J. Hemachandran

Who was J. Hemachandran?

J. Hemachandran was an Indian politician and trade unionist. He was a leading personality of the Communist Party of India in the state of Tamil Nadu. He was elected to the Legislative Assembly of Tamil Nadu from the Thiruvattar constituency four times, in 1980, 1984, 1989 and 2001. He served as the leader of the CPI group in the Assembly.

During his college studies in Thiruvanathapuram, J. Hemachandran had become active in student politics. In 1952 he was admitted as a member of the Communist Party of India. He returned to Tamil Nadu and became a full-time activist of the party in Nagercoil in 1962. He began to work with plantation workers. When the CPI was divided in 1964, J. Hemachandran sided with the Communist Party of India. In the same year he was arrested under DIR and was imprisoned during fourteen months.

When the Centre of Indian Trade Unions was formed, he became a leading figure of the organisation in the state. He led struggles of coir, textile, plantation workers, amongst other. He was district secretary and later state secretary of the CITU Transport Workers' Federation. He would also became Vice President of the All India Plantation Workers Federation.