Viral posts falsely claim late CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury 'was a Christian'

What is the claim?

An image showing people gathered around the coffin of the late Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Sitaram Yechury at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi, has been shared online, accompanied by claims suggesting he was a Christian. Some social media users have further alleged that Yechury concealed his religious beliefs. 

Yechury, who served as the general secretary of the CPI(M), passed away on September 12, 2024, at AIIMS Hospital in Delhi. He had been receiving treatment for an acute respiratory tract infection since August 19, 2024.

Rishi Bagree, a known promoter of misinformation, shared a post featuring the image on his X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption: “So Sitaram Yechury was a Christian, no wonder why he hate Hinduism. By the way why they hide their religious identity in their active political life ??? (sic)” The post garnered 12,000 likes and 3,900 retweets. Archives of similar posts are available here and here.

Screenshot of the social media posts. (Source: X/Facebook/Modified by Logically Facts)

The claim, however, is false. Yechury identified as an atheist, and his body was placed in a coffin solely to allow the public to pay their respects.

Here are the facts

A reverse image search confirmed that the photo was taken when Yechury’s body was placed at JNU for public homage. The official account of the JNU Students' Union (JNUSU) shared the original image on September 14, 2024 (archived here), with the caption: "JNU pays homage to beloved Comrade Sitaram Yechury. JNU will continue his legacy of struggle for a secular, democratic, and just society."

Yechury completed his master’s in economics at JNU in 1975, where he was deeply involved in student politics through the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), the student wing of the CPI(M). He formally joined the CPI(M) in the same year.

Why was Yechury’s body in a coffin?

In line with Yechury's wishes, his family donated his body to AIIMS for medical research. Before this, his remains were taken to JNU on September 13, 2024, and then to CPI(M) headquarters on September 14, 2024, for public homage. His body was embalmed to preserve it, reported The Hindu.

Embalming, a process used to preserve bodies for medical research or public display, is common for prominent figures. Dr. Rima Dada of AIIMS explained to ANI (archived here) that the body is preserved with fluids for research and teaching, allowing medical students to practice before major surgeries. After public viewing and use for research, the body is cremated with full rituals at Nigam Bodh Ghat, she added.

Yechury’s religious background

Yechury was born on August 12, 1952, in Madras (now Chennai), Tamil Nadu, into a Telugu Brahmin family.

In his 2017 farewell speech in the Rajya Sabha, which Sansad TV uploaded to YouTube (archived here), Yechury reflected on his diverse family heritage. He shared that he was born in Madras General Hospital (now Chennai) to a Telugu-speaking Brahmin family. He also mentioned that his education in Hyderabad took place in a culturally Islamic environment, a legacy of the Nizam's rule.

Yechury noted that his spouse’s father was a Sufi of the Chishti order, while her mother was a Mysorean Rajput. He then questioned his son's identity, asking, "Is he a Brahmin, Muslim, or Hindu?" He concluded that the only label that truly fits his son is "Indian."

That same year, Yechury posted on his official X account (archived here), affirming his identity as an atheist. A 2016 Times of India report also described him as the leader of a communist party and a "confirmed atheist."

The verdict

The image of Sitaram Yechury's body, embalmed and placed in a coffin, has been falsely circulated with claims that he was Christian. In reality, Yechury was an atheist who was born into a Hindu family.