Born in Barishal (now in Bangladesh) Comrade Gurudas joined the CPI in his teens in 1952, though his family supported the Indian National Congress. In 1958 he became the president of the Bengal Provincial Students Federation (BPSF). From 1967 to 1977 he was a member of the West Bengal Committee of All India Youth Federation.
During the Emergency, Comrade Gurudas showed the ideological clarity and moral courage to actively resist the CPIs decision to back the Congress and support the Emergency. He did so even as he remained a staunch CPI member. He was one of the earliest to warn that the Congress neo-liberal policies would pave the way for the rise of the far-right in India.
He played a pivotal role in organizing Bank and Insurance employees, apart from other sections of workers. He was a fine Parliamentarian, raising issues of workers and people inside Parliament with skill and humour. As an MP, he exposed the financial scams of the Nicholas Piramal Group and achieved a Parliamentary probe into the illegal operation of the Bailadila Coal Mines in Chattisgarh, which helped win the CPI lasting support in South Chhattisgarh. He was known for his crusade against black money and scams.
As befits a Communist MP, Comrade Gurudas always lived a simple life, and was involved with workers movements till the very last.
Red Salute to Comrade Gurudas!
