The mortal remains of N. Ramachandran, who was shot dead on April 22 by Islamic terrorists at Pahalgam, Kashmir, were cremated on April 25 at Edappally Public Crematorium, Kochi. Earlier, Ramachandran’s body was laid down in Changampuzha Park for public viewing. Even though the initial plan was to facilitate public viewing from 7 am to 9 am, the turnout in the morning was beyond all imagination. People, cutting across party and religious lines, kept flowing to the venue. Therefore, the public viewing was extended up to 10 am.
Swami Poornamruthananda Puri (Global General Secretary of Matha Amrithanandamayi Ashram), Union Minister Suresh Gopi, former Union Minister and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, Kochi Mayor and CPM leader Adv. M. Anilkumar, State Industries Minister P. Rajeev, Forest Minister A. K. Saseendran, Justice Devan Ramachandran and Justice N. Nagaresh of the Kerala High Court, Hindu Aikyavedi State Working President Valsan Thillankerry, A. Gopalakrishnan (Seema Jagaran Manch Samrakshak), Hindu Aikyavedi State President R.V. Babu, BJP leaders Shobha Surendran, A.N. Radhakrishnan, Adv. Sindhumol, Padmaja Menon and Dr. K.S. Radhakrishnan, Organiser Senior Reporter T. Satisan, Kochi International Book Festival President E.N. Nandakumar, Hibi Eden MP, RSS Vibhag Karyavah N.S. Babu, several RSS functionaries, film personalities, CPM District Secretary C.N. Mohanan, CMP leader C.P. John, Chandran Pillai (CPM leader and Greater Cochin Development Authority Chairman), several MLAs, chairpersons of neighbouring municipalities and panchayats, and leaders of various political and social organisations were present to have a last glimpse of their friend of several years.
Afterwards, the body of N. Ramachandran was taken to his home. Hundreds of people queued up there for the final viewing. Sangh workers sang the Sangh geet “Paramapavithramamee mannil Bharathaambaye poojikkaan, punyavaahinee sechanamekum pookaavnangalundivide” (meaning, here there are gardens which are watered by holy rivers to worship the Bharatmata in this holiest land). Smt. Sheela Ramachandran had requested the RSS leaders, who visited on 24 April, to arrange the rendering of this song before the body was taken to the crematorium, because her late husband liked that song very much and used to sing it quite often. Sheela and her daughter Arati joined the RSS workers in raising ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ and ‘Ramachandran Amar Rahe’. Ramachandran was accorded a gun salute by the police.
Dante Nicola Teraritto, the grandson of a former Italian Prime Minister, and Sunil Swamy (Chairman of Muthalamata Sneham Charitable Trust) rendered the Mrityunjaya Mantra. Kumbhamela Theertha (holy water) was sprinkled on the body. Vibhuti (holy ashes) from various sacred temples across the country was also sprinkled.
When the pyre was lit, people returned to Changampuzha Park where the condolence meeting was organised.
The condolence meeting was chaired by Kochi Mayor M. Anilkumar. It was addressed by Industries Minister P. Rajeev, Seema Jagaran Manch Samrakshak A. Gopalakrishnan, Ernakulam District Collector N.S.K. Umesh IAS, District Congress Committee President Shihas, former Union Minister and BJP leader V. Muraleedharan, CPM District Secretary C.N. Mohanan, and the CPI local secretary.
The entire series of rituals, from the public viewing to the condolence meeting, was charged with patriotic zeal. People returned home with an iron resolve to fight terrorism and to work hard for the param vaibhavam of the motherland.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was conspicuously absent. He reportedly chose to attend a party meeting instead. Reports suggest that chief ministers in other states took the lead where mortal remains of the martyrs of Pahalgam were brought home. Observers wonder why Pinarayi Vijayan did so despite even having a helicopter at his disposal.
