GUWAHATI, Dec 22 - Veteran trade union leader and president of the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF) Rakhal Dasgupta passed away late last night at a hospital here. He was 88. Dasgupta was also the all India general secretary of the NF Railway Mazdoor Union (NFRMU).
A towering personality with immense contributions in the railway trade union movement throughout the country, Dasgupta took active part in the all India railway strikes of 1968 and 1974. A vocal supporter of the rights of the working class, he dedicated his entire life to the trade union movement.
Born on December 30, 1932 at Satgram in Dhaka, he joined the railway service as a clerk in 1954 at Amingaon. From the beginning, he got involved in organising railwaymen to fight for their rights. He also came into contact with socialist leaders Hareswar Goswami, Hem Barua, Biswa Goswami and Lakhyadhar Chowdhury. After his transfer to Bongaigaon, he strengthened the union activities there. Also, he was the only member from the NE region on the Central Advisory Contract Labour Board.
Dasgupta is survived by his wife and a son. His mortal remains were taken to the NFR Mazdoor Union central office at Pandu and the NFR Headquarters at Maligaon, where floral tributes were paid to him by the railway employees. His last rites were performed today at the Bhootnath crematorium here.
Ajoy Dutta, president of the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, Assam State Committee condoled the demise of Dasgupta, saying it was a great loss for the trade union movement of India in general and railway employees� movement in particular.
Shiv Gopal Mishra, general secretary of the AIRF, who came from New Delhi to pay his last respects to the departed leader, said Dasgupta was the hallmark of the railway trade union history in general and NFRMU in particular. �The working class has not only lost a great trade unionist of all time, but will also face lots of setbacks in voicing their matters as sincerely as he practised for so many years,� he said.
The flags of AIRF and NFRMU will fly half mast for seven days in honour of Dasgupta.
