The Tamil Nadu unit of the Communist Party of India (CPI) is gearing up to celebrate two anniversaries. Thursday is the 88th anniversary of the founding of the party, and is also the 88th birthday of its veteran leader R Nallakannu. The party is set to celebrate these events at a function to be held at its state headquarters in Chennai, with Nallakannu hoisting the party flag and delivering a speech.
A statement from state secretary D Pandian noted the parallel between the life spans of the party and its veteran. “His and the party’s age journey together through time. May he live longer and carry out his service with the increasing weight of his experience,” said Pandian, on behalf of the party’s state committee.
Nallakannu, a leader who enjoys an excellent reputation across the political spectrum, is widely known among civil society groups and public for being accessible. He is also known for his simplicity, being branded by some at the grass roots level as a ‘true Communist’ who is not averse to taking a nap on the floor of the local party office while on a visit. Another quality of renown is his no-nonsense attitude, and his refusal to mince words. This was recently on display when he asked political parties to spend their time talking about ‘more useful’ things than the proposal for bifurcation of the State.
Nallakannu’s long years of association with his party and the Leftist movement in the country have seen him taking up a host of trade union positions, with notable work in the field of welfare of farmers.