KOZHIKODE/KANYAKUMARI: P. Lakshmanan (86), a revered senior Swayamsevak and a pivotal figure in the historical movement to establish the Vivekananda Rock Memorial, passed away on Thursday (22nd January 2026). He breathed his last at 3:00 PM at the Vivekananda Kendra in Kanyakumari, where he had been residing with his family for many years.
A native of Vellayil, Kozhikode, Lakshmanan is celebrated as one of the “brave hearts” who played a crucial role in reclaiming the Sreepadapara (Vivekananda Rock) in 1962, an event that laid the foundation for the iconic memorial that stands today.
The 1962 Mission: Reclaiming the Rock
P.Lakshmanan’s legacy is defined by a daring mission undertaken in October 1962. According to organisational records, the rock situated off the coast of Kanyakumari had come under the control of a specific religious group, with a cross planted on the site. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) viewed this as an attempt to alter the cultural identity of the site from ‘Kanyakumari’ to ‘Kanyaka Mary’ (Virgin Mary).
Facing resistance in Tamil Nadu, the then Pranth Pracharak Dattaji Didolkar sought assistance from Kerala to reclaim the site. Under the guidance of Kozhikode Vibhag Pracharak P. Madhav Ji and Jilla Pracharak V.P. Janardhanan, a team of 15 daring young men—mostly from the fishermen community of Kozhikode—was assembled. Lakshmanan, along with A.V. Balan, led this 15-member team.
“Operation Vijayadashami”
The group travelled to Kanyakumari, where they stayed for several days to study the ocean currents, the terrain, and the security situation. On October 8, 1962, coinciding with Vijayadashami, the team swam to the rock and removed the structures they deemed as “obstacles” (the cross), effectively asserting a Hindu claim over the site.
This act is regarded by the Vivekananda Kendra and the RSS as the “liberation” of the rock, which eventually paved the way for Eknath Ranade to construct the grand Vivekananda Rock Memorial. P.Lakshmanan dedicated his life to this cause, viewing his participation not merely as an act of defiance but as a spiritual offering at the feet of “Bharat Mata”
The 15-Member Team
The historic mission involved 15 volunteers from various parts of Kozhikode, including Vellayil, Koyilandy, and Beypore. The team included P. Lakshmanan, N.P. Narayanan, K. Ambujan, K.P. Chandran, K. Raman, K. Kuttimon (all from Vellayil); A.V. Balan (Koyilandy); V.P. Raman, V.P. Achuthan, K. Sreedharan, T.P. Gangadharan (Payyoli); and M. Dasan, M. Krishnan, K. Vasu (Beypore), along with Karuvanthuruthu Unni.
With Lakshmanan’s passing, the number of surviving members of this historic mission has dwindled further. Reports indicate that M. Dasan and M. Krishnan from Beypore are among the few remaining survivors of the original group.
Family and Last Rites
His wife, Komala (Vellayil), and their son, Jagadeesh, who works at a private firm in Haryana. He also leaves behind a daughter, Vijayakumari (Teacher), from his first marriage to the late Devayani (Puthiyappa).
Tributes have poured in from senior RSS and BJP leaders, remembering Lakshmanan as a man of immense courage who dedicated his entire life to the nation’s cultural swaraj.
