CPM Patriarch Jyoti Basu Dies
By Sayantika, Gaea News NetworkSunday, January 17, 2010
KOLKATA, INDIA (GaeaTimes.com)- Jyoti Basu, who was often considered as the synonym of Communist Party Of India (Marxist), in Kolkata has died at 11:47 a.m. on January 17, 2010, Sunday. The news of his death was confirmed by the State Secretary of the party, Biman Bose, on Sunday morning. He was an active politician from his youth days and in the year 1964, played a significant role to set up the CPI(M) party. After winning several hurdles he was elected as the Chief Minister of West Bengal on June 21, 1977 and held the post till he voluntarily retired on November 6, 2000.
Thousands of people had prayed for the quick recovery of this great Marxist leader, who had played a dominating role in the state politics. Though Jyoti Basu had become inactive in the last days of his life and was battling with different physical ailments, the news that he died had grieved everyone. As per the reports, he was admitted to a private medical unit of Kolkata, on January 1, 2010 and was diagnosed with pneumonia. The deterioration of his condition had alarmed everyone and celebrities as well as political personalities from different states had come to visit this political leader.
Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Mulayam Singh Yadav, the former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh as well as several political leaders from different states had paid visit to Jyoti Basu before he died. Not only the political leaders but also some famous film stars, including Amitabh Bachchan had come to the hospital to see Jyoti Basu and prayed for his recovery.
