Nearly two months short of hundred years, veteran communist revolutionary leader and central leader of CPI(ML)-New Democracy Com. Madala Narayan Swamy (MNS) breathed his last on December 9, 2013 in a nursing home in Guntur in Andhra Pradesh. Spanning eight decades of active communist work and taking active and leading role in two revolutionary periods that of Great Telangana Armed Struggle and the revolutionary movements after Naxalbari peasant armed struggle, three party phases of communist movement in India that of united CPI, CPM and CPI(ML), Com. MNS remained a steadfast revolutionary in thought and action till he breathed his last inspiring generations of communist revolutionary activists, particularly in Andhra Pradesh. Full of richness of his revolutionary experience, vastness of his field of action and consistency of his outlook and devotion to the revolutionary cause of Indian people, life of Com. MNS served and continues to serve as a shining example of all that was and is glorious in the revolutionary movement of the country. In his long life he remained steadfastly with the revolutionary movement and even with his death, his thought and actions will continue to guide CPI(ML)-New Democracy and the communist revolutionary movement of the country. Central Committee of CPI(ML)-New Democracy is proud of his long association with the Party and indebted to his untiring guidance and revolutionary zeal in advancing the revolutionary movement and Party’s influence.
Born on February 13, 1914 in a landowning family in village Mynampadu in Santhanuthala mandal of Prakasam district (earlier part of Guntur district) to Shri Raghavayya and Smt. Rangamma. He was eldest of three brothers and a sister. From early student life, MNS awoke to the need not only to free the country from colonial yoke but also from feudal oppression. Inspired by the communist movement, which was taking root in the coastal districts where it went to acquire the first large mass base in rural India, Com. MNS was drawn to it. After completing his college study in Guntur, he went to study at Benaras Hindu University where in those days, communist cell was active and educated youth was turning to Marxism-Leninism to guide their strivings for a free and democratic India. There Com. MNS matured into a Marxist-Leninist and was given membership of CPI in 1941 by Z.A. Ahmed at the end his first year of MA in Economics. He participated in the anti-colonial freedom movement and in that even undertook railway and phone disconnection.
Returning to Ongole after completing MA in Economics, he took the responsibility of party organization by Guntur DC of CPI. He led and participated in several struggles on land and coolie rates, against untouchability and caste oppression in the district. Com. MNS was a participant in CPI acquiring the first broad mass base in rural area in India in coastal Andhra.
He married Ms. Sulochana, daughter of communist parents. Her mother Bullemma was jailed in 1946 for her participation in anti-landlord struggle in Krishna district. Her father Kadiyala Ranga Rao was elected CPI MP from Gudiwada constituency (Krishna district) in 1952. Ms. Sulochana’s other two sisters were also married to communist activists.
In 1946 started the glorious chapter of Indian communist movement, Great Telangana Armed Struggle. Com. MNS organized solidarity with Telangana armed struggle and led many anti-landlord movements in Ongole (then part of Guntur district) along with Com. Kola Venkayya. When Nehru Govt. banned the Communist Party of India, Com. MNS went underground in 1948. Com. MNS participated as a delegate in the 2nd Party Congress in Kolkata in 1948. During Telangana armed struggle, in 1950, his brother M. Kotayya was killed by police along with another comrade, Madala Narsayya.
Com. MNS has always been a consistent revolutionary communist. He was a strong critic of withdrawal of Telangana armed struggle by CPI leadership. When struggle inside the CPI against Dange revisionism, support to Nehru led so-called progressive section of the ruling Congress and support to Indian Govt. in India-China war of 1962 got intensified, Com. MNS was with the left section of CPI. He was jailed in 1962 along with other leaders who later formed CPM. Com. MNS also joined CPM when it was formed in 1964. In 1952 he was elected an MLA and in 1962 an MP from Ongole constituency. Before completing his term, he resigned from Lok Sabha in support of the demand for Steel Plant at Vishakhapatnam.
Spring Thunder over India, the Naxalbari peasant uprising, exposed the neo-revisionist character of CPM leadership. Armed struggles in Debra-Gopiballavpur, Mushaheri, Lakhimpur Kheri and Shrikakulam burst forth to challenge the semicolonial, semifeudal order. Naxalbari became a milestone in the history of communist movement as it drew a dividing line between revolutionary Marxism and revisionism of different hues. Struggle inside CPM in the then Andhra Pradesh also got intensified with majority of leaders and cadres supporting Naxalbari peasant armed struggle. In Palakolu plenum in 1968, Com. MNS stood with Coms. DV Rao, CP Reddy, T Nagi Reddy and Kola Venkayya in favour of revolutionary line and against neo-revisionist line of CPM leadership. In 1969, he was arrested from Chennai (then Madras) along with other leaders of APRCC, Com. DV, TN and others. During this period in jail, split occurred in APRCC between jail leadership and outside PC members led by Com. CP Reddy. The policies to be adopted to develop struggle of tribals in Godavari Valley became main political issue of this split. Com. MNS saw a ray of hope in Godavari Valley struggle and along with Com. Somachari dissociated with other leaders in Jail and sided with and joined the State Committee led by Com. CP. After his release from jail, he was again elected as a member of PC in 1973 AP state conference.
Com. MNS was jailed during Emergency. After his release he took up work on legal front and became President of APRCS when it was formed in 1978. Com. MNS was re-elected to the PC in 1980 state conference and participated in October 1980 Special Congress of CPI(ML).
In 1992, he was elected to the Central Committee of CPI(ML)-New Democracy in the All India Party Congress and was re-elected as CCM in 1996 in All India Party Congress. He had also presided over the All India Plenum of the Party in 1989 and again in 1997. As his health started going down, he insisted on being relieved as a CCM in All India Party Congress held in 2004. While accepting his wish, 2004 Party Congress through a special resolution, made him a permanent invitee to the Central Committee. The same arrangement was continued in recently held All India Party Congress 2013. Till his end, Com. MNS remained part of the Central leadership and always made a point to attend CC meetings and despite his deteriorating health, made immense contribution to CC work.
Work among peasants was his special area of work and he led peasant struggles throughout his life. He remained President of AP Rytu Coolie Sangham till it joined with peasant organizations of other states to form All India Kisan Mazdoor Sabha (AIKMS). Com. MNS was elected as founder President of AIKMS in its founding conference in Rajmundry in 2000. Earlier, in 1995 prior to formation of AIKMS, some peasant organizations set up a Coordination Committee, AICCPO, Com. MNS was chosen as its All India Convenor.
Com. MNS also took keen interest in promoting friendship between people of China and India when Indian ruling classes were whipping anti-China propaganda. Com. MNS took a leading role in the formation of India China Friendship Association (ICFA) and served as its General Secretary.
Com. MNS remained a strong champion of revolutionary mass line and combination of different types of struggles to achieve liberation of the people of the country from the yoke of imperialist exploitation and feudal oppression. He had a strong conviction that India continues to be a semicolonial semifeudal country and protracted people’s war as the only strategy for the new democratic revolution in the country. He always fought determinedly against deviations from programmatic and strategic orientation of the Party and the communist revolutionary movement. He waged a determined and consistent struggle against revisionism, right and ‘left’ deviations. He had always refused to take freedom fighter’s pension as he believed that India had not achieved freedom.
Com. MNS was a firm upholder of communist lifestyle, ideals and methods of work. He always adhered to principles of simple life and hard work. He not only fought for these ideals inside the Party, but translated these ideals in his own life. Com. MNS was a man of action. He applied and devoted himself completely to the tasks assigned by the Party.
Com. MNS represented finest tradition of the communist movement of India. His sense of discipline and respect for the Party was immense and paid a lot of respect to Party leaders much junior to him in Party life or experience in revolutionary movement. His revolutionary honesty was exemplary. He never hesitated to correct himself whenever he realized positions taken by him were not correct.
With his death, Party has lost not only a firm pillar but also an affectionate guide. His death places before us the task to devote ourselves with redoubled commitment and energy to develop the revolutionary struggles and contribute to the victory of New Democratic Revolution in the country. We will convert the grief over his death into a strength to realize the goals for which he strived throughout his life. Central Committee offers its condolences to the wife, son, daughter and other members of Com. MNS’s family.
Red Salute to Central Leader of the Party, Com. Madala Narayan Swamy!
Long Live revolutionary heritage of Com. MNS!
Marxism-Leninism-Mao Zedong Thought Zindabad!
Path of Protracted People’s War for New Democratic Revolution Zindabad!
CPI(ML)-New Democracy Zindabad!
December 9, 2013 Central Committee, CPI(ML)-New Democracy
