Hyderabad / Kathmandu, August 23, 2025 – In the quiet corridors of a private hospital in Hyderabad on the night of August 22, 2025, India’s labouring millions—and indeed comrades across borders—lost a towering leader. Comrade Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy, aged 83, passed away after a life of relentless dedication to people’s struggles and principled leadership .
Born on 25 March 1942 in Kondravpally, Mahbubnagar district (now in Telangana), Comrade Reddy’s revolutionary journey began in earnest at the age of fifteen, leading a student agitation in Kurnool to demand essential classroom supplies—a first spark of the mass mobilizations that would define his life .
From those early student-led strikes to the apex of left politics, Sudhakar Reddy embodied a cadre who rooted his activism in everyday people’s suffering. At Osmania University Law College, elected students’ union General Secretary, he transformed campus activism into a broader red stronghold .
In 1970, he rose to National President of the All-India Students’ Federation (AISF), followed by election to its national council in 1971. A relentless organizer, he spearheaded a 62-day nationwide student strike demanding welfare provisions—an act of defiance that led to repeated imprisonments . As President of the All-India Youth Federation (AIYF) in 1972, he championed a landmark reform: lowering India’s voting age from 21 to 18 via the 61st Constitutional Amendment .
His transition to parliamentary politics was no less bold. Elected to India’s Lok Sabha from Nalgonda in 1998 and 2004, Comrade Reddy became Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour. In this capacity, he pushed transformative measures on social security for unorganised workers and gratuity for private school teachers . His advocacy extended beyond policy—whether fighting fluoride contamination in Nalgonda, defending farmers, or exposing corruption scandals, he was a resolute moral compass in the national legislature .
In 2012, he was elected General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI), succeeding A.B. Bardhan. Over his tenure until 2019, Comrade Reddy re-energised the party—prioritising cadre education, expanding mass organisations, and reinforcing united-Left strategies while resisting communal and authoritarian currents . Under his stewardship, CPI achieved its fastest growth in membership, especially in its women’s and youth wings, in nearly three decades .
Globally, he carried India’s tricolour alongside the red flag to over 40 countries—engaging at international forums like the UN General Assembly, student congresses, and fraternal communist parties in the USSR, USA, Italy, Vietnam, Japan, and beyond—deepening CPI’s global solidarity and sharpening its strategies at home .
Comrade Reddy’s eloquence—whether in Telugu, Hindi, or English—was matched by his writings: essays, pamphlets, articles, and books that demystified Marxist ideas for the layperson and inspired campaigners and organisers alike .
Voices of Condolence Across Ideological Lines
Leaders from across India paid tribute:
- D. Raja, current CPI General Secretary and Comrade Reddy’s successor, called him a “lifelong fighter for the people,” remembered for his humility, clarity, and unwavering commitment to the Left movement .
- Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy described the loss as one for the entire nation .
- BRS leader K. Chandrashekar Rao, BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao, and others also expressed heartfelt grief over the passing of a “son of Telangana soil,” a principled Marxist, and a beacon of people-centric politics .
- Tamil Nadu CM M.K. Stalin recalled his warmth, clarity, and lifelong advocacy for workers and marginalised people .
A Final Act of Solidarity
In keeping with his lifelong values, Comrade Reddy donated his body to Gandhi Medical College in Hyderabad for research, and his eyes to L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital—a final gesture of service even in death .
From Kathmandu, a Nepali leftist reflection
Comrade Sudhakar Reddy’s life—spanning student mobilizations, youth leadership, grassroots struggles, parliamentary advocacy, party leadership, and international solidarity—resonates deeply with Nepal’s own socialist aspirations. His unwavering belief that leadership must grow from people’s everyday struggles offers a guiding light for our movement.
From the classroom agitation in Kurnool to red flags unfurling abroad, his journey exemplifies how principled leadership rooted in working-class solidarity can transcend national boundaries. As Nepali comrades mourn this loss, his life serves as a blueprint for building enduring, humane, and inclusive mass movements.
Red Salute to Comrade Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy. Your ideals endure across borders and will continue to inspire the generations to come.