R Nallakannu, Veteran Communist Leader, Passed Away at 101

R Nallakannu (1924 - 2026), one of Tamil Nadu's most respected communist leaders and a lifelong champion of social justice, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday, February 25, 2026. He was 101.

Fondly known as RNK within party circles, he had been undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, where he breathed his last, marking the end of a century-long life dedicated to public service, activism and ideological commitment.

Born in 1925 in Srivaikundam in Thoothukudi district, Nallakannu grew up in a region deeply influenced by the independence movement. The legacy of freedom fighter V.O. Chidambaram, who founded the Swadeshi Steam Navigation Company (SSNC), left a lasting impression on the young boy.

He joined the freedom movement while still in school. After completing his studies at Coronation School in Srivaikundam, he enrolled at MDT Hindu College in Tirunelveli.

It was during his college years that he came into contact with writer TMC Raghunathan and actively raised ₹400 for the Bharathi Memorial in Ettayapuram, reflecting his early engagement with nationalist and social causes.

At just 18, he joined the Communist Party of India (CPI), a decision that would define the rest of his life.

When the Communist movement split in 1964 following the Indo-China war, Nallakannu chose to remain with the CPI. His loyalty to the party and its ideology remained unwavering for decades.

He served as the Tamil Nadu State Secretary of the CPI for three terms beginning in 1992. A dedicated organiser and grassroots worker, he was known for his simplicity, discipline and ideological clarity.

Nallakannu's political journey was marked by sacrifice and suffering. In 1949, he was arrested in the Nellai Conspiracy Case, in which communists were accused of plotting to overthrow the Jawaharlal Nehru government.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment along with leaders including K. Balathandayutham, P. Manikkam and I. Mayandibharathi. He was released in 1956.

He spent years underground when the Communist Party was banned, first by the British and later by the Congress government. During his imprisonment, he endured severe hardships. In one recollection, he described how cell doors were opened only briefly each morning, with the rest of the day spent confined inside with minimal facilities.

He also suffered brutal police torture. In one incident, a police officer reportedly burned his upper lip with a cigarette butt, leaving him unable to grow a moustache thereafter, a stark reminder of the repression he faced.

Nallakannu was deeply involved in agrarian and trade union movements. He worked closely with P. Srinivasa Rao, who led the agrarian movement in Tamil Nadu. His exposure to labour struggles in Harvey Mills in Thoothukudi and his reading of works by Tamil scholar and trade unionist Thiru Vi. Kalyanasundaram strengthened his ideological foundation.

He fought against the exploitation of farm workers, including challenging practices by certain religious mutts. On one occasion, when he attempted to enter streets that were forbidden to oppressed communities, he was overpowered, tied to a post and beaten.

Even in his later years, he remained active. In 2010, he led a major campaign against illegal sand mining in the Thamirabarani river basin. He filed a Public Interest Litigation in the Madras High Court. Personally, he argued the case, securing a stay order against sand mining, a rare feat for a veteran political leader.

Beyond politics, Nallakannu had a deep appreciation for literature and spirituality. He shared with leaders such as Jeeva and K. Balathandayutham a love for Subramania Bharati's poems and the hymns of the Azhwars, particularly Andal and Nammazhwar, admiring their poetic brilliance.

He often expressed concern over the rise of the RSS-BJP in Indian politics and spoke strongly against the weakening of public sector undertakings and trade unions.

He was married to Ranjitham, the daughter of local communist leader Annasamy, who was killed during the 1995 caste riots in southern Tamil Nadu. His daughters, Andal and Kasi Bharathi, carry names reflecting both cultural and ideological influences.

In recognition of his lifelong service, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented him with the prestigious "Thagaisal Thamizhar Award" on August 15, 2022, during the 75th Independence Day celebrations.

Demonstrating his character, Nallakannu donated the ₹10 lakh cash component of the award to the Chief Minister's Public Relief Fund, along with an additional ₹5,000 from his own contribution.

Following his passing, political leaders and celebrities expressed their condolences, remembering him as a freedom fighter, a steadfast communist, and a symbol of integrity in public life.

With his death, Tamil Nadu has lost not just a political leader, but a towering figure of conviction, a man who stood by his ideals through prison terms, political upheavals and personal hardship, and remained committed to the cause of the oppressed until his final days.