Farewell to Panicker with State honours

The mortal remains of NSS leader P K Naryana Panicker who died at his residence after protracted illness, was consigned to flames at his house compound at Vazhappally with State honours, in the presence of people from all walks of life on Thursday evening.

It was a befitting farewell to a leader who endeared himself to all sections of society through selfless service to his community as tens of thousands from all walks of life, rich and poor, young and old, women and children, waited patiently braving scorching sun to pay their last respects to the NSS leader when his body was placed at the Prathinidhi Sabha Hall at the NSS headquarters. It was a continuous flow of mourners right from Wednesday afternoon when the new about his demise spread.

His body which placed at his house during the night, was moved to the NSS Headquarter by 7:45 am on Thursday and long queues of mourners could be seen on the MC Road and the NSS headquarters campus as NSS activists from all over the State poured in. Those who paid homage to the NSS leader include the Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, the Opposition Leader V S Achuthanandan , KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, IUML president Panakkad Sayd Hyderali Shihab Thangal, CPI(M) leader Vaikom Viswan, Union Minister of State for Energy K C Venugopal, State Ministers P K Kunjalikkutty, K M Mani, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, K C Joseph, K Babu, P J Joseph, V K Ibrahim Kunju, Ganesh Kumar, film star Suresh Gopi, and a host of others.

However, the most touching was the hug turnout common people, women and children from far and near to have a last glimpse of the man whose life had touched theirs at one point or other.

His body was to be placed at the NSS HQ till 1 pm, but it was later postponed to 3 pm on account of the unprecedented crowd. The last journey from Perunna, started by 3:15 and the body was taken out in a procession through the main street of Changanassery town and placed for a short period at the Changanassery Municipal Office where he had served as the chairman for one and a half years during 1979-80.

The sandalwood pyre was arranged near the last resting place of his late wife, M Savithriyamma in the compound of Lakshmivilasom Bungalow. After religious rites and offering of State honours, his eldest son Satheesh Kumar lit the pyre.