New Delhi: Sitaram Yechury, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), passed away on Thursday at the age of 72. Yechury had been admitted to AIIMS in New Delhi on August 19 due to an acute respiratory tract infection. Despite treatment in the ICU and being placed on respiratory support, he succumbed to his illness at 3:05 PM. Yechury was a towering figure in Indian left-wing politics, serving as a member of the party’s Politburo for over three decades and holding the position of General Secretary since 2015. He also represented West Bengal in the Rajya Sabha from 2005 to 2017.
Born in Chennai in 1952, Yechury came from an educated family and completed his schooling across various cities due to his father’s government job. His academic journey took him to Delhi, where he attended St. Stephen’s College and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), becoming deeply involved in student activism during the Emergency era. His political career within the CPI(M) began early, eventually culminating in his leadership roles within the party. Known for his intellectual rigor, Yechury played a significant role in drafting key political frameworks, including the UPA’s Common Minimum Programme. He is survived by his wife, Indrani Majumdar, and is remembered for his legacy as a Marxist leader who shaped Indian politics.
