A Communist leader, an advocate for unity, against opportunism and sectarianism

By Harsh Thakor*

Dhurva Narayan, a prominent leader from Bihar and a Central Committee member of the former PCC, CPI (ML) as well as the newly merged CPI (ML)-MassLine, passed away on February 12, 2025. He was an influential figure in the Indian Communist revolutionary movement for over five decades, known for his role in opposing Hindutva politics and globalization. Narayan was committed to fostering unity within Communist ranks and advocating against opportunism and sectarianism.

Born on August 30, 1957, to Prof. Jayanarayan Mishra of Patna University and Ms. Shanti Mishra, Narayan was married to Sunita Kumari, a fellow CPI (ML) member and activist, and had two sons. He was known for his analytical mind and proficiency in both Hindi and English.

Narayan's political journey began during the Chatra Yuva Sangharsh Vahini-led students' movement inspired by Jayaprakash Narayan. He later became a key leader of the Bihar Students' Association (BSA) and joined CPI (ML) around that time. The BSA later merged with other student organizations across India to form the Indian Students' Association (ISA) in 1982, where he played a central role.

Following a split in CPI (ML), Narayan remained with the PCC faction and took on responsibilities in its Northern Bureau, relocating to Delhi. There, alongside Comrade Alok Upadhyay, he worked to build a network among various marginalized communities, including Dalits, Adivasis, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians. He contributed to the formation of the Front for a Federal India under the guidance of senior party members.

Narayan was also involved in publishing Marxist and progressive literature as the Managing Director of Rainbow Publishers. His speaking skills were evident at events such as the founding rally of CPI (ML)-MassLine in Khammam in March 2025. He played a role in the unification process of PCC, CPI (ML) with other factions, such as CPI (ML)-R.T. and CPI (ML)-Praja Pandha, and was a key contributor to discussions on caste and class dynamics within the party.

Additionally, he represented CPI (ML)-MassLine at a Communist unity event in Kathmandu, Nepal, addressing a public rally and promoting future collaboration among revolutionaries in South Asia. As a member of the editorial board of Mass Line (in both Hindi and English), he remained actively engaged in party activities until his final moments, reportedly working on translating party documents just before his passing.

---

*Freelance journalist

The 'Dr' debate masks a larger crisis in allied-health education

By Dr P K Gupta* India’s allied-health professions have long operated in a fragmented landscape of universities, hospitals, State authorities and private institutions, each with its own nomenclature, curriculum and standards. The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions Act, 2021 was meant to correct this by creating a unified national framework for education, professional regulation and institutional recognition. Few dispute the need for such oversight. The real question is whether standardisation is quietly becoming synonymous with longer courses, additional internships and new professional titles—changes that risk masking deeper gaps in clinical training, institutional capacity and affordability.

Arrival of USS Lincoln: A ‘leisure trip’ to Thailand or a neo-colonial move to commodify women?

By Benyasiri Eimviriyapong The arrival of the USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) for a ‘leisure trip’ in Thailand before returning to its campaign of destruction against the people of West Asia demands immediate interrogation and opposition. For us Thai people, and those in sites of American plunder across the globe, this a rattling of the US’ cold war colonial chains on its most loyal lap dog, while conducting a war of aggression in Iran and the ongoing genocide in Palestine. In allowing the USS Lincoln to dock, the Thai ruling elites are once again facilitating a system of imperial violence that extends far beyond Southeast Asian borders, a system which in our case, is predicated on sexual violence and femicide.

Pilgrimage or pollution? The waste crisis of Indian faith

By Raj Kumar Sinha* In today's times, there are certain issues that are constantly talked about and discussed, yet no visible impact seems to be made. Beyond water, soil, and pollution, one crisis that continues to be overlooked is waste. Like other life-threatening problems, waste too is gradually moving toward burying and obliterating us. After the Kanwar Yatra in Haridwar, approximately 8,000 tonnes of waste were left behind on the riverbanks, including bottles filled with urine.

Counterview

Search This Blog