->Arjun Madathiparambil Muraleedharan at 16:38, 4 July 2021

2021-07-04T16:38:20Z

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{{short description|Indian politician}}
{{For|the [[IAS officer]] and former [[Chief Secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of [[Gujarat]] and the current Vice President and [[Chief Investment Officer]] of the [[Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank]]|D. J. Pandian}}

{{Use Indian English|date=June 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = D. Pandian <br> தா. பாண்டியன்
| birth_name = David Pandian
| image = File:D. Pandian.jpg
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1932|09|23|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Keelavellaimalaipatti, [[Usilampatti]], [[Madras Presidency]], [[British India]]
| spouse = {{marriage|Lilly Joyce|1956|2010|end = died}}
| residence =
| party = [[Communist Party of India]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=y|2021|02|26|1932|05|18}}
| death_place = [[Chennai]], [[Tamilnadu]], [[India]]
}}

'''David Pandian''' (23 September 1932 – 26 February 2021) was an Indian politician who served as [[Parliament of India|Member of Parliament]] elected from [[Tamil Nadu]]. He was elected to the [[Lok Sabha]] as an [[Indian National Congress]]{{En dash}}[[United Communist Party of India]] (UCPI) candidate from [[Chennai North (Lok Sabha constituency)|North Chennai constituency]] in [[Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 1989|1989]] and [[Indian general election in Tamil Nadu, 1991|1991]] elections.<ref>[http://eci.nic.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf Volume I, 1989 Indian general election, 9th Lok Sabha] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090410002759/http://eci.nic.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1989/Vol_I_LS_89.pdf |date=10 April 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://eci.nic.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf Volume I, 1991 Indian general election, 10th Lok Sabha] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090409234827/http://eci.nic.in/StatisticalReports/LS_1991/VOL_I_91.pdf |date=9 April 2009 }}</ref>
He was the [[Tamil Nadu]] State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India]] for nearly six years till 2015 when he was succeeded by [[R. Mutharasan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Coimbatore/mutharasan-cpi-state-secretary/article6947451.ece |title=Cities / Coimbatore : Mutharasan, CPI State secretary |publisher=The Hindu |date=1 March 2015 |accessdate=24 November 2015}}</ref>

== Early life ==
Pandian was born in Vellaimalaipatti, a village in [[Usilampatti]] [[Taluk]], in modern day [[Madurai district]] on 23 September 1932.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Members Bioprofile|url=http://loksabhaph.nic.in/writereaddata/biodata_1_12/3357.htm|access-date=27 February 2021|website=loksabhaph.nic.in}}</ref><ref name=":0" /> His father, David, and mother, Navamani, were teachers in a [[Christian missionary]] school aimed at children of the [[Piramalai Kallar]] community.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|last=Saxena|first=Prasanth|date=26 February 2021|title=Veteran CPI leader D Pandian, injured in 1991 Rajiv assassination, passes away|url=https://thefederal.com/obituary/veteran-cpi-leader-d-pandian-injured-in-1991-rajiv-assassination-passes-away/|access-date=27 February 2021|website=The Federal|language=en-US}}</ref> He studied at the Kallar Reclamation School and later at the Usilampatti Board High School.<ref name=":6" /> He went on to complete to obtain a [[Postgraduate education|postgraduate]] degree in English from [[Alagappa College of Technology|Alagappa college]] in [[Karaikudi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=Rajasekaran|first=Ilangovan|title=Veteran communist leader D. Pandian passes away after a prolonged illness|url=https://frontline.thehindu.com/dispatches/veteran-communist-leader-d-pandian-passes-away-after-a-prolonged-illness/article33940994.ece|access-date=27 February 2021|website=Frontline|language=en}}</ref> During this time, he also won the students' union elections as a member of the communist party's student wing. He held a [[Master of Arts]] and a [[Bachelor of Laws]] degree.<ref name=":1" />

After completing his education, he served as a lecturer teaching English at the Alagappa Chettiar college in Karaikudi.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2"/> He campaigned for the 1957 Tamil Nadu state assembly elections under a pseudonym. However, his name was published in some newspapers resulting in a demand for his resignation. However, the college's founder would encourage him further by presenting him with works of [[Karl Marx]] and [[Friedrich Engels]].<ref name=":2" />

== Career ==
Before becoming a full-time member of the Communist Party of India, he was the first general secretary of the ''Tamil Nadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram'' (Tamil Nadu Art and Literary Federation) launched by communist party leader, [[P. Jeevanandam]]. He left the CPI to join the [[United Communist Party of India]] (UCPI) led by [[Mohit Sen]] and was elected to [[Lok Sabha]] from North Chennai. He returned to CPI and became its State secretary.<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tamil-nadu/on-d-pandians-80th-birthday-nallakannu-calls-for-political-unity/article3936031.ece The Hindu : States / Tamil Nadu : On D. Pandian’s 80th birthday, Nallakannu calls for political unity]</ref> He was the president of Indian Railway Labour Union.<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|date=9 October 2016|title=CPI leader Pandian’s book launched|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/CPI-leader-Pandian%E2%80%99s-book-launched/article15436857.ece|access-date=15 August 2018|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite news|date=19 January 2007|title=Bardhan for debate on judicial review order|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/Bardhan-for-debate-on-judicial-review-order/article14708051.ece|access-date=15 August 2018|issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

On 21 May 1991, Pandian was seriously injured<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19910615-a-detailed-account-of-the-assassination-of-rajiv-gandhi-814454-1991-06-15|title=A detailed account of the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref> while accompanying the then Indian Prime Minister, [[Rajiv Gandhi]], when the latter was [[Assassination of Rajiv Gandhi|assassinated in a suicide bomb attack]]. Pandian was scheduled to translate the prime minister's speech for the local audience.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/3357.htm|title=Members Bioprofile|date=|publisher=164.100.47.132|accessdate=26 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160129165817/http://164.100.47.132/LssNew/biodata_1_12/3357.htm|archive-date=29 January 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Though opposed to [[Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam|LTTE]], he was a critic of the Sri Lankan government's approach to the issue of [[Sri Lankan Tamils]] and called for peaceful political solutions.<ref>{{Cite web|title=BBCSinhala.com {{!}} Sandeshaya {{!}} CPI to protest Lanka violence|url=https://www.bbc.com/sinhala/news/story/2008/09/080929_cpi_lanka|access-date=27 February 2021|website=www.bbc.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/jayalalithaa-should-be-rallying-point-for-sl-tamils-cpi-500576.html|title=Jayalalithaa should be rallying point for SL Tamils: CPI|work=News18|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref> Speaking later about the incident he would say that he still carried pieces of shrapnel in his body.<ref name=":2" /> He was also amongst the first victims to call for the release of the convicts in the [[Rajiv Gandhi assassination]] case, writing to the then Tamil Nadu Governor, [[Banwarilal Purohit]], asking for their release on humanitarian grounds.<ref>{{Cite web|date=26 February 2021|title=Veteran CPI leader D Pandian dies in Chennai at 88|url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/veteran-cpi-leader-d-pandian-dies-chennai-88-144218|access-date=27 February 2021|website=The News Minute|language=en}}</ref>

Pandian supported the construction of the [[Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.countercurrents.org/muthukrishnan260312.htm|title=Indian Left And The Nuclear Hypocrisy|accessdate=11 October 2012}}</ref> But his later statements indicated a change in his thinking and he has mentioned that exempting Russians from their liability was unacceptable.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dianuke.org/exempting-russians-from-n-liability-unacceptable-cpi-new-york-daily-news/|title=Exempting Russians from n-liability unacceptable: CPI – New York Daily News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120922141521/http://www.dianuke.org/exempting-russians-from-n-liability-unacceptable-cpi-new-york-daily-news/|archivedate=22 September 2012|url-status=dead|accessdate=11 October 2012}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news|last=Kolappan|first=B.|date=26 February 2021|title=Veteran CPI leader D. Pandian no more|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/veteran-communist-leader-d-pandian-no-more/article33939074.ece|access-date=27 February 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Some of the other causes advanced by Pandian during his career included speaking for social justice, eradication of superstitions, and promoting science education.<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{Cite web|date=26 February 2021|title=Veteran CPI leader D Pandian no more; TN leaders condole death|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chennai/veteran-cpi-leader-d-pandian-no-more-tn-leaders-condole-death-7206378/|access-date=27 February 2021|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}</ref> He had also served as a trade union leader with the Railway and Port unions.<ref name="indianexpress.com"/>

As an author, he had written over 30 books in Tamil and English, spanning topics across economics, social justice, philosophy, and history.<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web|last=27 Feb|first=M. K. Ananth / TNN /|last2=2021|last3=Ist|first3=06:16|title=CPI stalwart D Pandian dies at 88 in Chennai {{!}} Chennai News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/chennai/cpi-stalwart-d-pandian-dies-at-88-in-chennai/articleshow/81238521.cms|access-date=27 February 2021|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref> His most recent book, ''Medai Pechhu'' ({{Translation|Public speaking}}) was a retrospective on his political career and a narrative on the political history of Tamil Nadu.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|author=Staff Reporter|date=9 October 2016|title=CPI leader Pandian’s book launched|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/CPI-leader-Pandian%E2%80%99s-book-launched/article15436857.ece|access-date=27 February 2021|issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He was also the editor of ''[[Jana Sakthi]]'', a Tamil daily run by CPI.<ref name=":4" /><ref>{{Cite news|title=CPI (M) launches Tamil daily, to focus on people's issues|language=en|work=oneindia.com|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2007/01/18/cpi-m-launches-tamil-daily-to-focus-on-peoples-issues-1169191950.html|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref>

Pandian was a recipient of the Soviet Land Nehru Award.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" />

== Personal life ==
Pandian had two daughters and a son, David Jawahar. His wife Joyce Pandian died at the age of 76 in 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.webindia123.com/news/articles/india/20101117/1632663.html|title=CPI leader Pandian's wife Joyce passes away|website=news.webindia123.com|access-date=15 August 2018}}</ref> His son David Jawahar is a former registrar of the [[University of Madras]], Tamil Nadu, and was a professor at the [[Bharathidasan Institute of Management]], [[Tiruchi]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.dtnext.in/News/TamilNadu/2017/08/12021050/1041558/Madras-University-exregistrars-room-ransacked-in-Tiruchy.vpf|title=Madras University ex-registrar's room ransacked in Tiruchy|date=12 August 2017|work=dtNext.in|access-date=15 August 2018|language=en-US}}</ref>

Pandian died from [[sepsis]] at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in [[Chennai]] on 26 February 2021, at age 88.<ref>{{cite news|url = https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/veteran-communist-leader-d-pandian-no-more/article33939074.ece|title = Veteran CPI leader D. Pandian no more|last = Koppalan|first = B.|date = 26 February 2021|accessdate = 26 February 2021|work = [[The Hindu]]}}</ref>

== Published works ==
* Tolstoy: Story of a Lorry Driver<ref name=":1" />
* State Monopoly and Economics<ref name=":1" />
* Devaluation and What Happened in Czechoslovakia<ref name=":1" />
* ''Medai Pechhu'' ({{Translation|Public speaking}})<ref name=":5" />

== References ==
{{Reflist}}{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pandian, D.}}
[[Category:1932 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:9th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:10th Lok Sabha members]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India politicians from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:Deaths from sepsis]]
[[Category:Indian communists]]
[[Category:Infectious disease deaths in India]]
[[Category:Lok Sabha members from Tamil Nadu]]
[[Category:People from Madurai district]]
[[Category:Politicians from Chennai]]
[[Category:Producers who won the Best Film on Other Social Issues National Film Award]]
[[Category:Tamil Nadu politicians]]

D. Pandian - Revision history

->Arjun Madathiparambil Muraleedharan at 16:38, 4 July 2021