R. Sugathan, (23 December 1901 – 14 February 1970), popularly known as Sugathansir, was an Indian Communist leader and an early trade unionist of Kerala.
[citation needed] He was an active member of the Sahodara Sangham (The Brotherhood Movement), later he left his teaching job at a private school to join SNDP, where he worked hard to eliminate caste as an institution, and also SNDP's political wing, Ezhava Political League, and when Congress came into existence in the state he became its part.
In 1938, he organized coir factory workers into union and was arrested for agitating, and sentenced to two years rigorous imprisonment.
[citation needed] Later, he became involved with the Travancore Labour Association and finally he left Congress joined the Communist Party in 1942, he was imprisoned twice again in the following years.
[4] In 2008, his death anniversary on 14 February was observed as 'flag day' by Communist Party of India (CPI) at its State conference at Thiruvananthapuram[5]