CHANDIGARH, January 25: Harpal Singh Brar Fattanwala, an Indian communist leader, politician, writer, and businessman based in the United Kingdom, passed away on Saturday in Chandigarh at the age of 85.
Known for his contributions to communist ideologies and leftist movements, Brar was the founder and former chairman of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) and editor of the left-wing political newspaper Lalkar.
Born in Fattanwala village in Punjab’s Muktsar district, Harpal moved to the United Kingdom in 1962 as a student. He later taught law at Harrow College of Higher Education before venturing into the textile business.
Harpal authored multiple books covering subjects such as communism, imperialism, Indian republicanism, anti-Zionism, and anti-colonialism, cementing his influence as a thinker and activist.
Harpal is survived by a son and a daughter. His nephew, SAD leader Jagjit Singh Honey Fattanwala, confirmed that he had been unwell in recent days. “Taya ji (uncle) was admitted to a private hospital in Mohali and taken to Manpreet Badal’s house yesterday, where he passed away,” Honey said.
Harpal was the maternal uncle of BJP leader and former Punjab finance minister Manpreet Singh Badal. His father, Harchand Singh Brar Fattanwala, served as an MLA from Muktsar.
In 2018, Harpal stepped down as chairman of the Communist Party of Great Britain (Marxist-Leninist) after decades of leadership. His publication Lalkar continued to advocate for communist and anti-imperialist ideologies under his editorship.
Harpal’s legacy is remembered not only in the political sphere but also in academia and activism, where his works and ideas remain influential.
