ISSUE
Friday, August 15, 2025
Volume 16 . Issue 72
Veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu, who could have become the world’s first democratically elected Marxist prime minister, died at a Kolkota hospital on Sunday. He was 95.
Basu had been ailing since January 1 when he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Soon his health started deteriorating and he died of multiple organ failure.
Basu holds the record for serving as the longest serving chief minister of a state, 23 years when he headed the Left Front government in West Bengal from 1977 to 2000.
Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh while condoling the death of the leader said ‘marks the end of an era in Indian politics’ adding that he was the best prime minister that the country never had, referring to the episode in 1996. Basu never forgot the ‘historic blunder’ made by his party when they refused to make him the prime minister of the United Front Government at the centre.
“We communists say that one should serve the people till one dies. Now I find that one can still serve the people even after he is no more. This is a rare opportunity and no one should let it go.” Jyoti Basu had said in 2008 while pledging his eyes and body. Accordingly doctors from the Sushrut Eye Hospital removed the corneas of the leader and will be transplanted to a patient by Monday.
His body was to be donated to the government run SSKM Hospital for scientific research on Tuesday.
Veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu, who could have become the world’s first democratically elected Marxist prime minister, died at a Kolkota hospital on Sunday. He was 95.
Basu had been ailing since January 1 when he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Soon his health started deteriorating...
Veteran communist leader Jyoti Basu, who could have become the world’s first democratically elected Marxist prime minister, died at a Kolkota hospital on Sunday. He was 95.
Basu had been ailing since January 1 when he was admitted to hospital with pneumonia. Soon his health started deteriorating and he died of multiple organ failure.
Basu holds the record for serving as the longest serving chief minister of a state, 23 years when he headed the Left Front government in West Bengal from 1977 to 2000.
Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh while condoling the death of the leader said ‘marks the end of an era in Indian politics’ adding that he was the best prime minister that the country never had, referring to the episode in 1996. Basu never forgot the ‘historic blunder’ made by his party when they refused to make him the prime minister of the United Front Government at the centre.
“We communists say that one should serve the people till one dies. Now I find that one can still serve the people even after he is no more. This is a rare opportunity and no one should let it go.” Jyoti Basu had said in 2008 while pledging his eyes and body. Accordingly doctors from the Sushrut Eye Hospital removed the corneas of the leader and will be transplanted to a patient by Monday.
His body was to be donated to the government run SSKM Hospital for scientific research on Tuesday.
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