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Hemachandran was a man of the masses

J.Hemachandran

PUDUCHERRY: J. Hemachandran, who died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on February 7, was an outstanding leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and man of the masses.

The 76 year-old Hemachandran dedicated his life for the cause of the toiling masses, more particularly the rubber plantation workers of Kanyakumari district. He was a multi-faceted personality, contributing to society as a student activist, trade unionist, communist leader, legislator and lawyer.

According to CPI (M) leaders, right from his student days, Hemachandran associated himself with the communist movement. Born in Kanyakumari district in 1931, he joined the then undivided Communist Party of India in 1952.

During the India-China border conflict in 1962, Hemachandran, then a law student in Thiruvananthapuram, was arrested along with several party activists. This was his first major imprisonment. Despite being a detenue, he appeared for the public examination and successfully completed the course.

Though he was arrested on several occasions for espousing the cause of the workers during his public life that spanned five decades, the arrests in 1964 close on the heels of the formation of the CPI (M) and in 1976 during the Emergency were significant.

Even during his short stint as a teacher in Kanyakumari district, Hemachandran involved himself in the task of organising plantation workers in the area. His involvement in the uncompromising struggle for the welfare of these workers enabled him to win their confidence. He was elected as the vice-president of the All India Plantation Workers Federation, besides becoming a member of the Rubber Board.

He also served several other unions including the transport workers federation. He was among the front-ranking leaders of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions from its inception in 1970. His dedicated work elevated him to the post of the president of the organisation.

As a legislator, he played a remarkable role in the Assembly and outside, highlighting people’s issues. He was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from Thiruvattar constituency in 1980, 1984, 1989 and 2001. During his last tenure, he became the leader of the CPI (M) legislature party.

He served the CPI (M) in different capacities as secretary of the Kanyakumari district unit and member of the Tamil Nadu State committee and secretariat. He also attended international meetings as a trade unionist and lawyer.

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