A number of committed activists affiliated with Mazdoor Adhikar Sangharsh Abhiyan (MASA), have passed away in the last few months.
In last one year, Com. Pasha, Com. Sivaram and now Com. Nagendra, both part of MASA, have passed away.
Com. Nagendra passed away on 8th June 2021, at the age of only 47 years. He was the Vice President of Inqlabi Mazdoor Kendra (IMK), a constituent of MASA, and the editor of Nagrik magazine. He was suffering from cancer for last two years, and ultimately succumbed to it. He has been part of communist movements in his youth, and since then he has remained vocal and committed to working class interests and movements.
He was part of the Parivartankami Chhatra Sangathan (Pachhas), Krantikari Lok Adhikar Sangathan and Inqlabi Mazdoor Kendra. He contributed to Parcham and Nagrik magazines as editor. He took important role in the process of formation and development of MASA. In his activist life spanning more than 28 years, he took leading role in a number of student, working class and mass movements. He faced state repression in response to the work he has done.
“The death of Com. Nagendra in this difficult times for working class movement and revolutionary struggle is an irreparable loss. MASA, with deep pain and grief, offers last revolutionary greetings to the comrade. We take oath to take his dream forward and advance the revolutionary struggle of working class and toiling masses!
Red salute to Comrade Nagendra!” – MASA in a statement on Nagendra.
The working class movement in India and at the international level is passing through a challenging situation, as the attack of capitalist class on the working class people is intensifying, and the working class is facing difficulty to advance its movement towards new development. The pandemic has only exacerbated such a situation, revealing deep divides in how the state caters to the rich and poor classes. The new labour laws have sought to undermine the unionisation process among workers. Activists such as Com. Nagendra are key figures we must look to, as they have shown the path of committed activism against such systems that seek to undermine and exploit the working classes.
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