Kannur, Friday, January 27, 2012: The ashes of the renowned orator, social critic and great writer Sukumar Azhikode, who passed away on Tuesday, were immersed in the Payyambalam sea here today.

The nephews accompanied by the close family members of Azhikode performed the immersion, sources said. Some portion of the ashes will be taken in a urn to Thrissur.

Azhikode was a towering presence for about six decades in Kerala’s literary and social spheres through his interventions as a powerful, erudite and charismatic orator and versatile writer. He had remarkable command over Sanskrit, Malayalam, and English languages and had deeply internalized the classical traditions of all the three languages.

He had acquired in depth knowledge of Indian philosophy, ethics and mythology and had made extensive explorations into Western philosophies, particularly into their humanistic sources.

His scholarly and inspiring orations had given him direct access to the masses at levels which even the most popular politician of the state would envy of. His incisive literary critical works occupy prime stature in Kerala’s literary lineage.

Azhikode, the renowned orator is gone but the magic of words he left behind will continue to dazzle the social, cultural and political landscape of Kerala for a long time.

Azhikode towered over the state’s social, literary and political landscape for more than six decades. Bold in his comments which often created ripples, Dr Azhikode, in 2007, had refused to accept the Padma Shri stating that such honours were against the Constitution which treated all as equal.