THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forgetting about his ill health, Vakkom Purushothaman wanted to see the mortal remains of Oommen Chandy when it was put up for public viewing in the Durbar Hall of the Secretariat.

He even called Palode Ravi on the phone for this. Ravi lovingly forbade him not to come in this rush, but he did not change his mind. Finally, he called A.K. Antony and told him that he must see Oommen Chandy. With the help of crutches, he tried to get out of the house and get into the car. At the insistence of Antony, the decision was finally changed. As the thirteenth day of Oommen Chandy's departure is almost over, this is the July of huge losses for the Congress.

It was a common sight to see Vakkom Purushothaman read Kerala Kaumudi while reclining on an armchair in the verandah 'Bindu', his house in Kumarapuram. He would only check other newspapers only after reading Kerala Kaumudi with morning tea. In the last few days, the newspaper was not read due to poor health. Kerala Kaumudi newspapers lying on the armchair and nearby were the first sight of those who came home after hearing the news of his death.

His wife Lily was not aware of the death. As the channel cameras were lined up in the yard, she lovingly asked why they had come to see him. Vakkom's granddaughter Anju Biju's children Ankit and Aishwarya burst into tears after coming back from school.

Minister P. Prasad was the first to reach 'Bindu' to offer condolences. At 4.17 pm, an ambulance arrived home with the body. Congress leaders Ramesh Chennithala, P J Kurian, Palode Ravi, and G S Babu accompanied the ambulance. Then Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Minister V Sivankutty, Congress leaders N Shaktan, Peethambarakurup, K S Sabrinath, Cherian Philip, former ministers Ramachandran Kadanapalli and Babu Divakaran came to pay their last respects. And the long line of people from different walks of life.

Vakkom who fell in love with his house

Vakkom Purushothaman built the house in Kumarapuram fifty years ago. When he became the agriculture minister in the Achuthamenon cabinet, Vakkom left his official residence and lived in his own house. M N Govindan Nair was also not living in the official residence at that time. Kerala Kaumudi published an article titled 'Vakkom, M N Zindabad' in support of this. Although he lived in official residences during his later ministries, his favourite was 'Bindu' at Kumarapuram, built in his daughter's name.