Sitaram Yechury served as an Indian Politician and held the position of General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) as well as a seat on the Politburo of the CPI (M) since 1992. Additionally, he was a former member of the Rajya Sabha from West Bengal, representing the years 2005 to 2017.
Regrettably, this ex-Rajya Sabha member has passed away at the age of 72 following an extended period of illness. The revered politician had been in critical condition for numerous days after being hospitalized at AIIMS New Delhi on August 19 for treatment of a chest infection similar to pneumonia. The news of his passing has triggered an outpouring of sorrow, with politicians from all parties expressing their grief.
| Elected from | West Bengal |
| DOB | 12/08/1952 |
| Place of Birth | Chennai (Tamil Nadu) |
| Political Party | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Father’s Name | Late Shri S.S. Yechury |
| Mother’s Name | Shrimati Kalpakam Yechury |
| Marital Status | Married |
| Spouse | Shrimati Seema Chishti Yechury |
| Children | Two sons and one daughter |
| Education | Higher Secondary (All India first class first in CBSE Higher Secondary Examination in 1970: one-year course) B.A. (Hons.) in Economics, M.A. (Economics) Educated at Presidents Estate School, New Delhi; St. Stephens College, New Delhi; and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi |
| Position Held | General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (19 April 2015) |
Sitaram Yechury Early Life and Education
Sitaram Yechury, born on August 12, 1952, in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, belonged to a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family. He spent his early years in Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, and completed his schooling at All Saints High School. In 1969, due to the separate Telangana movement disrupting academic life, he relocated to Delhi. Yechury completed his higher secondary education at President’s Estate School in Delhi, achieving the All-India first rank in the CBSE examination. He then pursued a first-class B.A. (Hons) in Economics from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University. Yechury later earned an M.A. in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
Sitaram Yechury Political Career
In 1974, while at JNU, Yechury initiated his political career as an activist of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI). He became a member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1975. During the 1975–77 Emergency under Indira Gandhi, Yechury went underground and faced arrest for organizing opposition. After the lifting of the Emergency, he won the position of President of the JNU Students’ Union three times between 1977 and 1978.
Yechury was appointed to the CPI(M) Central Committee in 1984, alongside Prakash Karat. He joined the CPI (M) Politburo in 1992. Yechury closely collaborated with eminent leaders such as E.M.S. Namboodiripad and Harkishan Singh Surjeet, gaining profound knowledge of the party. He was elected to the CPI(M) Congress in 1985, the Central Secretariat in 1988, and the Polit Bureau in 1992.
Yechury played a vital role in establishing the United Front government in 1996 and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004. He served as a member of the Rajya Sabha for multiple terms.
General Secretary of CPI(M)
On April 19, 2015, Yechury became the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and held this position until he passed away in 2024. During his tenure, the party managed the balance between pragmatism and dogmatism, upholding its ideological principles while adjusting to the evolving political environment.
Personal Life and Death
Yechury tied the knot with Seema Chisti, currently the editor of The Wire and previously the Delhi editor of BBC Hindi Service. They were parents to a son and a daughter. Regrettably, their son, Ashish Yechury, passed away on April 22, 2021, at the age of 34 due to COVID-19. Their daughter, Akhila Yechury, is a history major who teaches at the Universities of Edinburgh and St Andrews.
Mohan Kanda, IAS, the former Chief Secretary of Andhra Pradesh, was Yechury’s maternal uncle. Sadly, he breathed his last on September 12, 2024, at the age of 72 after a brief illness. Yechury was undergoing treatment at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi for an acute respiratory tract infection.
Sitaram Yechury Awards and Achievements
Sitaram Yechury’s political career was marked by numerous accolades and acknowledgements, underscoring his significant contributions to Indian politics and his influential role within the Communist Party of India (Marxist).
Awarded Best Parliamentarian (Rajya Sabha) in 2017, Yechury was commended for his outstanding performance as a member of the Rajya Sabha. This prestigious accolade recognized his effective articulation of issues and valuable contributions to parliamentary discussions.
Recognized as an influential political figure, Yechury played a crucial role in Indian politics, particularly in building coalitions during his tenure. His efforts in forming alliances significantly impacted the country’s political landscape, notably during the United Front government in 1996 and the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in 2004.
In his role as the General Secretary of the CPI(M) from 2015 until his passing in 2024, Yechury was praised for his leadership and endeavours to modernize the party’s approach while upholding its ideological principles. His tenure was characterized by initiatives to adapt to the evolving political dynamics in India.
Books Written by Sitaram Yechury
Sitaram Yechury is a noted writer and columnist, who writes a newspaper column for the widely read daily Hindustan Times. His column is published every fortnight under the title ‘Left Hand Drive’. He has written several books as well. Following are the books he has authored:
- ‘What is This Hindu Rashtra? On Golwalkar’s Fascistic Ideology and the Saffron Brigade’s Practice’ published by Frontline Publications, Hyderabad, in 1993.
- ‘Pseudo Hinduism Exposed: Saffron Brigade’s Myths and Reality’ published by Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi, in 1993.
- ‘Caste and Class in Indian Politics Today’ was published by Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, in 1997.
- ‘Oil Pool Deficit Or Cesspool of Deceit’ published by Communist Party of India (Marxist), New Delhi in 1997.
- ‘Ghrina Ki Rajniti’ was published by Vani Prakashan, New Delhi, in 2006 (in Hindi).
- ‘Socialism in a Changing World’ published by Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, in 2008.
- ‘Left-Hand Drive: Concrete Analysis of Concrete Conditions’ published by Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad in 2012.
- ‘Modi Government: New Surge of Communalism’ published by Prajasakti Book House, Hyderabad, in 2014.
- ‘Communalism vs. Secularism’ published by KK Publications.
Sitaram Yechury Social Media Profiles
| Sitaram Yechury (@yechurysitaram) | |
| Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) | |
| Sitaram Yechury | |
| Wikipedia | Sitaram Yechury |
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