Com Somasundram and Com Sembulingam played a vital role in the struggle launched by SFI against the caste domination in 1980s. They both were born in a poor dalit family in a small village of Thirunalveli district, near Madurai, Tamilnadu. They studied in Madurai Thiyagarajar Engineering College as first generation graduates of their families. Due to their hard work, Com Somasundram was elected as unit secretary and Com Sembulingam as College Chairman. This was unpalatable to the casteist people in the college. In the elections, SFI candidates got a huge victory. They made a lot of efforts in the college to abolish corruption and rectify the inefficiencies of the hostel management. As a result, many students were inspired and a lot of them joined in our organisation. The caste dominators could not tolerate this and planned to murder Somusundram and Sembulingam. When the students were not in hostel, they used the occasion and arranged goondas to carry out the murder. First, they cruelly murdered Sembulingam in the hostel. Then they searched for Somasundram, but could not find him in the hostel. When he came back after finishing his organizational work, they chased Somasundram and stabbed him cruelly outside the college. They were martyred on 31st of March, 1981.
