CPI Pays Tribute to Veteran Communist Leader and Freedom Fighter R. Nallakannu

Tamil Nadu: In a press meet today, the Communist Party of India (CPI) today expressed deep grief at the demise of Comrade R. Nallakannu, the senior-most Communist leader in the country, a freedom fighter, social reformer, and moral exemplar in public life.

Born on December 26, 1925, in Tiruvaikuntam, Thoothukudi district, Nallakannu joined the freedom struggle and Communist movement at a young age, participating in mass struggles against British rule and feudal exploitation. He spent seven years in prison for his political activities, emerging even more committed to the cause of the oppressed.

After independence, Nallakannu became a prominent leader advocating for the rights of workers, peasants, and agricultural labourers, while upholding secularism, equality, rationalism, and democratic values. He served as Secretary of the CPI Tamil Nadu State Council, a member of the National Executive, and Chairman of the Central Control Commission.

Admired for his simplicity, integrity, and lifelong commitment to ethical politics, he received several honors, including the Thagaisal Tamizhar Award. Predeceased by his wife, Ranjitham Ammal, in 2016, he is survived by two daughters.

The CPI National Council conveyed its heartfelt condolences to his family, comrades, and innumerable admirers across the country, and paid tribute, stating that Nallakannu’s life “stands as a shining example of ethical politics and selfless service,” pledging to continue his legacy in the struggle for a secular, democratic, and socialist India.