New Delhi: Veteran Congress leader and former union minister, Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who was in a coma since 2008, passed away on Monday. West Bengal Congress chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury confirmed the news.
“He died at 12.10 p.m. today (Monday). He had been critically ill for the past one month and unfortunately succumbed to his illness,” said Apollo Hospital in a statement.
Dasmunsi, who was Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister, suffered a massive stroke in 2008 which left him paralysed and unable to speak. Blood supply to a part of his brain was cut off causing irreversible damage. His body systems were functional but he breathed through a tracheostomy tube attached to his neck and was fed through a PEG tube in his stomach. All basic life functions like breathing, blood pressure, sleep-awake cycle were stable but he was not conscious of his surroundings.
He is survived by his wife Deepa Dasmunsi and son Priyadeep Dasmuni.
Dasmunsi represented Raiganj (Lok Sabha constituency) in West Bengal before being succeeded by his wife Deepa. The 72-year-old leader had begun his political career with the Indian Youth Congress before entering the Parliament in 1971.
He was first sworn in as Union Minister in 1985. Dasmunsi also served as the President of All India Football Federation for close to 20 years.
Dasmunsi’s popularity among Congress supporters was such that his name was included in the 90-member campaign committee for the West Bengal assembly elections in 2016.
C P Joshi, the Congress general secretary in charge of West Bengal, had justified the inclusion of Dasmunsi’s name. “There are 60-70 names in the campaign committee. He (Dasmunsi) is not chairman of the committee. He is a Congress leader, he has goodwill…what is wrong in including his name and using his goodwill in the campaign?” Joshi had told The Indian Express.
Joshi also had said it was meant as a message to Congress workers on the ground that the party recognises the leader. “Everyone on the campaign committee does not necessarily campaign or speak,” he said, adding that the campaigners will use Dasmunsi’s goodwill among the people.
After his demise, Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "We will miss Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi ji. A brilliant political mind and a good human being. Bengal and the Congress party have lost a tall leader. Our thoughts are with Deepa ji today."
Condolences were also expressed on Twitter by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, former President Pranab Mukherjee and Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee among many others.
'Shri Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi was a popular leader with rich political and administrative experience. He did notable work to popularise football in India. Saddened by his demise. My thoughts are with Deepa Dasmunsi ji and family as well as his supporters.' PM Narendra Modi tweeted.
His body will be taken to the Congress headquarters on Akbar Road, where top party leaders including its vice-president Rahul Gandhi will pay their homage.
In her condolence message, Sonia Gandhi described Dasmunsi as a "devout" political activist and "one of the tallest" leaders of West Bengal. She said Dasmunsi served the party and government "illustriously". "His work at the immense work at the grassroots would be remembered for posterity," she said.
Despite his prolonged illness, he remained popular among his people. "His death is an irreparable loss to the Congress party and the country," she said.
Gandhi expressed solidarity with the leader's family, particularly his wife Deepa Dasmunsi, and supporters.
The Indian football fraternity also mourned the death of former AIFF President Priya Ranjan Dasmunsi, who served in the position for nearly two decades. The 72-year-old, also an eminent Congress leader, passed away today after being in coma since 2008, when he had suffered a stroke.
“His contribution to Indian football can never be forgotten. Under him, the National Football League started in 1996 (which was rechristened I-League in 2007) and everything today is moving ahead based on the foundation he laid,” All India Football Federation (AIFF) vice-President Subrata Dutta told PTI. Dasmunsi first became the AIFF President in 1989, succeeding K Ziauddin, and held the position for 19 years.
Hospitalised after the stroke, Dasmunsi was succeeded by Praful Patel, who holds the position till date. Dasmunsi earned a rare distinction during his tenure when in 2006, FIFA named him the match commissioner for a group stage game between Australia and Croatia in the 2006 World Cup. Dasmunsi was also a member of the Asian Football Confederation’s Executive Committee. “He initiated the professionalism in Indian football,” said Dutta.
Former Indian captain Bhaichung Bhutia also paid tribute to the former AIFF chief. “Very very sad to hear that. His contribution to AIFF has been massive. His contribution has really taken Indian football forward,” he said.
“He was very passionate about football. He had football in his blood. He went out of his way in being supportive when I was playing for East Bengal. His passion and love for the game was easily seen by everyone,” he added.
Another of Indian football’s biggest stars, I M Vijayan, also recalled the contribution made by Dasmunsi in developing Indian football.
“It is a big loss for Indian football. He was the man who started the National Football League as a sort of pan-India league. It is his legacy. He brought private channels to telecast matches. These are his two most important contributions,” he said.
