Chennai, February 25 (NationPress) Renowned Communist leader R. Nallakannu, a highly regarded figure in Tamil Nadu’s political sphere and a dedicated member of the CPI, passed away on Wednesday at the remarkable age of 101.

He took his last breath at 1:55 p.m. at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where he had been receiving extensive medical care.

Nallakannu was admitted to the hospital on February 1 after suffering from severe respiratory issues. He had been in intensive care for the last 24 days, under the vigilant supervision of a multidisciplinary medical team.

As per the hospital's official report, his health had been unstable in the days leading up to his passing, and his response to treatment had been diminishing. Despite ongoing critical care efforts, he succumbed to multiple organ failure.

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and various political leaders visited the hospital in recent weeks to check on his condition, expressing their concern.

Leaders from different political parties conveyed their profound sorrow, remembering him as a beacon of integrity, dedication to ideology, and humility.

Born in 1925 in Thiruvaikundam in the then-undivided Tirunelveli district to a humble farming family, Nallakannu was inspired to engage in activism during his college years. He actively mobilized the youth against British colonial rule during the Quit India Movement, which resulted in his expulsion from college.

Motivated by Communist principles, he joined the CPI in 1943 at the age of 18, launching a political journey that spanned over eight decades. Throughout his life, he advocated for the rights of farmers, agricultural workers, and the underprivileged.

He led significant movements in the Nanguneri area for farmers' rights and was unwavering in his fight against untouchability and social injustice.

Even post-Independence, he was imprisoned in 1949 due to political oppression. During his time in police custody, he reportedly endured torture, an experience that solidified his lifelong determination.

Nallakannu was also instrumental in advocating for prisoners’ rights and education access within jails.

He later held the position of Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI for 13 years, steering the party through pivotal political moments.

Although he ran for Assembly elections in 1967, 1977, and 1999, he famously asserted that public activism, rather than electoral success, was his core mission.

A recipient of the Tamil Nadu government’s Thagaisal Tamil Award and the Ambedkar Award, he generously donated most of the prize money to the party and workers’ unions.

Known for returning funds collected in his honor, he lived a life devoid of personal riches.

Though Nallakannu has passed, his principles and steadfast commitment to social justice will continue to motivate future generations.