Freedom fighter and towering determine of the Communist motion, R. Nallakannu, handed away in Chennai on Wednesday (February 25, 2026). He was 101 years previous. He was ailing for a while and was present process therapy on the Rajiv Gandhi Authorities Normal Hospital, the place he breathed his final.
Fondly often called RNK in celebration circles, he selected to stay with the CPI when the Communist motion in India break up in 1964 following the Indo-China battle. He served as Tamil Nadu State secretary of the CPI for 3 tenures since 1992.
A devoted discipline employee and organisational man, Nallakannu led a tireless marketing campaign in opposition to the sand mafia that was illegally mining sand from the Thamirabarani river basin. In 2010, he filed a Public Curiosity Litigation (PIL) petition and personally argued the case within the Madras Excessive Courtroom, securing a keep order in opposition to sand mining.
In Footage: Remembering CPI chief R. Nallakannu (1925-2026)
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin speaks to veteran CPI chief R. Nallakannu throughout an occasion organised to have a good time the latter’s a hundredth birthday in Chennai on December 29, 2024.
Then CPI state secretary R. Nallakannu amassing election fund from the general public at Kodambakkam in Chennai on December 9, 2003.
Then CPI candidate for Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat R. Nallakannu campaigning in Coimbatore in 1999. Throughout the Normal Election that 12 months, he misplaced to then BJP chief C.P. Radhakrishnan who’s now the Vice-President of India
Then Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president E.V.Ok.S. Elangovan and CPI Chief R. Nallakanu share a lightweight second at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai on December 1, 2014.
Then CPI State secretary R. Nallakannu with the then Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on the Secretariat in Chennai on January 13, 2005.
Communist Get together of India (CPI) chief R. Nallakannu throughout a protest in opposition to the hike in gas costs in Tiruchi on June 13, 2006.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin gifting away the ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ award to CPI chief R. Nallakannu in the course of the seventy fifth Independence Day celebrations held at Chennai on August 15, 2022. Nallakannu donated the award’s money part of ₹10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Reduction Fund alongside along with his further contribution of ₹5,000.
Communist Get together of India chief R. Nallakannu popping out of the Madurai Bench of Madras Excessive Courtroom Bench on September 27, 2010 after arguing a PIL regarding sand quarrying in Thamirabarani river.
R. Nallakannu (second from proper), senior chief of Communist Get together of India, enquiring in regards to the Paramakudi firing incident at Manjure village in Ramanathapuram district on August 17, 2011.
CPI chief R. Nallakannu addressing throughout a relay quick demanding a service highway alongside Tiruchi-Thanjavur freeway in Tiruchi on July 20, 2017.
R. Nallakannu, CPI chief, listening to farmers and residents at a sand quarry on the banks of the Coleroon close to Anbil in Tiruchi district on August 26, 2011.
Communist Get together of India chief R. Nallakannu addressing the members of the Vijaya Hospital Nurses’ Union throughout their protest in Chennai June 3, 2012
CPI leaders T. Pandian (left) and R. Nallakannu (proper) on the State convention in opposition to caste clashes, at Salem in Tamil Nadu on January 8, 2013.
R. Nallakannu, senior CPI chief at Madurai on March 12, 2015.
R. Nallakannu with former BJP state president La. Ganesan on December 20, 2014
CPI chief R. Nallakannu addressing at a protest demonstration in opposition to the US insurance policies, throughout U.S. President Barack Obama’s go to to India, close to Panagal constructing in Chennai on November 8, 2010.
R. Nallakannu, chief of Communist Get together of India (CPI), trying on the broken paddy within the rain-affected areas at Arasur in Thanjavur district on December 5, 2010.
CPI(M) chief N. Sankaraiah (proper) addressing State-level convention of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) in Dindigul on December 31, 2015, within the presence of veteran CPI chief R. Nallakannu.
PMK founder S. Ramadoss (centre) with CPI chief R. Nallakannu (left) and Viduthlai Chiruthaigal Katchi chief Thol. Thirumavalavan at a perform in Chennai on April 27, 2008.
MDMK common secretary Vaiko (left) and CPI chief R. Nallakannu at a e book launch perform in Chennai on Could 2, 2008
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Delicate-spoken and affable, RNK embodied the values of sacrifice, idealism, and unwavering dedication to the Communist motion and social justice. He shared with leaders similar to Jeeva and Ok. Balathandayutham a love for the poems of nationwide poet Subramania Bharati and the hymns of the Azhwars, significantly Andal and Nammazhwar, appreciating their poetic magnificence.
Police torture
RNK was sentenced to life imprisonment within the Nellai Conspiracy Case, together with Ok. Balathandayutham, P. Manikkam, I. Mayandibharathi, and plenty of others. He additionally spent a few years underground in periods when the Communist Get together was banned — first by the British, and later by the Congress authorities led by Jawaharlal Nehru. He endured extreme police brutality; he was unable to develop a moustache thereafter, as a police officer had singed his higher lip with a cigarette butt.
“I used to be hiding in a pal’s home when the police arrested me. After securing some bombs, they tied my palms and beat me. However I refused to disclose the names of Communist leaders,” he stated in an interview, recalling the torture he confronted.
Born in 1925 in Srivaikundam, Thoothukudi district, RNK joined the liberty motion as a schoolboy, in a area that was a nerve centre of the independence battle, nurtured by V.O. Chidambaram, who ran the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Firm (SSNC).
“Political leaders would journey to Thoothukudi by way of my native city of Srivaikundam. I might be a part of the native leaders in organising conferences. You must have heard Pappankulam Chockalingam communicate in regards to the Jallianwala Bagh bloodbath — your entire crowd would weep uncontrollably. Although I used to be energetic, I used to be not allowed to take part within the particular person Satyagraha or Stop India actions as a result of my age,” he recalled in a 2019 interview with The Hindu.
After finishing his education at Coronation Faculty in Srivaikundam, he joined MDT Hindu Faculty in Tirunelveli. “It was there I got here into contact with the author TMC Raghunathan and raised ₹400 for the Bharathi Memorial in Ettayapuram,” he advised Tamil author Mana in an interview.
Dhoti, towel, and Communist celebration
RNK joined the Communist Get together on the age of 18 and labored carefully with P. Srinivasa Rao, who led the agrarian motion in Tamil Nadu. His publicity to the commerce union motion in Harvey Mills, Thoothukudi, and his studying of works by Tamil scholar and commerce unionist Thiru.Vi. Kalyanasundaram ready him to commit totally to the Communist motion. “My father needed me to take a job and lead a traditional life. However I merely left dwelling with a dhoti and towel and have become a full-time employee of the Communist Get together,” he stated within the interview.
RNK fought in opposition to the exploitation of farm staff by Shaivaite and Vaishnavite Mutts. When he tried to enter streets forbidden to oppressed communities, he was overpowered, tied to a submit, and crushed.
Nellai Conspiracy case
In 1949, he was arrested within the Nellai Conspiracy Case, which alleged that Communists conspired to overthrow Jawaharlal Nehru’s authorities. He was launched in 1956. “The cell doorways can be opened briefly within the morning for us to alleviate ourselves. The remainder of the day was spent within the cell with a pot to urinate in,” he as soon as recalled.
RNK was deeply troubled by the emergence of the RSS-BJP within the Indian political panorama and all the time expressed concern over the undermining of public sector undertakings and commerce unions.
He was additionally in favour of unification of the Communist events. “The CPI and the CPI(M) ought to think about unification. It might not occur in a single day, since many many years have handed because the Communist motion break up. Solely the Communist events can deliver collectively secular forces in opposition to the communal BJP and the Hindutva forces, and halt their march,” he as soon as advised The Hindu.
Vice-President’s tribute
A tribute by Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who received in opposition to RNK within the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from the Coimbatore constituency as a BJP candidate, speaks volumes in regards to the Communist chief’s character. “I used to be really upset {that a} dignified chief like him couldn’t win the election. The time of victory needn’t all the time be a time for celebration. It was a time once I felt that victory might additionally deliver deep ache,” wrote Mr. Radhakrishnan in a e book on RNK, Aravazhvin Adayalam, revealed by The Hindu Tamil Thisai.
Nallakannu received Thagaisal Tamizhar award of the federal government in 2022. However he contributed the prize cash ₹10 lakh to Chief Minister Reduction Fund alongside along with his contribution of ₹5,000
Household
He was married to Ranjitham, daughter of a neighborhood communist chief, Annasamy, who by the way was killed in the course of the 1995 caste riots within the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. One among his daughters, Andal, is a physician, while one other daughter, Kasi Bharathi, displays a mixture of names — Kaisina Vendan, the presiding deity of Puliamkulam, and Bharathi.
‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ award
On August 15, 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.Ok. Stalin offered the ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ award to the CPI chief in the course of the 75th Independence Day celebrations held at Chennai. Nallakannu donated the award’s money part of ₹10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Reduction Fund, alongside along with his further contribution of ₹5,000.
Printed – February 25, 2026 02:54 pm IST
