LARKANA: Veteran communist leader Comrade Sobho Gianchandani who died of cardiac arrest at the age of 95 on Monday was cremated at local crematorium here on Tuesday amid touching scenes.

Hundreds of mourners, among them Syed Jalal Mehmood Shah, chairman of Sindh United Party; Sannan Qureshi, chairman of Jeay Sindh Qaumi Mahaz (JSQM); lawyers, social workers, writers and intellectuals, had had last glimpse of their revered comrade before his last journey to the crematorium.

Comrade’s son Nirmal Das and his daughter-in-law Kalpna Devi, chairperson of Hindu Panchayat Committee, Larkana, and other relatives walked in procession to the Dharamshala and the temple.

The activists of JSQM laid party flag on the Comrade’s body while others laid Ajraks and showered flowers.

The lawyers did not attend court in mourning as comrade was also a senior member of the High Court Bar Association. Advocates from other areas also participated in the last rites.

Imdad Qazi, central secretary general of the Commu­nist Party of Pakistan (CPP), said that it was a great loss. Comrade had a towering personality with impeccable character who was equally loved and respected by all, he said.

SUP chief Syed Jalal Meh­mood Shah said that Comrade was a leader of international stature, who stood unshaken through all ups and downs and refused to migrate to India.

A renowned writer Madad Ali Sindhi, Taj Joyo, secretary of the Sindhi Language Authority and other intellectuals said: “Comrade is Sindh and Sindh is Comrade. No doubt with the death of Comrade Soboho we are orphaned but still live under the shadow of his philosophy.”

Comrade Iqbal Khan, secretary general CPP’s Sindh chapter, Afzal Bangalzai of CPP’s Balochistan chapter, Monis Ayaz, son of renowned poet Shaikh Ayaz, Aman Shaikh, Aijaz Qureshi, Dr Mushtaque Phull, general secretary Sindhi Adabi Sangat, Rahim Bakhsh Jafferi, Inayat Magsi, Gul Gaad, Lal Gurbakhsani, Akhlaque Ansari, Munwar Sultan Bukhari, son of late comrade Jamaluddin Bukhari were also among those who participated in the funeral.

People from different walks of life continued to pour in to offer condolence to Nirmal Das over the demise of his illustrious father.

Published in Dawn December 10th , 2014