Com. Shibnath Prasad
Octogenarian communist revolutionary Com. Shibnath Prasad breathed his last on 27 January 2009 at Siliguri, Dist. Darjeeling. He was 82.
Born in Ballia district of UP, but brought up in Siliguri, he struggled with poverty to achieve schooling. While still in school, he first took active part in anti-fascist movement and later became a member of CPI in 1949. At that time he was active in the students' front and later became engaged in peasant front.
He came in close contact with Com. Charu Mazumdar when the latter was transferred from Jalpaiguri to Darjeeling district in 1952. Consequently, as a party whole-timer he had engaged himself in the peasant movement with a call to confiscate large landholdings of local jotedars through 1955, joined CPI(M) in 1964 and remained with the revolutionary leadership of CPI(ML) since 1969. He was arrested in 1971 and remained in jail for more than a year.
A condolence meeting was held on 5 February 2009 at Ramkinkar Baiz Conference Hall at Siliguri. The meeting was presided over by the renowned trade union leader Com. Pulak Ganguly. A pledge resolution, placed by the district Party secretary Com. Abhijit Mazumdar, was read out. Revolutionary songs were sung by Com. Ranajit Mukherjee and Com. Mira Chaturvedi.
Party General Secretary Comrade Dipankar , State Secretary Com. Partha Ghosh and Politburo member Com. Kartick Pal also paid their tribute to Comrade Shibnath. Among other left leaders from the district, Comrades Tapas Goswami (RSP), Biswanath Pal (FB), Hatisadhan Ghosh (CPI), Taramoni Rai (CPRM), Goutam Bhattacharya (SUCI), Nathuram Biswas (CPIML, Janashakti), Sreedhar Mukherjee (CPIML, New Democracy) also spoke on the occasion.
Red salute to Comrade Shibnath Prasad !
