R. Nallakannu: a life committed to communism and social justice
The Hindu
R. Nallakannu, a renowned communist leader, dedicated his life to social justice and the fight against oppression.
Freedom fighter and towering figure of the communist movement, R. Nallakannu, passed away in Chennai on Wednesday (February 25, 2026). He was 101-years old. He was ailing for some time and was undergoing treatment at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital where he breathed his last.
Born on November December 26, 1924, Nallakannu remained a vital link between the present generation and a time when idealism and selfless spirit dominated public life.
Fondly known as RNK in party circles, he chose to remain with the Communist Party of India (CPI) when the Communist movement in India split in 1964 following the Indo-China war. He served as Tamil Nadu state secretary of the CPI for three tenures since 1992.
A dedicated field worker and organisational man, Nallakannu led a tireless campaign against the sand mafia that was illegally mining sand from the Thamiraparani river basin. In 2010, he filed a Public Interest Litigation and personally argued the case in the Madras High Court, securing a stay order against sand mining.
Soft-spoken and affable, RNK embodied the values of sacrifice, idealism, and unwavering commitment to the communist movement and social justice. He shared with leaders such as Jeeva and K. Balathandayutham a love for the poems of national poet Subramania Bharati and the hymns of the Azhwars, particularly Andal and Nammazhwar, appreciating their poetic beauty.
RNK was sentenced to life imprisonment in the Nellai Conspiracy Case, along with K. Balathandayutham, P. Manikkam, I. Mayandibharathi, and many others. He also spent many years underground during periods when the Communist Party was banned—first by the British, and later by the Congress government led by Jawaharlal Nehru. He endured severe police brutality; he was unable to grow a moustache thereafter, as a police officer had singed his upper lip with a cigarette butt.
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