THATTA: Comrade Lakhano Behrani — one of the first flag-bearers of leftist movements in Sindh — passed away at his home in Ramzan Behrani village at the age of 71 on Sunday. He had been suffering from cardiac and Parkinson’s diseases for quite some time. He has left two wives, four sons and five daughters.

The news of his death was received with deep shock by thousands of his admirers and students as well as thousands of the activists who had remained associated with Communist, socialist, nationalist, progressive and leftist parties over decades.

Hundreds of people attended his funeral prayers held in the mosque adjacent to the shrine of Shah Kamal in Thatta city. He was buried next to the mausoleum of Makhdoom Hashim Thathvi.

Behrani was a proactive student activist and fan of China’s founding father Chairman Mao Tse-tung (Mao Zedong). He actively took part in the 1968 Sindh University students movement, known as the ‘March 4 movement’ and then all other movements launched by the Communist Party of Pakistan (CPP) and other leftist outfits.

Later, he became the general secretary of the CPP.

Being a Maoist ideologue and intellectual, Behrani also played a prominent role, and always remained in the forefront, in mobilising the masses during the ‘Anti-One Unit Movement, Movement for the Restoration of Democracy and anti-Kalabagh dam campaign.

He translated and taught Chairman Mao’s quotes to his like-minded students and fellow party workers as a die-hard follower of the Chinese leader.

Behrani was a lawyer by profession and remained president of the Thatta Bar Association for four terms.

He was among the leading Communist activists once jailed for taking part in different episodes of agitation. However, he never stopped his struggle from different platforms exploitation-free society.

Lately, Comrade Behrani had joined the Awami Tehreek headed by Rasool Bukhsh Palijo.

Mr Palijo and many senior leaders and activists of leftist and nationalist outfits have expressed their deep shock and grief over the death of Behrani.

Published in Dawn, October 17th, 2016