Kolkata Jul 22: Azizul Haque, a towering figure in India’s radical Maoist movement who passed away at the age of 83 on Monday (July 21) at a private hospital in Kolkata, startled both allies and adversaries, Azizul Haque publicly backed the CPIM-led Left Front government’s industrialisation drive in Singur during 2006–2007.
At a time when the region was gripped by widespread agitation—spearheaded by various Maoist factions and the Trinamool Congress—against land acquisition, Haque’s position marked a notable departure from the prevailing sentiment within his ideological circles.
Defying the dominant narrative of resistance, Haque criticized the anti-land acquisition protests and instead lent his support to the government’s development-oriented policies.
This unexpected alignment reflected the complexity of his political stance, shaped by decades of revolutionary engagement and ideological evolution.
Throughout his life, Haque remained a staunch advocate of the hardline Maoist ideology espoused by the late Charu Majumdar, a key architect of India’s Naxalite insurgency.
Rising through the ranks in the 1970s, he played a prominent role in efforts by militant groups to establish parallel governance in rural and tribal belts of West Bengal and the erstwhile Bihar.
His deep involvement in these revolutionary activities led to his imprisonment for nearly 18 years. During this long incarceration, Haque never abandoned his cause.
Instead, he chronicled his journey in a memoir titled ‘Karagare Atharo Bochor’ (Eighteen Years in Prison), which garnered critical acclaim and remains an essential account of the Maoist struggle in India.
Following his death, tributes poured in from across the political spectrum. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee offered her condolences in a heartfelt message on X.
“I deeply mourn the passing of veteran political leader Azizul Haque. He was a fighter and a man of unyielding principles. Throughout his extensive political journey, he never compromised. I offer my sincere condolences to his family and all who were close to him,” Banerjee wrote. (Edited)
প্রবীণ রাজনীতিক আজিজুল হক’এর প্রয়াণে আমি গভীর শোক জ্ঞাপন করছি।
আজিজুল হক একজন লড়াকু, সংগ্রামী নেতা ছিলেন। তাঁর দীর্ঘ রাজনৈতিক জীবনে তিনি কখনো মাথা নত করেননি।
তাঁর শোকসন্তপ্ত পরিবার ও সহযোগীদের প্রতি আমার গভীর সমবেদনা জানাই।
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 21, 2025
