N Sankaraiah, veteran Communist leader and freedom fighter, was laid to rest in Chennai with state honours on Thursday, November 15. Sankaraiah, who was 102 years old, passed away on Wednesday from an illness. The Tamil Nadu government had announced that his funeral would be conducted with state honours. The funeral was conducted at Chennai Besant Nagar area with a ten-gun salute. Police officers fired 30 rounds into the air to honour Sankaraiah. 

Sankaraiah was one of the 32 members of the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI). He walked out of the National Council meeting held on April 11, 1964 to found the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M). 

Sankaraiah was born and raised in Kovilpatti of Thoothukudi district, where he also completed his schooling. Later, he joined the Madurai American College where he graduated in history. However, as he participated in various freedom struggles and was jailed by the British, he was unable to complete his degree. In July this year, the Madurai Kamaraj University offered to confer an honorary doctorate on Sankaraiah. However, Governor RN Ravi refused the Chancellor's approval of the University’s request.

He was conferred with the ‘Thagaisal Tamil’ award—the state’s highest civil award–in 2021 when he turned 100. 

Read: How TN Governor Ravi refused doctorate for 102-year-old Communist Sankaraiah 

Chief Minister MK Stalin and MP and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) president Thol Thirumavalavan were among those who paid their last respects to Sankaraiah.  Sharing photographs from the funeral on their social media handles, the Tamil Nadu wing of the CPI(M) said that the senior leader had been laid to rest amidst sloganeering from party workers. 

On the day of his passing tributes flowed in from many including Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and actor and founder of Makkal Needhi Maiam (MNM) Kamal Haasan. 

Also read: ‘Farewell, comrade’: Condolences pour in for veteran Communist N Sankaraiah