Kochi: The last rites of veteran Malayalam literary critic, writer, orator, academic, and former MLA MK Sanoo (97) were performed with full state honours at the Ravipuram crematorium here on Sunday evening. Around 4 pm, the mortal remains were taken from Ernakulam town hall for the funeral. Ministers P Rajeeve and R Bindu were among those who attended the funeral ceremony.

He breathed his last on Saturday while undergoing treatment at Amrita Hospital here. He was admitted to the intensive care unit for the past few days after his health deteriorated.

Thousands of people on Sunday paid final respects to MK Sanoo (97) at Ernakulam Town Hall where he lied in state. The crowd comprised people from various walks of life who revered him as a teacher, a prolific writer, an activist and a public speaker who excelled in diverse fields even as he remained humble to all. 

Sanoo’s mortal remains were shifted to his house ‘Sandhya’ in the morning from the mortuary of Amrita Hospital, where he passed away on Saturday evening. He was undergoing treatment at the hospital after suffering a hip-bone fracture caused by a fall. The body was kept at his house for two hours from 8 in the morning. Close relatives and neighbours paid final respects to him there. Minister for Irrigation Roshy Augustine paid homage to Sanoo at Sandhya. 

Sanoo mash, as he was fondly called by many, lied in state at Town Hall from 10 am. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan paid last respects to Sanoo, who was elected an MLA in 1987 as a Left-backed independent candidate from Ernakulam, at the Town Hall. Ministers P Rajeeve, MB Rajesh,  VN Vasavan and R Bindu and Leader of the Opposition VD Satheesan also paid homage to Sanoo. The mourners who gathered at Town Hall include CPM general secretary M A Baby, state secretary M V Govindan,  senior party leaders Vaikom Viswan, Gopi Kottamurickal, Suresh Kurup and CN Mohanan. AICC general secretary KC Venugopal, former KPCC president VM Sudheeran and former Goa governor PS Sreedharan Pillai also paid final respects to Sanoo at Town Hall. 

MLAs TJ Vinod, Roji M John, Uma Thomas and KJ Maxy were also among the mourners. Archbishop Joseph Kalathiparambil and other church representatives, as well as spiritual leaders, also paid homage to Sanoo. Actors Devan, Siddique and Renji Panicker were among those from the film fraternity.