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Freedom fighter, Veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Nallakannu passed away at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai, on Wednesday, February 25. He was 101. Chief Minister MK Stalin has announced that his mortal remains will be laid to rest with full state honors.
Tamil Nadu CPI state secretary Veerpandiam has announced that the mortal remains of Nallakannu would be kept for public homage at the party’s headquarters Balan Illam in Chennai’s T Nagar from 5 pm on February 25 to 3 pm on February 26, following which party cadres will take out a procession from the party office to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where his body will be donated for educational purposes.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the hospital said that he was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) on February 1 due to health complications and had been undergoing treatment for hypertension, a kidney ailment, and difficulty swallowing. He had been admitted for specialised care and was attended to by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors.
“Over the past 24 days of treatment, his condition showed fluctuations. A multidisciplinary medical team continued to provide intensive care and close monitoring throughout this period. From early this morning, his ability to respond to medications gradually declined, and his condition became extremely critical. Despite being under advanced intensive care, all his vital organs eventually failed. With profound sorrow, we inform you that Mr Nallakannu passed away at 1.55 pm on February 25,” the statement read.
A native of Tiruvaikuntam in Thoothukudi district, Nallakannu was one of the tallest leaders of the Communist movement in India and had been associated with the Left movement for several decades.
Born in 1925, he joined the Communist movement at the age of 15 and actively participated in numerous workers’ rights protests. He served as the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI for several years and was widely respected for his simple lifestyle and steadfast ideological commitment. He lived a life underground for many years when CPI was banned by the British and later during the Congress regime.
In 1948, CPI was banned by independent India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Nallakannu, who was 27 at that time was taken into police custody, where he was subjected to brutal custodial violence. Recalling his days in custody, Nallakannu had said that he was unable to grow a mustache because a police officer burnt his upper lip using a cigarette butt.
In 1949, Nallakannu was sentenced to life imprisonment for allegedly conspiring to bring down Jawaharlal Nehru’s government, which is infamously known as the Nellai conspiracy case. He was lodged in Madurai Central Prison, where he fought for the rights of prisoners.
Among his notable contributions were sustained campaigns on inter-state river water disputes, particularly the Cauvery issue, where he consistently advocated for equitable water sharing for Tamil Nadu’s farmers. He was also vocal against sand mining along the Thamirabarani river and sought a judicial ban on sand extraction from the river for five years. In 2010, he filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the matter and argued in person at the Madras High Court.
During the Emergency (1975–77), he was imprisoned for his political activities. Over the years, he received several honours, including the Tamil Nadu government’s ‘Thagaisal Tamizhar’ award in 2022.
In 1999, Nallakannu contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Coimbatore constituency but was defeated by BJP’s C P Radhakrishnan.
Condoling the demise of the veteran leader, CM Stalin said, “The time we lived during Comrade Nallakannu Ayya’s lifetime is our pride. No matter what awards or honors he received, he was a leader who donated every single one of them back to the party and to the government for public welfare.”
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) founder-president Vijay said that his loss is an irreplaceable one and extended his condolences.
“From the age of 15 until the end of his life, he tirelessly fought and achieved victories for the rights and upliftment of the poor, the working laborers and marginalised people. Beyond political parties, everyone held him in high esteem and respect,” Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president Selvaperunthagai said.
Former Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K Annamalai said, “He was renowned as an exemplary social reformer and an extremely humble leader. Transcending party lines, he earned the respect of people from all walks of life.”