Comrade Brij Bihari Lal, a Freedom fighter and an ex-member of CPI(ML)s Central Control Commission, died in Pilibhit on 11th May 2013 at the age of 92. Fighting several illnesses including cancer, he breathed his last at the King George Medical Universitys Gandhi Hospital in Lucknow. At the time of death members of his family and CPI(ML) leaders and activists were present at the hospital.

Comrade Brij Bihari Lal was born on 14 June 1921 in Itauria village under Puranpur Tehsil in Pilibhit district. He was jailed thrice during the Quit India movement of 1942. After Independence, he joined the Communist movement. Popularly known as Mahashayji, he was among the founders of the Communist Party in Pilibhit. He took CPI(ML) membership early in the 1980s. Later he became a member of the Partys Central Control Commission. He remained a committed and active Party member till the very end of his life.

His struggle with death was a long one and just a few days back while on hospital bed he tried to entertain others with these lines: 92 varsh kiye hain puray, hum ab bhi jiye jaate hain/Ae maut, tujhe hum baar-baar challenge kiye jaate hain� (Have completed 92, still I go on; O death Im challenging you on and on�)

The cremation was held on 12th May in his home-town of Puranpur in which a large number of leaders and activists of the Party including State Secretary Comrade Sudhakar Yadav, and CCM Comrade Krishna Adhikari were present. The State Administration also presented a Guard of Honour to the departed freedom fighter.

Red Salute to Comrade Brij Bihari Lal!