A leading light of the Telangana Armed Struggle, a first generation communist leader and veteran trade unionist Raj Bahadur Gaur passed away here on Friday morning.
The 93-year-old leader died in a hospital where he was admitted for treatment of high fever. Doctors said the death was caused by sepsis.
In a long career spanning several decades, Dr. Raj Bahadur Gaur founded many trade unions before independence. He was founder general secretary of the AITUC-affiliated All Hyderabad Trade Union Council of which Makhdoom Mohiuddin was the president. He was instrumental in founding the ‘Comrades Association’ that fought against oppression of the peasants under the rule of the Nizam of Hyderabad.
Dr. Gaur was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 1952 while in jail. However, he was ordered to be released by the Government of India after his election. A champion of the Urdu language, he was president of the Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu (Hindu).
A press release issued by the AP State Council of the Communist Party of India (CPI) said Dr. Gaur’s body was being donated for research purposes to the Osmania Medical College. It will be handed over on Saturday in tune with the will left behind by the deceased leader. The CPI and several other organisations mourned the death of the communist leader who enjoyed wide respect.
