E Narayanan, 77, one of the towering figures of the cooperative movement in the state, died of cardiac arrest in Kuala Lumpur, around 11.30 am on Wednesday.
He had gone to Malaysia a couple of days ago to attend a meeting of the Asia Pacific Health Cooperative Organisation in the capacity as its vice-chairman. Narayanan had also served as the founder chairman of Rubco, governing council member of the National Cooperative Union, India, chairman of State Cooperative Union, chairman of the Kerala Cooperative Hospitals Federation, president of the Kannur District Cooperative Bank and chairman of the Thalassery Municipal Council.
Born as the son of Krishnan and Thala at Mannayad near Thalassery in 1936, Narayanan completed primary education from Mannayad Lakshmivilasam School and underwent training in tailoring.
At a tender age he became a beedi worker at the Pattalam Beedi Company, Mannayad.
His association with the cooperative movement since the early 1960s brought about a dramatic change in Narayanan’s career and soon he became one of the key figures of the CPM in the district.
Justice V R Krishna Iyer had once described him as the ‘architect of modern Thalassery.’ Narayanan is survived by son Anil Kumar and daughters Preetha and Reetha. His wife Revathy and a son Sunil Kumar had died earlier. The cremation will be held at 4 pm on Friday.
The body will be kept for the public to pay homage, from morning to 3 pm at the Thalassery Town Hall. In honour of the demised leader, a hartal will be observed in Thalassery, Koothuparamba and Pinarayi regions on Friday.