New Delhi, February 25, 2026: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed his deep condolences over the passing of veteran Communist Party of India (CPI) leader Thiru R. Nallakannu, fondly known as RNK, who breathed his last at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai. He was 101 years old.
According to a press release issued by the Prime Minister’s Office through the Press Information Bureau (PIB), PM Modi highlighted Nallakannu’s grassroots connect and his tireless efforts to give voice to the underprivileged, workers, and farmers of the country.
PM Modi’s Tribute on X (formerly Twitter)
The Prime Minister shared his condolence message on X, stating:
“Thiru R. Nallakannu will be remembered for his grassroots connect and efforts to give voice to the underprivileged, workers and farmers. He was widely respected by people from every section of society. Equally noteworthy was his simplicity. My thoughts are with his family and admirers.”
— PM Narendra Modi, on X (February 25, 2026)
The Prime Minister noted that Thiru R. Nallakannu was widely respected by people from every section of society and that his simplicity was truly noteworthy. He conveyed that his thoughts are with the family and admirers of the departed leader during this difficult time.
Who Was R. Nallakannu?
Born in 1925 in Srivaikundam, Thoothukudi district, Tamil Nadu, R. Nallakannu was a towering figure of India’s Communist movement and a freedom fighter who joined the independence struggle as a schoolboy. He was fondly called RNK in party circles.
He joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) at the age of 18 and dedicated his entire life to the cause of the poor, oppressed communities, workers, and farmers. He chose to remain with the 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 Life of Struggle and Sacrifice
RNK’s journey was one of extraordinary courage. He was arrested in the Nellai Conspiracy Case in 1949, which alleged that Communists conspired to overthrow the government, and was sentenced to life imprisonment, remaining in jail until 1956. He also spent years underground during periods when the Communist Party was banned — both by the British colonial government and later by the Congress government.
He endured severe police brutality during his years of activism. As an organisational man and dedicated field worker, Nallakannu led a sustained campaign against the sand mafia that was illegally mining sand from the Thamirabarani river basin. In 2010, he filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Madras High Court and personally argued the case, securing a stay order against illegal sand mining.
Awards and Recognition
On August 15, 2022, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin presented the prestigious ‘Thagaisal Thamizhar’ award to Nallakannu during the 75th Independence Day celebrations at Chennai. In a characteristic display of selflessness, Nallakannu donated the entire cash prize of ₹10 lakh to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Public Relief Fund, along with an additional personal contribution of ₹5,000.
Cross-Party Respect
The respect accorded to RNK transcended political boundaries. Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan, who had defeated Nallakannu in the 1999 Lok Sabha elections from Coimbatore as a BJP candidate, paid a heartfelt tribute. In a book titled Aravazhvin Adayalam published by The Hindu Tamil Thisai, Radhakrishnan wrote that despite his victory, he felt deep pain knowing that a dignified leader like Nallakannu could not win.
Soft-spoken and principled, RNK embodied values of sacrifice, idealism, and unwavering commitment to social justice. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had also personally attended Nallakannu’s 100th birthday celebrations in December 2024, reflecting the immense regard in which he was held.
Nation Mourns a True People’s Leader
The passing of R. Nallakannu marks the end of an era for India’s Left movement. A man who left home with nothing but a dhoti and towel to serve the Communist Party, he lived and died on his own terms — always standing with the marginalised, always raising his voice against injustice.
He is survived by his two daughters — Andal, a doctor, and Kasi Bharathi.
Source: Press Information Bureau (PIB), Prime Minister’s Office | The Hindu