Neelabh Ashk, born on 16 August 1945 in Mumbai and brought up in Allahabad, passed away on 23 July 2016. His contribution to the revolutionary Left cultural stream as a poet, journalist, playwright, critic, publisher, organizer and fighting cultural activist will always be remembered. He played active leadership roles in the Jan Sanskriti Manch for a decade after its inception in 1985. It was Neelabhji who played the chief role in the collection, editing and publication of the poet Gorakh Pandeys first anthology- Loha Garam Ho Gaya Hai� by JASAM, after his death. In 1991 he took great pains to publish the first collections of poems by Left revolutionary poets Viren Dangwal and Balli Singh Cheema.

In 1988-89 he led the memorable movement for the autonomy of the North-Central Regional Cultural Centre in Allahabad. He had a strong relationship with the Progressive Students Organization and workers and human rights movements.

He translated Brechts Exception and Rule� under the title Niyam ka Randa, Apvaad ka Phanda� and directed it himself for the Dasta� team. His translations of Pablo Nerudas poems and Lermetyovs novel Hero of our Times� are gems of translation literature. He also translated King Lear� and Brechts Mother Courage�. Some years ago he was nominated for the Sahitya Akademi award for translation but he refused the award as a protest against the suppressive policies of the government. He also translated Arundhati Roys The God of Small Things into Hindi.