Editorial: The Communist who defied dogmatism

Marxist veteran Sitaram Yechury was a symbol of defiance who broke political stereotypes to build bridges across ideological divides

The stereotypical image of a communist ideologue in India is one of a sombre person who never smiles but prefers to dish out theories that sound too academic, profound and distant to be of any immediate relevance. To defy this image and leave a lasting impact on the country’s political landscape is no mean task. Marxist veteran Sitaram Yechury, who passed away after a prolonged illness, was a symbol of defiance who broke political stereotypes on his way to build bridges across ideological divides and earned a reputation as a pragmatic Communist. His ability to combine ideological commitment with pragmatism and tactical flexibility made him a unique figure in Indian political history. With a mop of curly hair, eyes with a glint of a smile and a warm demeanour, Yechury exuded the fondness and empathy of a long-time friend. This affable nature put him in the category of a rare breed of politicians who are not limited by their ideologies but strike a friendly chord with everyone. A three-time General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Yechury was persuasive but not offensive, strong on convictions but not dogmatic and argumentative, and always ready for candid introspection. Even the fiercest political rivals remember him as an endearing, suave and soft-spoken leader who never hesitated to reach out to the people representing the other end of the ideological spectrum. A polyglot and bibliophile, Yechury’s life journey — from a student leader at Delhi’s JNU to being at the helm of the Marxist Party and a key player in national coalition politics — was a blend of fierce activism and measured pragmatism.

It was fearless activism that drove him to lead a group of students to then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi’s residence in October 1977, seeking her resignation as the JNU chancellor. A photograph of the JNU students surrounding Gandhi and a young Yechury reading out the memorandum is now part of the political folklore. In a delicious paradox decades later, he worked closely with the Gandhi family in building a political coalition at the Centre. As the face of the Left in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) years from 2004 to 2014, Yechury became a trusted ally of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He played a key role in the formulation of the United Front government’s Common Minimum Programme. His political acumen was evident when, in 2004, he became the first non-Congress leader that Gandhi contacted after she declined the post of Prime Minister and backed Manmohan Singh for the role. He served as the behind-the-scenes interlocutor during the critical period when the UPA-I was having a tough time convincing the Left allies on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal. When the Left parties eventually withdrew support to the government over the contentious issue, Yechury was unhappy with his party’s decision but had to reluctantly toe the line.

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