The Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the CPI on Wednesday mourned veteran leader R. Umanath.
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In its condolence resolution, the CPI(M) Politburo described him as a staunch Marxist-Leninist who set an example of the Communist style of work among the working class. “As a member of the Politburo and the Central Committee, Umanath made a notable contribution to the evolution of the party’s ideological and political line.”
Mr. Umanath, who joined the Communist Party in 1939, was a talented organiser of trade unions, playing an important role in building the trade union movement in different parts of Tamil Nadu, the resolution said. He was one of the founders of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and first general secretary of the Tamil Nadu CITU. He was national vice-president till 2010.
Mr. Umanath was elected to the Lok Sabha in 1962 and 1967, and later to the Tamil Nadu legislature for two terms. He was a member of the CPI(M) Central Committee from 1978 to 2012, and elected Politburo member in 1991, a position he retained till 2008.
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During his political journey, he spent nine-and-a-half years in jail, some before Independence. He was convicted along with other Communist leaders in the Madras Conspiracy Case and jailed for two-and-a-half years. He also spent seven years underground, including the period during the Emergency.
Paying homage to Mr. Umanath, the CPI noted he had played an important role in organising the working people and leading their struggles, particularly in Tamil Nadu.