On September 20, 2024, the second Com P Ramamurthi Memorial Lecture was held in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, commemorating the 117th birth anniversary of the esteemed freedom fighter Comrade P Ramamurthi (affectionately known as PR). Renowned for his significant contributions to the Indian communist movement, Ramamurthi spent eight years in jail and five years underground. He was a founding member of the first Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) and the inaugural General Secretary of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU). Additionally, he served as an MP in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, and as the Leader of the Opposition in the old Madras State Assembly.
The CPI(M) in Tamil Nadu launched the Com PR Memorial Lecture Series last year, with the inaugural lecture on “The Danger of the Corporate-Communal Combine” delivered by CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury in Chennai. This year, the second lecture, titled “Secure the Powers of the States and Strengthen Democracy,” was presented by Dr. Ashok Dhawale, a Polit Bureau member of CPI(M) and President of AIKS.
The event in Madurai, considered the ‘karmabhumi’ of Comrade PR, recognized his role in numerous working-class and peasant struggles in the region. He was elected as an MLA in 1952 and an MP in 1967 from Madurai. The city is also set to host the upcoming 24th Party Congress of CPI(M) in April 2025.
During the lecture, an elegant Tamil book featuring speeches by Com PR in the State Assembly, published by Bharathi Pustakalayam, was released by his daughters, R Vaigai and R Ponni. The program included addresses from several dignitaries, including CPI(M) Tamil Nadu State Secretary K Balakrishnan, re-elected MP Su Venkatesan, and other prominent figures such as R Vaigai and Arumuga Nainar.
The event commenced with floral tributes to CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, followed by a condolence resolution in his honor. M Ganesan, Secretary of the Madurai Urban District Committee, introduced the program, while K Rajendran, Secretary of the Madurai Rural District Committee, proposed the vote of thanks. The gathering not only celebrated Comrade Ramamurthi’s legacy but also highlighted the continuing relevance of his ideals in contemporary politics.
