COM. MN,
THE INDEFATIGABLE LEADER
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MN PRASAD ( 08.05.1942- 11.02.2024):
Com Mukunda Nath Prasad, widely known as MN Prasad or MNP in short was an eloquent orator who devoted his entire ability and life to fight against exploitation of the masses.
He was a significant fighting element ,and legendary leader of railwaymen who led many struggles for the causes of Loco men and also the entire Railway men. He led the loco men movement with the firm understanding of the class struggle of the working class for their uplift and against the administrative oppression. He was one among the great pillars those withstood the attack on AILRSA unleashed by the government in 1980 agitation. The attack was similar to a “carpet bombing” in the modern war fare. More than a thousand were removed under the draconian rule 14/ii. More than 5000 were compulsorily retired. Thousands were transferred to far away places. Innumerable suspensions, break in service, police arrest, etc. converted the Association to a Palestinian hospital building. The deep-rooted ideological strength of the then leadership saved our Association from a total collapse. He was one among those strong leaders.
He born in Nathu Chhap village , Siwan, District of Bihar on 08.05.1942 in Zamindari family. He studied at DAV Matriculation Higher secondary school and DAV Degree College.
MNP- a fighter for demands, more a fighter for unity among trade unions for struggles.
Com. M N Prasad joined Adra as First Fire Man in 1962 through RSC (Railway Service Commission) ( Presently RRB) and after coming to Adra, he made Cooper Bungalow his home. Later, he joined SE Railway Mens Union (SERMU) and remained associated in the initial days. Before he join AILRSA, he became a firebrand leader of AIRF. He organised all railway trade unions in Adra in a single united platform and raised united agitations.
He was a fighter who took active part in the historic strike actions of Loco Pilots in 1973 against the pathetic working conditions and unlimited working hours. The entire loco running staff refused to join duty and entire train services stopped. This forced the Union Government to call the leaders striking workers for conciliation through Labour Minister abandoning their rigidity of “ No talks with striking workers”. After 4 days long negotiation, the strike was withdrawn with a written agreement with the representatives of the striking union and the government. Government declared in Indian Parliament that the working hours of Loco Pilots would henceforth be restricted to 10 hours. Before this, there was no limit on the hours of work of the loco pilots. However in spite of this declaration in the Lok Sabha in 1973, the Railway Board has not implemented this even after more than 50 years!
AILRSA took active part in the historic railway strike the following year (1974), which was led by the National Coordination Committee of Railwaymen’s Struggle (NCCRS), the umbrella organisation of railway workers, consisting of all the railway unions, both recognised and unrecognised. The main hurdle before AILRSA to join with the NCCRS was the inimical actions of AIRF leaders against the historical strike of 1973. AIRF & NFIR did not like a categorical union gain command of running staff and bargain with the administration. Naturally they opposed the decision of Railways to call AILRSA leaders for conciliation. Railway administration utilized the situation and put the condition before the federation to canvas running staff to join duty- in other words to break the strike. Really the situation then, was to join strike along with the people who were actively working as strike breakers during the strike of AILRSA. The central committee meeting of AILRSA had to crack this hard nut. Com. MNP used to say that his speech in the CWC meeting decided to join the 1974 strike is the one he likes most among the mesmerising speeches he made ever. Comrade MN Prasad was one of the five people who were ordered to be shot at sight by the government during that strike.
While fighting for the rights of loco pilots, he also worked to build the unity of railway workers. He played an important role in reconstituting NCCRS on 28th October 2020. Throughout his life he worked to raise the level of consciousness and organisation of the members of the AILRSA. The Biennial General Body Meetings (BGM) of AILRSA held at Bangalore in 2012, Chittorgarh (Rajasthan) in 2014 , Jalandhar (Punjab) in 2016, Jodhpur ( Rajasthan) in 2018 and the Golden Jubilee BGM at Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh) in 2022 were occasion when loco pilots not only discussed their immediate demands, but also the necessity to forge the unity of the working class and toiling peasantry around their concerns. AILRSA supported the one year long farmers’ agitation on the borders of Delhi in 2021-2022.
While being a leader of a small section of railway men, his passion was up-liftment of all railwaymen and entire working class.
Leader undeterred at the face of penal actions.
For his resolute defence of the interests of loco pilots, Comrade Prasad was repeatedly victimised by the railway management. He was transferred to places far away, to disrupt the work of building the AILRSA. During the AILRSA strike of 1981 he was transferred to Nagpur from Adra West Bengal. Again in 1988 he was transferred to Vishakapatanam, East Coast Railway as a punishment transfer,for leading an agitation against beet extension, along with Com.S. K Choubey, who is the present zonal President of ECoR. Again he was served with a notice of compulsory retirement under Rule 1802 of IREM, stating that his termination in service is required by the public interest. Com. Basudev Acharya MP raised this atrocity in the Parliament and the notice was withdrawn.Com. MNP retired in 2002 while working as Loco Pilot Mail.
The Real Captain
He became Secretary General of AILRSA in 2008 after the death of Com SK Dhar, being the elected joint Secrtary General at that time. He was re-elected to the same post, in the successive BGMs. Regaining the vast and strong base of AILRSA was the challenge when he became the Secretary general in 2008. He travelled entire Indian railways and enlarged the network of AILRSA in all railway zones, indefatigably to build it as a fighting organisation in defence of the rights of loco pilots. He did that miracle by building AILRSA throughout the Railways with young and energetic leadership. Now it is our bounden duty to make it strong and to achieve his goal.
The continuous agitations waged by AILRSA forced the Central Labour Commissioner (CLC), Ministry of Labour, Government of India to call AILRSA and the Railway Board for discussions in 2012.The demands of AILRSA regarding hours of employment, grade pay and mileage allowance and other demands were referred to the National Industrial Tribunal (NIT) in 2012. However even after more than 14 years, the NIT has not yet delivered its verdict as the government is reluctant to post judges in NIT. While being at the forefront of all agitations, Comrade MN Prasad made it a point to regularly attend the sittings of NIT in Mumbai and keep up the pressure on all fronts.
He led many agitations for the betterment of Pay, allowances and working conditions of loco running staff during the 6th and 7th Pay commissions and against RAC 2002, for implementation of High Power Committee (HPC) recommendation and many other onslaughts against loco running staff while serving as the General secretary of SER, Asst. Secretary General, Joint Secretary General, Secretary General and Central President of AILRSA.
As leader of Railway employees he spearheaded the movements of entire Railway employees against privatisation of Railways, National Pension System (NPS), man power reduction, contractization of regular employment etc.
He born in Bihar, worked in West Bengal, Maharashtra and Andra Pradesh. He fluently spoke in Hindi, Bengali and English.
In December 2023 he fell down at his house and got admitted to Railway hospital Adra, later moved to Durgapur. After a few weeks' treatment he was discharged and reached home. He had defeated and survived out of a deadly decease out of his unparalleled will power. He had a fast recovery from hip born fracture happened during Chennai CWC. But unfortunately his health deteriorated, hospitalized again and this time he could not be saved. He breathed his last at 12.20 hrs on 11.02.2024 at Health world Hospital, Durgapur, West Bengal
He is surviving with wife Prabhavathi Devi, 2 sons and 4 daughters.
Comrade MN Prasad was a fighter up to his last breath, for the cause of the loco pilots, the railway workers, for the working class and all toiling and oppressed people.
RED SALUTE to the Inspiring Memories of MNP.
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