FINAL DAYS

The final days of NetturP were spent at Delhi. In the year 1978, discussions were ongoing with central leaders regarding the formation of the SEBC (Later renowned as the Mandal Commission). Nettur P was staying in Delhi at his MP friend’s residence at 18, Windsor Place with his son Pramod. He was in constant touch with his old friends and then Union ministers, Babu Jagjivan Ram, Raj Narain, etc. in this regard. He was also at that time holding the position of Secretary, Circus Federation of India, an all India organisation formed mainly to deal with the problems of Circus industry in general and the welfare of the Circus artistes, large number of whom were from his home town Thalassery.

While being engaged with these activities, suddenly on 11th October night, he had a severe heart attack. A doctor was called in immediately and, on his advice, he was rushed to the nearby Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital by his son and his nephew (who had come to Delhi just two days earlier for a Bank Officer’s meeting),. However, before reaching the hospital he had breathed his last and was pronounced dead at the hospital.

His body was brought back to 18, Windsor Place, where he was staying. By then, his friends and well-wishers had rushed in there on hearing the news. His mortal remains were kept there till the next day, when many paid their last respects. Those who came there and paid their respects included known persons like Mavelikkara Ramachandran, AIR, Edamarugu, well known atheist and activist along with his wife, Achuthan, Proprietor Great Oriental Circus, Narayana Kurup, a known literary figure in Delhi, P. P. Ramachandran, Special Correspondent, Agence French Press et-al.

The mortal remains were later consigned to flames at Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi by his son Pramod and nephew Suresh in the presence

Homage by Friends and Relatives

Ashes being Received at Thalassery Railway Station and (below) at “Pranam”

Nettur P’s ashes were carried to Thalassery from Delhi by his elder son Pradeep and son-in-law, Dr. V. K. Padmanbhan, to enable NetturP’s mother, wife, brother, other children and grandchildren, and the public of Thalassery to pay their respects, and to carry out the final rites. The ashes were received at the Railway station by a large crowd.

The urn containing the ashes was garlanded by Dr. M. A. Sundaram, President of the Yoga Vedanta Society, based in Holland. NetturP was very close to the founder, Swami Sadanda Saraswathy, and the society had established a unit in the suburbs of Thalassery, two years earlier in the presence of Swamiji and a host of his foreign disciples.

The ashes were later immersed in the sea at his favourite location on the Koduvally beach, where NetturP, in his younger days, used to sit and study and used to frequent very often in later years while in Thalassery.

18, Windsor Place in 1978 … and in 2003 ( NetturP’s Second Son Pramod in the Picture)