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Prakash Karat
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Prakash Karat
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| Member of the Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |
| In office 10 January 1992 – 6 April 2025 |
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| General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |
| In office 11 April 2005 – 19 April 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Harkishan Singh Surjeet |
| Succeeded by | Sitaram Yechury |
| Interim Coordinator, Communist Party of India (Marxist) | |
| In office 29 September 2024 – 6 April 2025 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 7 February 1948 Letpandan, Kachin State, Burma |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Political party | Communist Party of India (Marxist) |
| Spouse |
Brinda Karat
(m. 1975) |
| Relatives | Radhika Roy (sister-in-law) |
| Residences | New Delhi, India |
| Alma mater | University of Madras University of Edinburgh Jawaharlal Nehru University |
Prakash Karat (born 7 February 1948) is an Indian politician who follows communist ideas. He was the main leader, called the general secretary, of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) from 2005 to 2015. After the death of the previous general secretary, Sitaram Yechury, in September 2024, Prakash Karat was chosen to be the interim coordinator for the party.
Early Life and Education
Prakash Karat was born in Letpadan, Burma, on 7 February 1948. His family was from Kerala, India. His father worked for the Burma Railways. Prakash lived in Burma until he was nine years old. In 1957, his family moved back to India.
Karat went to school in Chennai, India. After school, he won a national essay competition about the Tokyo Olympics. This allowed him to visit the Tokyo Olympics in 1964. He then studied economics at Madras Christian College in Chennai. He was recognized as the best all-round student when he graduated.
One of his professors encouraged him to study further in Britain. He received a scholarship to the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. In 1970, he earned a master's degree in politics. While in Edinburgh, he became active in student politics. He joined protests against apartheid, which was a system of racial separation.
Political Journey
Karat returned to India in 1970 and joined Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. He worked with A.K. Gopalan, a well-known communist leader. Karat helped start the Students Federation of India (SFI) at JNU. He was very involved in student politics. He became the third president of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union. He also led the Students Federation of India from 1974 to 1979.
During a difficult time in India called the Emergency (1975–76), he worked secretly. He was arrested twice and spent eight days in prison.
From 1982 to 1985, he was the secretary of the CPI(M) in Delhi. In 1985, he joined the Central Committee of the CPI(M). This is an important group that helps run the party. In 1992, he became a member of the Polit Bureau, which is an even higher leadership group.
In 2005, Prakash Karat became the general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist). This meant he was the top leader of the party. He served in this role until 2015. During his time as general secretary, the party saw a decrease in its number of seats in national elections.
Sitaram Yechury took over as general secretary in 2015. After Sitaram Yechury passed away in September 2024, Prakash Karat was chosen to be the interim coordinator for the party's top committees.
Personal Life
Prakash Karat is married to Brinda Karat, who is also a well-known activist and politician. They got married on 7 November 1975. They decided not to have children.
Books and Writings
Prakash Karat is known for his deep understanding of Marxist ideas. He has written many studies and articles for newspapers and journals. His research on farming in the Malabar region of Kerala is very well-known. His master's thesis was about "Language and politics in Modern India."
Since 1992, Karat has been on the editorial board of The Marxist. This is an academic journal published by the CPI(M). He also manages Naya Rasta Publishers, which owns Leftword Books. He has written several books, including:
- Language, Nationality and Politics in India (1972)
- A World to Win—Essays on the Communist Manifesto (1999), edited
- Across Time and Continents: A tribute to Victor Kiernan (2003), edited
- Subordinate Ally: The nuclear deal and India-US strategic relations (2008)
- Politics and policies (2008)
- Revolution! Lenin in 1917 (edited) (2017)
