Senior labor leader, freedom fighter, journalist, and thinker Comrade Krishna Mense passed away on Monday at the age of 97. His last rites were conducted at the Sadashiv Nagar graveyard in Belagavi. A prominent figure in the Communist movement, Mense dedicated his life to championing the rights of farmers, textile workers, women, and industrial laborers.
Mense led several impactful movements, including the Gun Rally by Khanapur farmers, which gained national attention. He was instrumental in fighting for workers’ rights at Gokak Mills and Hindalco in Belagavi and actively opposed superstitions and corruption.
As an author, he penned 15 books, such as Rani Kittur Channamma, Basaveshwar Te Jnyaneshwar – Ek Chintan, and Swatantrya Andolan Va Bharatiya Communist Paksha. He was also the founder of two Marathi monthlies, Hemant (1959) and Samyavadi (1969), contributing extensively to the intellectual and labor discourse.
His efforts earned him numerous accolades from the Maharashtra government. Despite facing imprisonment in 1962 for labor-related activities, he remained steadfast in his commitment to social justice.
Mense’s legacy as a writer, leader, and reformist leaves an indelible mark on Belagavi and beyond.
Read Also: