Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has condoled the death of veteran communist leader and freedom fighter N. Sankaraiah, 102, who passed away at a private hospital in Chennai early Wednesday. The centenarian leader had served Tamil Nadu for three terms as a legislator.
Mr. Vijayan said Mr. Sankaraiah had surmounted personal turmoil, a harsh colonial administration and severe political headwinds to emerge as a mass leader. The leader marched in lockstep with a history during a politically tumultuous period, Mr. Vijayan said.
He said Mr. Sankaraiah abandoned higher education to fight for the cause of Indian independence and was jailed several times.
