TRIBUTES have been paid to a respected and internationally active communist and Sheffield community activist whose funeral will take place this week.

Satish “Sach” Sachdeva died at the age of 80 on August 10.

He was born in Nairobi in Kenya in 1939. His parents had migrated there from India. 

As a young man he went to India to study for a short time at university in Delhi. On a later visit to India one of his proudest experiences was interviewing the then Indian PM Indira Gandhi.

In 1963 he came to Britain to study medicine in Manchester, but then decided against a medical career. In Manchester, he met and married Young Communist League member Pamela Eddisford.

The couple moved to Jamaica with daughter Anji in 1971 to work as teachers. They stayed there for 12 years. He was also involved in the Jamaica-Cuba Solidarity Campaign, visiting Cuba annually.

At the end of his teaching contract he joined a social action centre organising and supporting co-operative ventures.

Returning to England, Mr Sachdeva worked for the Merseyside Development Corporation in Liverpool, and later for Sheffield City Council in South Yorkshire. He worked there until his retirement.

His daughter Tara said: “He was campaigning politically and striving for social justice right to the end.

“My sister Anji and myself are so proud to call him our dad. He touched so many lives, and ours won’t be the same without him.”

Nelson Kaggwa of the Agency For Culture & Change Management said: “On behalf of black and minority ethnic groups in Sheffield we convey condolences to the family.

“We were blessed to know, work and associate with a great intellectual, patriotic and brave man. He championed the cause of many BAME people, selflessly advancing education and unity.”

His funeral, which is limited to 30 people, will take place at Grenoside Crematorium outside Sheffield at 3pm on Friday September 4. The funeral will be live streamed online.