Com Raj Bahadur Gaur, a veteran of Telangana armed struggle and a great TU leader is no more.
The people of Hyderabad gave a tearful farewell to Com Raj on October 8. Dr Raj Bahadur Gaur was the hero of the Telangana armed struggle and a veteran of the trade union movement of Andhra Pradesh. He was also former Member of Parliament twice. He was 94 when he breathed his last.
He was born in the old city of Hyderabad in a family that migrated to Hyderabad from UP three generations back. Com Raj was interested in literature since his school days. He had organized a library with books purchased from his scholarship amount. He was a great lover of Urdu literature, which was the only medium of instruction those days in the regime of Nizam. He later became a popular literary critic and also authored several books which were widely applauded.
He graduated from Osmania Medical College, became one of the first generation doctors, but opted to become a Communist Party organiser than a medical professional. He attended the Nagpur conference of All India Students Federation along with Com Makhdoom Mohiuddin. Both of them, along with Com Jawad Razvi and a few others formed ‘Comrades Association’ which became the first step for the formation of the Communist Party in Hyderabad state.
Along with Com Makhdoom, he was the founder of many trade unions in Hyderabad state. This led to the formation of the powerful All Hyderabad Trade Union Congress with a membership of more than 70,000. This was later merged into the AITUC unit after it was formed in the state.
Com Raj had a unique sense of humour. He could smile in any situation and keep his wit intact even when he was subjected to severe torture under Nizam’s rule. He escaped twice from the police custody. Later he was arrested from Rachakonda forests and was imprisoned till 1951. He was elected to Rajya Sabha when he was in jail. He was released only later. Again he was elected for the second term. He proved to be an effective parliamentarian, but politely rejected the offer for the third term, requesting the party to give the opportunity to some other comrade.
He built up the working class movement and he was chosen as the president of many big trade unions like APSRTC employees union, Government press, A P Bank Employees Federation, Allwyn industries and the largest trade union of miners at the coal mines of Singareni Collieries. He led many struggles and was extremely affectionate to his comrades. He was popular among the workers and was loved by each and every member of the working class. Powerful orator, excellent organiser and a leading member of the party, Raj was a comrade with deep ideological commitment and political insight.
He served as the president of Andhra Pradesh Trade Union Congress, as national secretary of the AITUC, as secretary of Hyderabad city council of CPI, assistant secretary of AP state council of the CPI and also as the member of the national executive of the party.
Dr. Raj was married to Com. Brijrani Gaur, another communist activist during his underground days. Com. Brijrani was always with him in the thick of the movement and herself had organised several women’s struggles and was the president of Andhra Pradesh Mahila Samakhya. She died few years back. Dr Raj has two daughters Dr. Tamara and Clara.
Dr. Gaur retired from active political life at the age of 75, but continued his association with the party and literary field. From the arrears he got through Ex-MP pension, he donated three lakh to Anjuman - e - Tarakki - Urdu, for scholarships to poor students. He was always regular in paying the party levy. He donated his huge collection of valuable books to Progressive Writers Association and the bank balance to the party.
As per his will that he kept with his friend Ramachandra Rao, treasurer of the state party, his eyes were donated to the LV Prasad Eye Institute and his body to Osmania Medical College, where he studied. Dr K Narayana, secretary of the state party, handed over the body to a team of doctors headed by Dr Sudhakar Babu, assistant professor in the department of anatomy and Dr Harikrishna, head of the forensic department, for the benefit of the students. He said no religious ceremony or funeral.
TRIBUTES
He was a dear friend of one and all. Leaders from various political parties, eminent literary and cultural personalities, people from all walks of life paid rich tributes to the beloved leader. Workers and employees from various trade unions bid their final farewell with thunderously shouting Com Raj Bahadur Gaur amar rahen.
Com Raj died in a private hospital on October 7, in the morning and the next day his body was shifted to his old residence Chambeli ka Mandva, a small house in a semi slum area of Hyderabad. Later the body was taken to AP state council office of AITUC, where the trade union leaders paid their last respects. Among them were PJ Chandrasekhar Rao, MLC, general secretary of AP state council, AITUC, Dr BV Vijayalakshmi, national secretary, AITUC, Narasimhan, BSR Mohan Reddy, Yousuf and the representstives from various other trade unions like CITU, INTUC, AIIFTU and many more. The body was finally shifted to Makhdoom Bhavan, party state council office. S. Sudhakar Reddy, deputy general secretary of the CPI, K Narayana, secretary, AP state council CPI paid their homage. The entire leadership and rank and file of the party were present on the occasion to pay respects to their beloved leader.
Keshav Rao, MP, former president of AP state Congress, Palwai Goverdhan Reddy, Madhu, ex MP, YV Rao from CPM, Devender Goud, Vijaya Ramrao of TDP, Bangaru Dattatreya, former union minister of BJP, Nayani Narsimha Reddy of TRS, Gaddar, popular revolutionary artist, Kodandaram, convener, JAC and old friends and comrades paid their homage and expressed their deep sorrow. Large number of comrades and people from all walks of life paid their last tributes to Com Rajbahadur Gaur. Later his body wrapped in red shirt, a costume preferred by volunteers, was taken from Makdoom Bhavan to Osmania Medical College, followed by a huge procession. n
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