CPI(M) Polit Bureau has issued the following statements on December 24

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Nirupam Sen, former member of the Polit Bureau and an outstanding leader of the Party. He died on December 24 after a prolonged illness at the age of 72.

Nirupam Sen began his political life as a student activist and became a prominent leader of the Bengal Provincial Student Federation and later the Students’ Federation of India. He joined the Party in 1964 and played an active role in various struggles of the peasantry and the working class in Burdwan district. In the early seventies, he had to go underground after false cases were foisted on him. 

Sen became a wholetimer of the Party in 1968. He played a key role in expanding the Party in Burdwan district where he served as the secretary of the district committee from 1989 to 1995. 

Nirupam Sen was elected to the West Bengal state committee in 1985 and he became a member of the state secretariat in 1995. He was elected to the Central Committee at the 16th Congress in 1998. He became a member of the Polit Bureau in 2008.  After his ill health, he became a special invitee to the Central Committee between 2015 and 2018.

Comrade Sen was elected to the West Bengal state assembly thrice.  In 2001 he became the industry and commerce minister in the Left Front government for two terms.  As a minister, he played a leading role in mapping out the industrial development of West Bengal and in formulating policies concerning human resources development, rural education, primary health infrastructure and self help groups.

Nirupam Sen was an articulate exponent of Marxism and wrote extensively for Party papers. He was a popular speaker who could effectively put forth the Party’s views on various subjects. In 2013, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and was partially paralysed. Despite this disability, he continued to attend meetings and keep contact with comrades.

Nirupam Sen was a dedicated Marxist who endeared himself to all with his gentle and modest behavior.

In his death, the Party and the Left movement have lost a valuable leader.  The Polit Bureau pays respectful tribute to the memory of Nirupam Sen and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife Chandrabali, his daughter, son and other members of the family. 

WEST BENGAL: Last Journey of Comrade Nirupam Sen

THOUSANDS of people paid their homage to Comrade Nirupam Sen in his last journey. Former Polit Bureau member of the Party and a leading Communist, Comrade Sen passed away on December 24 at Kolkata. He died after a prolonged illness resulting from a brain hemorrhage in 2013. He was 72 at the time of his death.

Comrade Nirupam Sen was a dedicated Communist who contributed in many ways and in many areas of democratic movement. He started his political life as a student activist in Burdwan and became a prominent leader of the Bengal Provincial Student Federation and later the Students’ Federation of India. He joined the Party in 1964 and played an active role in various struggles of the peasantry and the working class in Burdwan district. He became steeled in militant struggles in the district in sixties and early seventies. In the early seventies, he had to go underground after false cases were foisted on him. In 1968, he became a member of Burdwan district committee and became a district secretariat member in 1978. Later he became the secretary of the district committee from 1989 to 1995. Nirupam Sen was elected to the West Bengal state committee in 1985 and he became a member of the state secretariat in 1995. He was elected to the Central Committee at the 16th Congress in 1998. He became a member of the Polit Bureau in 2008.  After his ill health, he became a special invitee to the Central Committee between 2015 and 2018.

Comrade Sen was elected to state assembly thrice. In 2001, he became commerce and industries minister and played a pivotal role in the new phase of industrial development of the state.  At the same time he played a very important role in formulating policies concerning human resources development, rural education, primary health infrastructure and self help groups. Comrade Sen was one of the leading proponents of Left alternative policies in West Bengal.

Comrade Nirupam Sen was an articulate exponent of Marxism and wrote extensively for Party papers.  His books include subjects varying from political economy to ideological issues. He was a popular speaker who could effectively put forth the Party’s views on various subjects. He attracted huge sections of people, even outside the Party periphery through his gentle behavior and lively interactions.

He is survived by his wife, daughter, and son.

On December 26, Comrade Sen’s last journey took place. His body was taken to Peoples Relief Committee, CITU state centre and then to CPI(M) state committee office, where the Party leaders paid their respects to him. Those included general Secretary Sitaram Yechury, Polit Bureau members Prakash Karat, Brinda Karat, Biman Basu, Suryakanta Misra. Leaders of Left parties and mass organisations paid their homage among chanting of slogans, ‘Comrade Nirupam Sen Lal Salam’. A short procession carried his body upto a place nearby and then his body was taken to Burdwan. On the way to Burdwan, people laid wreaths on his body in Singur.

In Burdwan, thousands of people were waiting to see their beloved leader for the last time. The body was taken to district Party office which was decorated with half mast Red flags and red flowers. Apart from PB members, state secretariat members, leaders of district committees, hundreds of people paid their respects. Long rows waited outside the Party office. It was a tearful, grief-stricken homecoming of a sort. A funeral rally carried the body to crematorium in the late afternoon among reverberations of “Internationale”.