THRISSUR: Devaki Nambeesan (89) of Thekke Pushpakam in Vellattanjoor's Areekara, who participated in the farmers' strike with AKG and served jail time and inspired many struggles including the Manimalarkavu Maru Marakkal strike, has passed away. She is the wife of late ASN Nambeeshan, former MLA and former state committee member of CPM. He passed away at the house of his daughter Aryadevi at Poothol yesterday at 9 am. The cremation will take place today at 10 am in the Vellattanjoor family crematorium.

Six decades ago, she participated in the farmers' march led by AKG and was jailed. Devaki Nambeesan was the one who gave courage and enthusiasm to the housewives in the struggle against it when the women carrying 'thaalam' in Vellore Manimalarkav Temple were not allowed to wear upper body clothes. The struggle was led by ASN Nambeesan. She was a retired Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife from Mundur Primary Health Centre. She was a member of NGO Union District Women's Sub-Committee and a member of Vellore Panchayat.

Children: AN Aryadevi (Retd Manager State Bank of India), AN Sathidevi (Retd Secretary, Erumapetty Panchayat Service Cooperative Bank, CPM Kiralur Branch), AN Somanathan (Retd KSFE Senior Manager, President Vellattanjoor Service Cooperative Bank, CPM Vellattanjoor Local Committee Member), AN Geethadevi (Retired Central School Teacher, Naval Base, Kochi). In-laws: MD Raman (Retd BSNL), Late PK Harikrishnan (Retd Headmaster, Namboothiri Vidyalayam Thrissur, CPM Ex Vellore Panchayat Member), Usha Kumari, CP Krishnan (Vice President, Geojith Securities, Ernakulam). People's representatives, prominent people from the field of politics, art and literature visited the residence at Poothol and Vellattanjoor and paid their last respects.