Who was Sitaram Yechury?

Sitaram Yechury is a prominent Marxist leader in India, whose political roots were formed in the left-wing movement. He has a political journey from an ordinary worker of the Marxist Communist Party i.e. CPI(M) to the highest post of General Secretary. Loyalty to the Left ideology, the stances taken in line with it and the willingness to pay political price for those stances from time to time.. these qualities made him emerge as an important voice in Indian Left politics.

Watch Sitaram Yechury’s interview with Loksatta Daily in September 2023 –

Early life and political entry

Sitaram Yechury was born on 12 August 1952 in Chennai. He did his schooling in Hyderabad and then graduated from St. Stephen’s College, Delhi University with a degree in Economics. Later, he did his Masters in Economics from Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), where his political career began.

Read this >> Our Reverse Journey to ‘Raja-Praja’ Practice! – Sitaram Yechury

In the 1970s, while still a student, Yechury joined the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), a student organization of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). In time, he became a prominent leader of the SFI and became its president. In 1984, Yechury became a member of the Central Committee of the Marxist Communist Party. In 1992, he was appointed to the Politburo of the party. He also served as the editor of the party’s mouthpiece “People’s Democracy” for many years.

How was your political career?

Sitaram Yechury led anti-government protests during the Emergency of 1975 and was jailed for this. He then became an important leader of the CPI(M). He joined the political executive committee in 2005 and became the party’s general secretary for the first time in 2015. Under his leadership, the party has fought various agitations and labor rights in the country. After that, he was again appointed for the same post in 2018 and 2022.

Rajya Sabha MP to important leader in UPA government

Sitaram Yechury represented the party in the Rajya Sabha between 2005 and 2017. In Parliament, he raised his voice on various issues, especially the rights and problems of workers, the poor and the middle class. Many of his speeches in Parliament became popular. Not only those in the Left movement, but also other party leaders and political pundits were intrigued by Yechury’s position. He always fought in Parliament and on the streets for labor, workers’ issues and farmers’ rights. Always stood on the issue of secularism and always opposed the Hindutva ideology of the Sangh Parivar.

Bitter critic of BJP and Sangh

Sitaram Yechury has criticized the BJP and the Sangh even more than the Congress. Speaking on the Ram temple in Loksatta’s Loksamvad programme, he had said, “Though Mahatma Gandhi or Ram Manohar Lohia mentioned Rama, it was not for politics. The purpose behind it was Ram Rajya or the worship of Rama. Ram was always used by BJP for political gain. This is why the BJP people refer to it as ‘Jai Shri Ram’. They don’t say ‘Jai Siyaram’. BJP or Res. self Sangh Hinduism has always been upper caste or Brahminical. The entire foundation of their Hinduism is based on Manusmriti. The Sangh Parivar has also made the shape of how the society should be structured according to Manusmriti. How women are treated is an example of that. Khap Panchayats are still encouraged. This government has done the job of strengthening Manusmriti in a way. It has also been experienced that only the interests of the upper castes are protected.”