Comrade Hetram Beniwal, CPI(M) Leader, Passes Away at 94

Rajasthan: Comrade Hetram Beniwal, a prominent leader of Rajasthan’s Left politics and a key figure in the CPI(M), passed away at the age of 94. Born on October 16, 1932, in Sri Ganganagar, he became a major activist and leader in the farmers' and workers' movements in Rajasthan. He was elected as an MLA in 1990 from the Sangaria constituency and served as the State President of CITU in Rajasthan. Beniwal played an instrumental role in several significant agitations, including the Rajasthan canal land-allotment movement, the Ghadsana farmers’ movement for irrigation water, the JCT mill workers’ struggle, and numerous peasant campaigns linked to the Bhakra project and the Gang Canal.

Beniwal’s political journey began during his student years, where he became a leader in the Rajasthan Students’ Union and later joined AISF. He was known for his powerful oratory and commitment to activism, refusing offers of personal gain to stay focused on the struggles of students, farmers, and workers. He joined CPI(M) in 1964 serving in key roles including state committee member, state secretariat member, and Ganganagar district secretary.

His leadership and strategic organising of mass struggles, along with his sharp oratory, earned him a reputation as a formidable figure in Rajasthan's political landscape. Beniwal was jailed multiple times, including during the Emergency, for his activism. The All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) mourned his passing, calling it a significant loss to the workers' and farmers' movement in Rajasthan.