KOZHIKODE: The last rites of the great Malayalam writer M T Vasudevan Nair, who died last night, will begin at 5 pm today. The cremation will be held at the newly renovated public crematorium named ‘Smrithipatham’ on Mavoor Road. It has been only a few days since the crematorium was renovated. The first cortege will be that of MT’s. Public homage was avoided at per the request of MT.

Three gas-fired crematoriums and two traditional crematoriums have been newly constructed at the crematorium. Special facilities have been provided for performing rituals and cleansing the body. There are murals depicting the birth, life and death of a human being near this. The work was carried out under the leadership of the Uralungal Labor Contract Society.

MT, who had been undergoing treatment in a critical condition at the Kozhikode Baby Memorial Hospital for the past few days, passed away at 10 pm on Wednesday. Two-day mourning has been declared in the state as a mark of respect for MT. All government programmes scheduled for today and tomorrow have been cancelled. The cabinet meeting has also been cancelled.

Many noted personalities from the film, political and social sectors paid their respects to the departed soul. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan offered his condolences, saying that the departed soul was a genius who brought Malayalam literature to world literature. Opposition leader V D Satheesan said MT was the pride of the country. Actor Kamal Haasan expressed his condolences, saying that a great writer has been lost. Minister M B Rajesh, Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi, KPCC President K Sudhakaran, former minister E T Muhammad Basheer, Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose and many other prominent figures expressed their condolences on his death.