajya Sabha amends note on President's speech". intoday.in. 3 March 2015.
  27. ^ a b c "Yechury criticises govt for inviting Obama on Republic Day". Zee News. 14 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Sitaram Yechury sees a fascistic project in Kashmir". The Hindu. 23 August 2019.
  29. ^ "'Politics of BJP's Leadership': Yechury, Others Hit Out at Riots Probe, Delhi Police Responds". The Wire. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  30. ^ Staff Reporter (12 September 2020). "Police link Sitaram Yechury, Yogendra Yadav to Delhi riots". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  31. ^ "BJP misusing power to target Opposition: Sitaram Yechury hits out at Centre over Delhi riots chargesheet". India Today. 13 September 2020. Retrieved 13 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Seema Chishti Joins The Wire as Editor". The Wire. 2 January 2023. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  33. ^ Off The Record Ep. 06 ft, Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary, CPI(M), pp. 3:08, retrieved 26 December 2021, Luckily my wife [financially] sustains me
  34. ^ Mukul, Akshay (23 June 2010). "Vina Mazumdar, the fighter". The Times of India. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  35. ^ "Dr Akhila Yechury: BA (Hons.), MA (Delhi), M.Phil (JNU), PhD (Cantab)". University of St. Andrews. Retrieved 21 April 2015.
  36. ^ "Sitaram Yechury's son Ashish dies of Covid-19 in Gurugram hospital – Times of India". The Times of India. 22 April 2021. Retrieved 23 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Sitaram Yechury of CPI(M) 'critical', on respiratory support at AIIMS Delhi". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 10 September 2024.
  38. ^ "Veteran CPM leader Sitaram Yechury passes away". The Times of India. 12 September 2024. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  39. ^ "Sitaram Yechury: Indian communist leader dies after illness". BBC News. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  40. ^ "Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary, passes away". The Indian Express. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  41. ^ "Veteran CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury passes away at 72: Party and hospital sources". Telegraph India. 12 September 2024.
  42. ^ "Left Veteran Sitaram Yechury Dies At 72 After Battling Respiratory Illness". NDTV.com. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  43. ^ "Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) general secretary, passes away at 72". The Hindu. 12 September 2024. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 17 September 2024.
  44. ^ Yechury, Sitaram (1993). What is this Hindu Rashtra?: On Golwalkar's Fascistic Ideology and the Saffron Brigade's Practice. Frontline.
  45. ^ Yechury, Sitaram (1993). Pseudo Hinduism Exposed: "Saffron Brigade's Myths and Reality". Communist Party of India (Marxist).
  46. ^ Yechury, Sitaram (1997). Caste and Class in Indian Politics Today. Prajasakti Book House.
  47. ^ Yechury, Sitaram (1997). Oil Pool Deficit Or Cesspool of Deceit. Bhawan.
  48. ^ Yechury, Sitaram (2008). Socialism in a Changing World. Prajasakti Book House.
  49. ^ Yecurī, Sītārāma (2012). Left Hand Drive: Concrete Analysis of Concrete Conditions. Prajasakti Book House. ISBN 978-81-86317-35-8.
  50. ^ "Modi Government - New Surge of Communalism". mayday.leftword.com. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  51. ^ "Secularism Versus Communalism". mayday.leftword.com. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  52. ^ "Ghrina Ki Rajniti – Hindi book by – Sitaram Yechuri – घृणा की राजनीति – सीताराम येचुरी". prayog.pustak.org. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  53. ^ People's Diary of Freedom Struggle. People's Democracy. 2008. ISBN 978-81-906218-1-6.
  54. ^ Yecurī, Sītārāma (2008). The Great Revolt: A Left Appraisal. People's Democracy. ISBN 978-81-906218-0-9.
  55. ^ "Anti-Left forces attempt to weaken Left parties, alleges Yechury". The Hindu. 12 June 2011. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 12 September 2024. Mr. Yechury released another book on Karl Marx and said that the ideas of Marx are being read now to address the problems relating to the global economic crisis.
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