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Vinod Mishra (1947-98)

What Mao Tse-Tung was to the Chinese, Vinod Mishra, general secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) was for millions in Bihar. And when he died in late December 1998, more than 50,000 of them gathered in Patna to bid goodbye to their leader: journalists, poets, academics, activists, politicians and thousands of peasants and landless labourers.

It had been a long time since Patna had seen such a large turnout at a funeral. The long route from the CPI (ML) Liberation office at Veer Chand Patel Marg to Bans Ghat, the cremation spot, was a sea of humanity. And when the crematorium was switched on at 4:45 pm amidst the slogan of "Comrade Vinod Mishra Ko Lal Salaam [Red Salute]", the setting sun also turned a deep crimson.