Martyrs’ memorial torches set the stage for a long lineup of events on store

Torches honoring martyrs illuminate CPI(M) congress; exhibitions on party history, women leaders, and excavations unveiled.

Torches brought from five locations reminding the sacrifices made by comrades in their fight against inequality and discrimination illuminated Tamukkam grounds – the venue of Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s 24th party congress – on Tuesday. 

Senior political leaders bearing the ‘martyrs’ memorial torch marched towards ‘Thozhar’ P. Ramamoorthy memorial stage to hand over them to the cadre.  The event which remembered the martyrs and events - ‘Thozhar’ Singaravelar, Salem prison martyrs, Kovai Chinniyampalayam martyrs, Student martyrs Somu, Sembu and Madurai martyrs - was  accorded a rousing reception.

Alongside, three exhibitions - ‘party’s history,’ ‘women in communist movement’ and ‘excavated truth’ (findings of Keeladi and other excavations) were inaugurated by veteran journalist and director of The Hindu Group N. Ram and senior journalist V. Parameswaran. 

The history exhibition, tracing the journey of communist party from 1908 when India’s first trade union was started by V.O. Chidambaram Pillai and Subramania Siva in Thoothukudi, was well displayed. The subsequent photos described India’s first political strike in Coral Mills in 1908 and the results that ensued in the rise of wage, weekly offs and other leave benefits. 

One of the photos which highlighted the year 1920, displayed the affiliation of three pioneers of the Communist movement – S.A. Dange in Mumbai, Singaravelar in Chennai and Muzaffar Ahmad in Kolkata. – with the Communist International through M.N. Roy. 

The event, it said, paved way for the rise of the CPI in Tashkent in October 17, 1920.  

Also, it carried photos of the swearing-in ceremony of E.M.S. Namboodiripad in 1957, who became the first Chief Minister of Kerala.