Prakash Karat facts for kids
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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) | |
| Assumed office 10 January 1992 |
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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) | |
| Assumed office 29 September 2024 |
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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 February 7, 1948) is an important Indian politician. He is a leader in the Communist Party of India (Marxist), often called CPI(M). He was the main leader, known as the general secretary, of this party from 2005 to 2015. Currently, he is serving as an interim coordinator for the CPI(M).
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Early Life and Education
Prakash Karat was born in Letpadan, Burma, on February 7, 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.
He went to school in Chennai, India. After school, he won a national essay contest about the Tokyo Olympics. This win 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-around 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. There, he earned a master's degree in politics in 1970. He also became active in student politics. He joined protests against apartheid (a system of racial segregation) and met a famous Marxist historian, Victor Kiernan.
Joining Politics
After finishing his studies in 1970, Karat returned to India. He joined Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi. While studying for his Ph.D., he worked with A.K. Gopalan. Gopalan was a well-known communist leader from Kerala.
Karat helped start the Students Federation of India (SFI) at JNU. He became the president of the JNU Students' Union. Later, he also became the president of the Students Federation of India from 1974 to 1979. During this time, he worked with other young leaders.
He also had to work secretly for about a year and a half during a difficult time in India called the Emergency (1975–76). He was arrested twice and spent eight days in prison.
Political Career in CPI(M)
Prakash Karat officially joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) after returning to India. He quickly rose through the party ranks. From 1982 to 1985, he was the secretary of the CPI(M) committee in Delhi.
In 1985, he was elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M). This is an important group that helps make decisions for the party. In 1992, he became a member of the 'Politburo'. The Politburo is the main decision-making group of the party.
In 2005, Prakash Karat became the general secretary of the CPI(M). This is the highest position in the party. He held this role for ten years, until 2015. During his time as general secretary, the party faced some challenges. He was known for sticking strongly to the party's ideas. In 2015, Sitaram Yechury took over as general secretary.
Personal Life
Prakash Karat is married to Brinda Karat. She is also a well-known activist and politician. They got married on November 7, 1975. They decided not to have children.
Writings and Publications
Since 1992, Prakash Karat has been part of the editorial team for The Marxist. This is an academic journal published by the CPI(M). He also helps manage Naya Rasta Publishers, which owns Leftword Books. He has written or edited five books on politics and society.
