Freedom fighter, veteran Communist leader and writer Anil Raichoudhury passed away at his residence in Chandmari here around 4am on Friday.

He was 94. He is survived by his two sons and two daughters.

According to his wish, Raichoudhury’s body was donated to Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) for medical research and education.

Born in lower Assam’s Barpeta district in 1926, Raichoudhury had studied at Barpeta Vidyapeeth High School and Madhab Choudhury College in Barpeta and JB College in Jorhat. Raichoudhury had jumped into the freedom struggle when he was still a student. Simultaneously, he also kept contributing short stories, poems and articles in different newspapers. He joined the CPM in the fifties.

The government had jailed him during the time of Sino-Indian war and the Emergency.

Raichoudhury was known for his deep understanding of the Assamese society and language which was reflected in his books like Namoni Asomor Modhyoshreni, Asomiya Xomaj Itihaxot Nobo Vaishabbaad, Asomot Bangladeshi, Namoni Asomot Xamajik Potobhumi and Asomiya Bhaxar Dorshan.

Ellora Vigyan Mancha, an organisation devoted to developing scientific temperament, condoled his death.

Chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal condoled Raichoudhury’s death.

In a condolence message, Asam Sahitya Sabha said Raichoudhury was its well-wisher.

“His death is an irreparable loss to Assamese literature,” said Sabha’s outgoing general secretary Padum Rajkhowa. Intellectual Hiren Gohain said Raichoudhury’s analysis on Assamese society, especially of Srimanta Xankardeb, was unparalleled.