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With patriotic slogans and tears, Kerala bids farewell to expat killed in Pahalgam attack

N Ramachandran, 65, was on holiday with his wife Sheela, daughter Arathi and two grandchildren when he was shot dead by terrorists in Kashmir.

Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Congress leader V D Satheesan and others pay tribute after the mortal remains of Ramachandran, a victim of the Pahalgam terror attack, was brought at the Kochi International Airport, Wednesday. (PTI Photo)

With patriotic slogans in the air and a sea of humanity in witness, Kerala Friday gave a heroic farewell to N Ramachandran, one of the 26 tourists who were shot dead by terrorists in Kashmir. He was cremated at public crematorium at Edappally in Kochi — his home town — with full state honours.

A 65-year-old expatriate, Ramchandran had returned to the state from UAE four years ago to spend his sunset years here and was on a holiday to Kashmir with his wife Sheelam daughter Arathi and her two children when the attack occurred. His body, which was kept at a hospital morgue after being flown from Srinagar Wednesday, was brought to Edappally’s Changampuzha park, where thousands flocked to pay their last respects.

Kerala governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar and Goa governor P S Sreedharan Pillai, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, State Minister P Rajeeve and Opposition ladder V D Satheesan led the mourners Friday.

The body was eventually taken to his house, where his wife Sheela and daughter Arathi — who were also part of the ill-fated trip to Kashmir – bade him an emotional goodbye.

Fighting back tears and with raised fists, both Sheela and Arathi chanted the slogan “Bharat Mata Ki Jai”, in front of the flower-strewn body of Ramachandran. Workers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Bharatiya Janata Party, who were present at the home, gave adieu to the departed soul by singing gana geetham (prayer song).

Referring to the attack, Governor Arlekar told the media that all that had been done in the past few months or years was being wiped out by extremists and terrorists. “It shows that they are against the meaning of India. States and the Centre are united against the fight against terrorism. We citizens also should stand together and show our enemies we are not going to surrender before them,” he said.

Governor Pillai recalled Ramachandran as a BJP worker in Kochi and said his death is a “balidan (sacrifice) for the country”. Satheesan said Ramachandran will be remembered as a valiant fighter who died for the country.

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Minister P Rajeeve, who represented the state government, said: “It is a moment when the entire country should stand united against terrorism. Ramachandran was killed in front of his daughter and grandchildren. Ramchandran’s daughter Arathi has shared the humanity of Kashmir people”.

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