Com.Avatar Singh Sadiq Senior Vice President of the Indian Workers’ Association GB passed away this evening after a sudden reoccurrence of recent illness. He was scheduled to attend a meeting of the Association of Indian Communists today in Leicester which he was unable to due to the deterioration in his medical condition.
Comrade Sadiq was a Race Equality Officer by profession. He served as the Secretary of the AIC in UK and was the former National President and now Senior Vice President of the Indian Workers’ Association GB. He was one of the founder members of the Progressive Writers’ Association, an ideological theoretician, prolific writer, poet author of numerous books in Punjabi. His acclaimed literary works received international recognition most recently at an event on Nationalism and Culture in Chandigarh in November 2017.
A life long close comrade of the pragmatic international communist leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet,Avtar Sadiq shared a conference in Havana where he was photographed with Fidel Castro. Comrade Sadiq’s departure is a massive loss to the International working class movement, and the IWA in Britain of which he was one of the earlier members. Comrade Sadiq was equally comfortable in organising a cultural dance group Bhangra to engage with young people to attending many Congress’s of the Communist Party of India Marxist as an observer and delegate and when requested representing the CPIM and the people of India at International Conferences.
In a statement , AIC (GB) said “His departure has created a void that no single person will be able to fill. The loss for his immediate family his life long partner Gurdarshan Kaur and their son Vinnay is immeasurable. The loss to Leicester Branch for whom he was a constant pillar of strength and to the AIC EC where he sagaciously guided our work has left them devastated.Tonight the world feels a lot darker but a new star will rise to illuminate our journey along the path charted by our late Comrade”.
” We shall collectively pledge and dedicate our every breath to study increase and arm ourselves with knowledge to take forward the battle of ideas for social justice, anti imperialist solidarity, peace and friendship.
Comrade Avtar Singh Sadiq may be no more but his thoughts and ideology will live on forever. Rest in peace comrade for you have truly earned it. We shall share the burden of responsibility that you carried for us uncomplainingly. We will redouble our efforts to continue the struggle against the menace of communal forces and turn back the tide of Fascist Hindutva as you had planned. Today our scarlet banner is dipped in your memory only to rise again flying higher, stronger and more confident inspired by your life of true dedication and sacrifice for the cause of humanity”.
Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary of Communist Party of India (Marxist), said “The CPI(M) deeply regrets the passing away of a dedicated Communist. Com. Avatar Singh Sadiq served the party through the Association of Indian Communists in Great Britain and The Indian Workers Association and immensely contributed to the consolidation of these organisations.
Com. Avatar will be sorely missed and will always remain amongst the ranks of dedicated Communists to work to establish an exploitation free society.
His funeral arrangements are yet to be announced.