Kolkata, 21 July (H.S.) -

Azizul Haque, one of the most prominent leftist ideologues and a key figure in the Naxalbari movement, passed away on Monday afternoon. He was 86. Haque had been suffering from age-related ailments for some time and was recently admitted to a private hospital in Bidhannagar after his condition deteriorated. He breathed his last around 2:30 PM. Doctors confirmed that he was suffering from severe septicemia and was on ventilator support.

Haque's political journey began in the late 1960s when the Naxalbari uprising shook the foundations of Indian left-wing politics. He was regarded as a close associate of Naxalite icons Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal. In the aftermath of Majumdar's death, Haque, along with Nishith Bhattacharya, took over the leadership of the second Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) in 1978.

Under Haque’s leadership, the CPI (ML) established short-lived revolutionary governments in rural pockets of North and South Bengal as well as in parts of Bihar — an experiment that drew significant political attention at the time.

Much of his life was spent behind bars. He was first arrested in 1970 in connection with the Parvatipuram Conspiracy Case. However, following the formation of the Left Front government in West Bengal in 1977, all political prisoners were released, including Haque. He was re-arrested in 1982.

Azizul Haque remained a committed voice of radical Marxism throughout his life. His passing marks the end of a significant chapter in the history of India's leftist political movement.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh