Jyoti Basu facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Comrade Jyoti Basu
6th Chief Minister of West Bengal
In office 21 June 1977 – 5 November 2000
Governor	See list Anthony Lancelot Dias Tribhuvan Narain Singh B. D. Pande Anant Sharma Satish Chandra (acting) Uma Shankar Dikshit Saiyid Nurul Hasan T. V. Rajeswar B. Satyanarayan Reddy (additional charge) K. V. Raghunatha Reddy A. R. Kidwai Shyamal Kumar Sen Viren J. Shah
Deputy	Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee (from 12 January 1999)
Preceded by	Siddhartha Shankar Ray
Succeeded by	Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee
Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office 1977–2001
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Sonali Guha
Constituency	Satgachhia
In office 1952–1972
Preceded by	New constituency
Succeeded by	Shiba Pada Bhattacharjee
Constituency	Baranagar
1st Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal
In office 25 February 1969 – 16 March 1970
Chief Minister	Ajoy Mukherjee
Succeeded by	Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
In office 1 March 1967 – 21 November 1967
Chief Minister	Ajoy Mukherjee
Preceded by	Office created
Member of the Bengal Legislative Assembly
In office 1946–1947
Succeeded by	Office disbanded
Constituency	Railway Employees
Member of Politburo, Communist Party of India (Marxist)
In office 1964–2008
Home Minister of West Bengal
In office 21 June 1977 – 1996
In office 25 February 1969 – 16 March 1970
Succeeded by	Buddhadeb Bhattacharya
Other state Ministry offices Minister of Planning and Development In office 21 June 1977 – 5 November 2000 Minister of Finance In office 1982–1984 Succeeded by Ashok Mitra Minister of General administration In office 1977–2000 In office 1969–1970 Minister of Commerce, Industries and Industrial Reconstruction In office 1993–2000 Preceded by Kanailal Bhattacharyya Succeeded by Nirupam Sen
Personal details
Born	Jyotirindra Basu (1914-07-08)8 July 1914 Calcutta, Bengal Presidency, British India
Died	17 January 2010(2010-01-17) (aged 95) Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Cause of death	Pneumonia
Political party	Communist Party of India (Marxist) (1964–2010) Communist Party of India (1940–1964)
Spouses	Basanti Basu ​ ​ (m. 1940; died 1942)​ Kamala Basu ​ ​ (m. 1948; died 2003)​
Children	Chandan Basu
Alma mater	Presidency College, Kolkata University College, London London School of Economics Middle Temple
Signature
Website	https://jyotibasu.net/

Jyoti Basu (born Jyotirindra Basu; 8 July 1914 – 17 January 2010) was an important Indian political leader. He was a Marxist thinker and a communist activist. He served as the 6th Chief Minister of West Bengal for a very long time, from 1977 to 2000.

Basu was one of the people who helped start the Communist Party of India (Marxist). He was a member of the party's top committee, the Politburo, from 1964 until 2008. He was also elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly 11 times. His political career lasted over 70 years. At the time he retired, he was the longest-serving chief minister in India.

Early Life and Education

Paternal house of Jyoti Basu at Barudi in Narayanganj, Bangladesh

Jyoti Basu was born on 8 July 1914 in Calcutta, which was then part of British India. His father, Nishikanta Basu, was a doctor. His mother, Hemlata Basu, was a housewife. He grew up in a large joint family and was the youngest of three children.

He started school in 1920 at Loreto School in Calcutta. His father shortened his name from Jyotirindra to Jyoti when he was admitted. Later, he moved to St. Xaviers School. He finished his intermediate education there in 1932.

After that, he studied English at Hindu College (now Presidency College). In 1935, he went to University College, London (UCL) to study Law. He became a lawyer (barrister) in 1940.

While in London, he became interested in politics. He attended lectures at the London School of Economics (LSE). He was influenced by the ideas of Harold Laski, who was against fascism. By 1937, Basu was active in Indian student groups that were against British rule. He met other young Indian communists there.

In 1938, he helped start the London Majlis, a group for Indian students. He became its first secretary. This group helped raise awareness for India's independence. Through this group, Basu met important Indian leaders like Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru.

Joining the Independence Movement

When Jyoti Basu returned to Calcutta, India in early 1940, he became a lawyer. In the same year, he joined the Communist Party of India (CPI). His family was quite well-off, and they didn't want him to join the communist movement.

At that time, the British government had made the Communist Party illegal. So, Basu first helped underground communist leaders by providing safe places for them. Soon, he started organizing railway workers and planning strikes. He believed in taking direct action.

In 1941, Basu became the party secretary for the Bengal Assam Railway. His job was to organize a workers' union. By 1943, he represented the Calcutta Port Engineering Worker's Union. The Bengal Assam Railway Workers Union grew to over 4,000 members under his leadership. Sadly, his first wife, Basanti Basu, passed away after only two years of marriage.

During the terrible Bengal famine of 1943, Basu and other Communist Party members helped with relief work. They formed "People's Food Committees" to make people who were hoarding food release their stocks. Basu helped organize these committees in Calcutta and Midnapore. He later said they were a small group but did their best during the famine, which killed over 3 million people.

In 1944, Basu started leading the trade union activities for the Communist Party. He helped form the Bengal Nagpur Railway Worker's Union and became its general secretary. He was also elected secretary of the All India Railwaymen's Federation.

In 1946, the Communist Party chose Basu to run for the Railway Employee's constituency in the Bengal Legislative Assembly. He won against Humayun Kabir of the Indian National Congress. In the assembly, he spoke strongly about the food crisis. He believed the only way to solve it was to end the Zamindari system (a land ownership system) and remove the British quickly. Basu also organized a railway strike to support the 1946 Royal Indian Navy ratings revolt. He helped get many political prisoners released.

Communist Party of India (1947-1964)

Early Years in West Bengal Politics

After India was divided in 1947, Basu remained a member of the new West Bengal Legislative Assembly. The first Chief Minister of West Bengal was Prafulla Chandra Ghosh from the Indian National Congress. However, the Congress government faced many protests because people were unhappy with the social and economic problems.

The government passed the West Bengal Special Powers Act 1947. This law gave police and government officials a lot of power to arrest people without trial. Basu strongly opposed this law, saying it was undemocratic. He argued that the Congress government was creating a "police state" in West Bengal.

In 1948, Basu was arrested for three months. In December 1948, he married Kamala Devi. He often had to hide because communist leaders were being arrested. In 1949, Basu was the vice-president of the All India Railwaymen's Federation. He supported a railway strike for better wages, but the government cracked down on communist leaders, including Basu, by arresting them. The strike failed.

After India's Constitution was adopted in 1950, the ban on the Communist Party was lifted. In 1951, Basu became the president of the editorial board for Swadhinata, a Bengali newspaper of the Communist Party.

First Assembly and Public Protests

In the West Bengal State Assembly Election of 1952, Basu was elected from the Baranagar constituency. The Communist Party became the second-largest party. Basu was chosen as the leader of the CPI in West Bengal's assembly. He also became the secretary of the state committee of the CPI. During this time, Basu played a key role in many public movements against the government.

In 1953, the Calcutta Tramways Company, which was British-owned, raised its fares. Basu joined the "Tram and Bus Fare Enhancement Resistance Committee" to protest this. The tram workers' union supported the protest, saying the company was making huge profits. When the new fares started, there were many protests, and hundreds of people were arrested.

Basu was arrested on 4 July but released the next day. On 7 July, he was arrested again along with 500 other citizens. The protests grew across West Bengal, with strikes and demonstrations. Finally, on 26 July, Basu and other leaders were released. The Chief Minister, Bidhan Chandra Roy, cancelled the fare hike on 31 July.

In 1954, Basu became a member of the Communist Party's Central Committee. He also supported a teachers' protest in West Bengal. He managed to avoid arrest by staying inside the West Bengal Legislature, from where he could speak out against the police actions.

In 1956, there was a plan to merge Bihar and West Bengal into one state. The Communist Party strongly opposed this, as they believed in states based on language. Basu called the merger plan "anti-democratic." He spoke against it in the assembly and at public meetings. He said it was a plan to destroy Bengal's identity. Basu pushed for the issue to be decided in special elections. When candidates who opposed the merger won by large margins, the Chief Minister dropped the plan.

Leading Food Movements

In the 1957 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, Basu was re-elected from Baranagar. The Communist Party grew stronger and he became the Leader of Opposition in the assembly. This position allowed him to lead protests against the food crisis in West Bengal.

Bengal had often faced food shortages. After India's independence, the government tried to help with food distribution and land reforms. But these efforts had problems, and many people remained poor and hungry. This led to many public protests in the 1950s, especially in 1959.

Basu and other opposition leaders formed the "Price Increase and Famine Resistance Committee" (PIFRC). They demanded price controls and redistribution of land. They also organized strikes and direct actions to find hidden food stocks.

In February 1959, Basu met with the Chief Minister, who promised to restock ration shops. But this didn't happen. In April, the Union Food Minister said the food situation was "easy," which made people very angry. The food movement intensified.

On 25 June, the PIFRC called for a statewide strike. Basu spoke at a large meeting, demanding that the government meet their conditions or resign. On 20 August, they started a civil disobedience movement.

In August, police arrested 35 leaders, but Basu managed to avoid arrest. On 31 August 1959, a huge protest in Calcutta led to police violence. This caused more student protests and violent clashes, where many civilians were killed. Basu accused the government of being "authoritarian." The PIFRC ended the protest on 26 September. Basu strongly criticized the government's actions. These events increased public anger against the Congress government and set the stage for future political actions.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (1964 onwards)

The Party Splits

In the 1962 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, Basu was re-elected. The Communist Party gained more votes. However, the party soon split into two groups. Jyoti Basu and others formed the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M).

The split happened because of disagreements within the party. They argued about how to deal with the Indian government, the ongoing debate between the Soviet Union and China, and border disputes between India and China. Basu believed in making big changes to help ordinary people and opposed supporting the government's policies.

When the Sino-Indian War broke out, the leftist group of the Communist Party was seen as "pro-China" by their opponents. They believed in talking to China to solve problems. However, Basu was more cautious. The government declared a national emergency and arrested many opposition leaders, including Basu, in 1962. He was released in December 1963.

On 11 April 1964, 32 members, including Basu, left the CPI national council. They wanted to form a "real communist party." They held a conference and formally founded the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Calcutta. Basu was elected to the first Politburo of the new party, becoming one of the nine founding members, often called the Navaratnas (nine gems). In 1965, Basu also became the founding editor of the party's English newspaper, People's Democracy.

Coalition Governments in West Bengal

In 1966, another food movement started in West Bengal due to rising prices. This led to widespread protests and police violence. This movement had a big impact on politics. It caused the Indian National Congress to lose its majority for the first time.

In the 1967 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, fourteen opposition parties formed two alliances. The CPI-M led one, and the CPI and Bangla Congress led another. After the election, these two alliances joined to form the United Front government. Basu became the Deputy Chief Minister of West Bengal and was in charge of the finance department. However, this government lasted less than a year.

For the 1969 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the United Front partners agreed to work together again. They won a huge victory, with 214 out of 280 seats. The CPI-M became the largest party in the assembly. Basu became the Deputy Chief Minister again, in charge of general administration and police.

Under Basu, the police were told not to interfere in workers' strikes. This led to a big increase in strikes and union activities. Workers' wages also rose significantly. During this time, a radical group called the Naxalites split from the CPI-M. They believed in armed revolution. Basu's police department launched a campaign against the Naxalite movement.

In August 1969, Basu faced a protest from the police themselves. He personally met with the protesting police officers and calmed the situation. However, the second United Front government also fell apart quickly. In March 1970, there was an assassination attempt on Basu in Patna, which resulted in the death of a party worker. The government continued until the assembly was dissolved in July.

In the 1971 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the CPI-M remained the largest party. Basu won his seat against the former Chief Minister, Ajoy Mukherjee. Basu became the leader of the opposition. However, the new government formed by a coalition fell within three months.

Boycotting the Assembly and Emergency Rule

In the 1972 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the Congress (I) won a huge majority. Siddhartha Shankar Ray became the new Chief Minister. The CPI-M only won 14 seats, and Basu lost his seat for the first time.

The election was full of violence and claims of rigging by the opposition parties. Basu refused to accept the results, calling the new assembly an "assembly of frauds." He said that "massive rigging" had happened. The CPI-M decided to boycott the assembly for the rest of its term.

In 1975, the Prime Minister of India, Indira Gandhi, declared a national emergency. This meant elections were suspended, and civil liberties were restricted. The CPI-M strongly opposed this emergency rule. West Bengal faced severe political repression. CPI-M members went underground or were arrested.

The CPI-M supported the movement led by Jayaprakash Narayan (JP) against the emergency. Basu admired JP. After the emergency ended, the CPI-M joined an alliance with the Janata Party for the 1977 Indian general election. This alliance won a big victory.

Chief Minister of West Bengal (1977-2000)

For the 1977 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, the Janata Party and the CPI-M could not agree on an alliance. So, it became a three-way contest. The results were a big surprise: the CPI-M led Left Front coalition won a landslide victory, securing 230 out of 290 seats. The CPI-M itself won enough seats to form a government on its own. Jyoti Basu became the Chief Minister of West Bengal. He held this position for the next 23 years until he retired in 2000. He was also repeatedly elected as the representative of the Satgachhia constituency from 1977 to 2001.

Jyoti Basu in his office.

First Term: Reforms and Growth (1977–1982)

In his first term, the Left Front government under Basu started many reforms in farming and local governance. These reforms helped reduce poverty and greatly increased farm production. They also helped the state use new farming technologies.

Between 1970 and 1980, agricultural growth was only 0.6% per year. But between 1980 and 1990, it jumped to over 7%. West Bengal went from importing food to exporting it. It became the largest producer of rice, surpassing other states. The Human Development Index (a measure of well-being) also improved much faster in West Bengal than in other states.

From 1977 to 1980, Basu's government identified and redistributed nearly 1 million acres of extra land. The number of rural families without land decreased by 35%.

The government also started "democratic decentralisation" by improving the Panchayat Act. On 4 June 1978, local elections were held after 14 years. Over 56,000 representatives were elected to local councils. By 1993, this number grew to over 71,000. Basu was praised for bringing grassroots democracy to West Bengal. This improved government openness, irrigation, rural facilities, and people's participation in politics. It also helped with land redistribution and agricultural growth.

A very important program was Operation Barga, started in 1978. This program aimed to identify and record bargardars (sharecroppers). It gave them official documents to ensure their rights to a share of the crops from landlords. It also gave them priority rights to land if it was sold. The number of recorded sharecroppers increased from 0.4 million to 1.2 million by 1982. This improved the social status and security of sharecroppers and reduced economic inequality. It also led to about 36% of the agricultural growth during that period because farmers felt more secure.

The government also planned to resettle 136,000 farmers who were refugees from East Pakistan (now Bangladesh). They identified 247,000 acres of land for this. However, a large group of these refugees illegally occupied land on an island called Marichjhanpi. In January 1979, the government forcibly removed them, leading to some deaths. This incident caused strong criticism, but Basu believed the media had exaggerated it.

In 1981, a new change was made to the West Bengal Land Reforms Act. This change included non-agricultural lands like fisheries and orchards under land limits. It also limited the land owned by religious institutions.

Jyoti Basu with former Vice President of India, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Second Term: Continuing Progress (1982–1987)

The reforms started by Basu's government continued into his second term. Operation Barga was officially finished in 1986. Basu's Left Front won 174 seats in the 1982 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, defeating the Indian National Congress.

Basu was a very powerful figure in Left Front not just in West Bengal, but across India. Before the 1982 elections, the Left Front gained three new members. In the Darjeeling hills, some groups called for a boycott of the elections, demanding a separate Gorkhaland state. However, the CPI(M) opposed this and won most seats in the Nepali-dominated areas.

During his second term, Basu became popular for his work for landless farmers, giving them land. He also gained support among educated people. The rise of Mamata Banerjee in the 1980s happened during his second term. Basu continued to focus on land reforms and addressing the demands of the Gorkha people in Darjeeling.

Third Term: Another Victory (1987–1991)

In the 1987 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election, Basu became Chief Minister for the third time. This election was a big contest between the Left Front, led by Basu, and the Indian National Congress (I), led by Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

The Left Front did not give tickets to 62 existing lawmakers. The CPI(M), the main party in the Left Front, wanted to bring in new faces and chose 35 student leaders as candidates. Jyoti Basu himself campaigned widely, visiting all constituencies where CPI(M) had candidates. He claimed that the central government was unfair to West Bengal in giving out resources.

Basu's party won for the third time, securing a clear majority. The Left Front won 187 seats, defeating the Indian National Congress. This victory showed his strong leadership.

After becoming Chief Minister again, Basu continued his work on land reform, which was a major reason for his election. He is considered one of the best administrators in West Bengal's history. He also focused on students, and Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was given the main responsibility for strengthening the DYFI, the student wing of the CPI(M).

In 1989, Basu's Left government made a controversial decision to stop teaching English in primary schools. This decision was criticized by many intellectuals and was later called a "historic blunder."

Fourth and Fifth Terms (1991–2000)

Despite the controversies, Basu was sworn in as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for the fourth time in 1991, setting a record. On 28 November 1991, he surpassed Bidhan Chandra Roy's record to become the longest-serving Chief Minister of West Bengal at that time, a record he held for 23 years and 144 days.

In 1996, he was elected Chief Minister for the fifth time. This was Basu's last term as Chief Minister. He resigned in 2000. His record as the longest-serving Chief Minister of any Indian state was later broken by Pawan Kumar Chamling in 2018.

Satgachhia is located at West Bengal.

Offers to Become Prime Minister

Jyoti Basu was offered the position of Prime Minister of India four times.

In 1990, after the arrest of Lal Krishna Advani, the BJP withdrew support from the government led by V. P. Singh. During this political crisis, Rajiv Gandhi, the head of the Indian National Congress, suggested that Jyoti Basu become Prime Minister. However, the CPI(M) declined the offer.

Seven months later, the Congress withdrew support from the Chandrasekhar Singh government. Again, Rajiv Gandhi offered the Prime Minister's post to Jyoti Basu, but it was declined for the second time.

In the 1996 Indian general election, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the largest party but could not form a stable government. The Indian National Congress (INC) also refused to lead the government. As a result, a group of parties called the United Front was formed, supported by the INC from outside.

Vishwanath Pratap Singh of the Janata Dal suggested that Basu should be the Prime Minister of the United Front government. Other leaders also supported this idea. The proposal was taken to the CPI(M) by their General Secretary, Harkishen Singh Surjeet. The CPI(M)'s Politburo discussed it but couldn't agree. They sent the issue to the Central Committee.

On 14 May, the Central Committee of the CPI(M) declined the offer. They said the party was not strong enough to set national policies in a coalition government. They also felt it meant joining hands with "bourgeois" (non-communist) parties like the Congress. When Surjeet told the United Front leaders, V. P. Singh asked the CPI(M) to reconsider. But the Central Committee again refused. After Basu, H. D. Deve Gowda was chosen as Prime Minister.

In 1999, the BJP government fell. Leaders of the "third front" again suggested Jyoti Basu for Prime Minister. This time, the CPI(M) finally agreed. But the Indian National Congress declined to support it.

Later, Jyoti Basu himself called the CPI(M)'s decision in 1996 a "historic blunder." He said, "such an opportunity does not come. History does not give such an opportunity."

Later Life and Passing

After Resignation (2000–2010)

Even after retiring as Chief Minister, Basu remained an important figure. In 2005, the CPI(M) re-elected him to its Politburo, even though he had asked to retire due to his age. In 2006, his request to retire was again turned down. Finally, in April 2008, he was removed from the Politburo due to age, but he remained a member of the Central Committee. He was also given a special "emeritus" status within the party.

Death

On 1 January 2010, Basu was admitted to AMRI hospital in Kolkata with pneumonia. On 16 January, his health became very critical due to multiple organ failure. He passed away on 17 January 2010 at 11:47 am IST.

His death led to widespread public mourning. His body, draped in the national flag, was carried through the streets of Calcutta on a gun carriage. Thousands of people came out to pay their respects. The Army escorted the procession. A state funeral was held, with buglers playing and a 21-gun salute. A day of mourning was declared across India.

Basu had pledged to donate his body and eyes for medical research. His eyes were donated to Susrut Eye Foundation. He is survived by his son, Chandan, and his grandchildren. His second wife, Kamala Basu, had passed away in 2003. His body was kept at 'Peace Haven' for public viewing and then handed over to SSKM Hospital, Kolkata, for research.

Tributes and Reactions

Many famous people in India and abroad expressed their sadness and respect after Basu's death.

• Former Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh called him "one of the most ablest administrators and politicians of independent India."
• Former Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Basu was "a colossus who straddled India's political scene for many decades."
• Former Congress President Sonia Gandhi stated, "Shri Jyoti Basu did not go gently into the good night - he fought bravely until his last breath, just as he did throughout his life."
• Former President of India Pranab Mukherjee called him "a towering personality" and "a great parliamentarian and a patriot."
• Former Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said, "He was our guardian. The country has lost a great leader."
• Former Deputy Prime Minister L. K. Advani called him "a stalwart... a great leader."
• Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee commented, "He was a tall political figure in the country."
• Ratan Tata, chairman of Tata group, expressed sorrow, calling him "a great leader of the Nation and of the State."

Electoral History

Jyoti Basu served as the Chief Minister of West Bengal for 5 terms. During these terms, he was a Member of Legislative Assembly from the Satgachhia (Vidhan Sabha constituency) constituency. Before that, he was an MLA from the Baranagar seat 6 times.

Positions Held

Awards and Honours

Awards

• Mother Teresa award (2001)
• Special honour from Institute of Advanced Studies in Education (2005)
• "Doctor of Law", 2007, from University of Calcutta

Basu was offered a D.Litt degree from University of Calcutta, but he chose not to accept it.

Honours

National Honours

•  India
  • Guard of honour (2010)
  • 21-gun salute (2010)

Jyoti Basu was considered for the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award, in 2008. However, Basu refused to accept it. He also declined a civilian award in Calcutta Municipal Town Hall in 2005.

Foreign Honours

•  Bangladesh:
  • Friends of Liberation War Honour (2012)

Published Books

• Janaganer Sange: A Political Memoir, autobiography, two volumes (articles written by Jyoti Basu in Ganashakti, published as a book)
• Jatadur Mone pore, autobiography
• MEMORIES: The Ones That Have Lasted, a political autobiography
• Bamfront Sarkar 15 Years, 1993
• People's power in practice : 20 years of Left Front in West Bengal
• Jyoti Basu speaks
• Subversion of parliamentary democracy in West Bengal

Legacy and Recognition

Jyoti Basu was a great admirer of communist leaders like Vladimir Lenin, Josef Stalin, and Karl Marx. He was one of the most successful politicians in India. His 23-year term as Chief Minister of West Bengal was the longest for any chief minister in India until Pawan Kumar Chamling broke his record in 2018.

In 2010, a new area in Rajarhat New Town was named "Jyoti Basu Nagar" in his honor.

The Government of Bangladesh created a 201-member group called "Comred Jyoti Basu Nagarik Sangsad" in his name.

A research institute called "Jyoti Basu Centre of Social Studies and Research" has been named after him in Newtown, West Bengal.

Images for kids

• 

  Jyoti Basu was one of the leading member of Communist Party of India (Marxist).

• 

  Jyoti Basu

• 

  Jyoti Basu in the inaugural session of the 18th Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Delhi.

• 

  Press conference at the book release of "Memoirs - 25 Communist Freedom Fighters" by Sitaram Yechuri at the 18th congress of Communist Party of India (Marxist), Delhi, 2005. From the left, Harkishan Singh Surjeet (general secretary), Jyoti Basu (former Chief Minister of West Bengal), and Sitaram Yechuri (politburo member).

• 

  Condolences by Manmohan Singh (right) and Sitaram Yechury (left).

• .

  Jyoti Basu with Saroj Ghose and Ashesh Prosad Mitra in Calcutta.

See also

In Spanish: Jyoti Basu para niños