Freedom fighter Socio Vasu passes away aged 104

KOZHIKODE: Freedom fighter P. Vasu (Socio Vasu, 104) passed away. Vasu breathed his last yesterday at his home in Cheruvannur following age-related ailments. The funeral will take place today at 11 a.m. at the Gotheeswaram crematorium with full state honours.

Vasu was born on January 14, 1923, to Appu and Ammu at Puthiyaparambil in Cheruvannur. In 1942, as part of the Quit India Movement, he led a procession from Kundaithode to Cheruvannur. Subsequently, he was arrested and assaulted by the British police and served a prison sentence of three and a half months.

He left the Congress party in 1948 to join the socialist movement, receiving his party membership from Jayaprakash Narayan at a function held in Kozhikode. In 1959, he was arrested while picketing the Coimbatore Collectorate in protest against government policies and served two months in Coimbatore Central Jail. During the Emergency, Vasu was subjected to police brutality for laying siege to the Feroke Post Office.

In recognition of contributions to the freedom struggle, Vasu received a national award from President K.R. Narayanan in 1997. Vasu also received the Gandhian Chair Award from the University of Calicut.

Vasu’s wife is late Karinkalay Mannarakkal Sarojini. Children: Ramesh Babu (Retired, Calicut University), Raja Narayanan (Retired, Agricultural University, Thrissur), late Ganesh Babu (Retired, Railways) and Madhulimaya (Retired, Survey and Land Records/Revenue). Daughters-in-law: Geethakumari (Retired Health Inspector), Sreeshaila (Retired, Calicut University), Leena (IHRD, Kakkanad), and Sreeranjini (Teacher, Khuthbuzzaman High School, Chemmad)