The Communist Party of India-Marxist's (CPI-M) congress here has an unusual 'Red volunteer' - 16-year-old Nandan, son of noted filmmaker Mani Ratnam and south Indian actor-director Suhasini.

A Class XI student at the Chennai International School, Nandan is one of the enthusiastic volunteers whose job is to maintain discipline and decorum at the gathering at the SRN auditorium complex.

The shy Nandan has caught the media attention but mostly prefers to be away from the limelight. And some senior comrades are very protective about him.

Nandan's job is to assist the foreign delegates.

Despite his young age, Nandan has already authored a book - 'Contours of Leninism'. He presented a copy of the book to CPI-M general secretary Prakash Karat Monday.

A voracious reader, Nandan was attracted to the CPI-M after reading the writings of veteran Marxists such as E.M.S. Namboothiripad and B.T. Ranadive.

Once he made up his mind 10 months ago, he walked into the CPI-M office in Chennai's T Nagar, where he met central committee members W.R. Varadarajan and A.K. Padmanabhan.

Although he requested them to register him as a party member, the leaders asked him to wait until he turns 18. But a determined Nandan continued his reading and engaged in ideological discourses with senior party leaders.

According to CPI-M sources, Nandan consults none other than Karat and party politburo member Sitaram Yechury through e-mail to clarify his doubts vis-a-vis the party's stand on various issues.

Nandan's article on liberalization appeared in Tamil communist magazine 'Marxist'. 'The article shows his vast knowledge about the party and its policies,' said a CPI-M leader from Tamil Nadu.

According to Nandan, the CPI-M is the only party that stands for the working class. 'India exists predominantly for the working class and peasants. Marxism will have enormous influence on them,' he said.